FRIDAY FIVE
It’s no secret that the rise of Amazon has decimated bookstores, which is why those that still stand today are local treasures. Sure, it was fun for a couple of years — ordering books from your computer with one click of a mouse — but nothing compares to browsing for books in an actual store.
Black Friday and Small Business Saturday are the busiest shopping days of the year. Sane folks will want to stay as far away from big-box stores as possible. Instead, head out to these amazing Oakland bookstores. Not only will they have deals and discounts, but they’re also businesses that support our local community.
Marcus Books
An Oakland icon, Marcus Books is the oldest Black-focused bookstore in the country. The store’s mission is to offer books by and about Black people everywhere. In addition to helping customers learn about Black history and culture, the bookstore, located next to the MacArthur BART station, often hosts insightful readings and signings with writers. This is one of the most Oakland experiences that locals and visitors alike can have. It’s an independent bookstore worth supporting this weekend and year-round.
3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way | MarcusBooksOakland.com
Walden Pond Books
The largest independent bookstore in the East Bay since it was founded in 1972, Walden Pond on Grand Avenue is the Green Apple Books of Oakland. For its community, it’s a beloved literary institution. The shop is known to support local authors and carry a lot of leftist literature. In addition to housing a large selection of used books, Walden Pond offers a unique selection of rare and antique books.
3316 Grand Avenue (Grand Lake) | WaldenPondBooks.com
Pegasus Books
Located in Rockridge, Pegasus Books has been at its College Avenue location since 1969; back then, it was called Pendragon Books. Today, it’s a small local chain, with two more stores in Berkeley. This bookstore is known for its sophisticated and calming environment. Its mixed selection of new and used books in a wide range of categories turns one-time visitors into regulars. And if you’re into zines, this gem also carries a diverse selection of carefully curated magazines.
5560 College Avenue (Oakland) | PegasusBookstore.com
Owl & Company Bookstore
Located on Piedmont Avenue, Owl & Company Bookstore is home to thousands of secondhand books on all subjects. Known for creatively decorating its front window year-round, this adorable shop has offered customers a selection of nearly 12,000 titles piled high to the ceiling since 2012. Not all the books are in the store itself—the rest are buried away in its warehouse. In other words, this is a great place at which to get lost on the biggest shopping day of the year.
3941 Piedmont Avenue | OwlAndCompanyBookshop.com
The Bookmark Bookstore
Don’t let the size of this place fool you. The Bookmark Bookstore might look like a hole in the wall, but it gets a new selection of books each day through donations from private libraries and East Bay estates. Another bookstore that offers mostly secondhand titles, this is where literary lovers can find titles they wouldn’t stumble upon otherwise. Even better, the Bookmark Bookstore is run by the Friends of the Oakland Public Library, and proceeds from sales benefit the library.
721 Washington Street | Bookmark.fopl.org
