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Category: Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
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I came here because Jonathan Safran Foer was doing a reading here from 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' because I have the most ridiculous crush on him. I got there with my hardcover copy of the book and was giddy like a thirteen year old girl meeting Duran Duran in 1983. He was awesome and polite as I got my book signed and blathered on about God knows what.
Man, I miss this place.
Well, they're gone now. Just stopped by today and found a note on the door saying "closed forever". It was good while it lasted.
On a more positive note, it appears that Books Inc. may be moving into that space.
For a while there, in my impressionable stage, I was befriending difficult, angst-ridden, problem writers, of varying talent. One day writer friend JohnGrishamwannabe called and said, "So one of my favorite writers and good friends is giving a reading at CWL on the VN. I think it would be good if you went with me!" She must've sensed my obvious, hesitation as I stammered for some standby excuses, the best being, "Have to take the dog to the vet; ingrown hair on the gluteus anusis." At such Hieronymus B. like visuals...her being a writer and all, I could usually depend on being let off the hook, until the next in a long line of "talented" writers -who happen to be friends- came to town. No getting out of it this time, having used the pooch excuse the previous month.
Got to Clean Well Lighted. The crowds were spread out amongst their favorite sections. They gathered at the appointed hour. "This is going to be epic," JohnGrishamwannabe whispered into my ear. I was busy thinking up new, inventive ways of lacing my sneakers.
The writer came out, surveying the first three rows of "fanage." He had that actor John Corbett like mellow delivery, explaining scenes and launching into a very sensitive read of what his character's were doing. He would look up at the end of every chapter, offering thanks to the crazy applause before starting the next one. "When is this thing scheduled to end?, " I whispered to JGW after an hour of it. Got back the, "Sssshhh." I was relived to hear, "And now I'll take your questions." The writer flashed his Travolta smile and ran his fingers through Richard Gere hair, as if to say, "I'm a model and have superior knowledge of plot, structure and character." I took the opportunity to escape into the magazine section and finally to new releases. Then out the door. I managed to leave her a message from Place Pigalle: "Had to feed the dog. Call me later."
4 duckets for the bookstore that has everything, including escape routes. Minus 1 ducket because I love Green Apple.
My favorite bookstore this side of Shakespeare and Company.
They have a great selection from mainstream bestsellers to that book you didn't know you needed until you saw it on display.
The staff seems to know everything about books and authors. It's no wonder that they do since they get a ton of author signings and readings. Small notecards on the shelves written by the staff give you great mini-book reviews. If you don't know what to read, ask someone and you'll get some reccomendations, and it may turn into a discussion.
The autographed section is always fun to check out.
R.I.P.-CLOSED
Advertisements: ...now open October 1, 2006..BOOKS, Inc ...
blech books, but YEAH another BOOKSTORE next to PEETS coffee!!!
Loved to find independent books and NOT super chained mass marketed blockbuster style titles. Wonderful calendar of live book readings and Q&A with authors. ...Well their demise is contributing to AMAZON's Orwellian growth. Sad to see you retire, ACWLB. Farewell to unARMed, slow-webbed stylins.
http://sfgate.com/cgi-...
....Per http://SFGATE.com...Cinco de Mayo 2006..." an array of book readings and an exciting collection, A Clean Well Lighted Place For Books has been one of SF's most popular independent bookstores since it opened in 1982. But after years of declining sales, owner Neal Sofman is looking to sell his Opera Plaza business.
Meanwhile, as Sofman seeks a buyer for A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, the lineup for author readings remains impressive.
"This is our busy season -- we have six writers a week," said events coordinator Wendy Sheanin.
"There are four local writers giving readings -- plus people like Gay Talese and Edmund White -- this week alone
Sofman is in the process of developing a new, smaller store -- called Bookstore West Portal (at 80 West Portal) -- which will open sometime this month.
I love you Clean Place. Please don't go!!
:(
Rest in Peace ACWLPB
One of the greatest of the independant bookstores. They will never mind if you wander in just to browse. If you do want to buy something the staff is always willing to help, from the hand written reviews pasted under books to great suggestions. The constant stream of authors leading discusions can be a little too much. It can be overwhelming trying to remember who's talking when.
Exactly as described. Clean, well-lit (the more common usage), and somewhat sterile, with an ambiance more library than friendly neighborhood bookstore, although clearly that's what it is. As previously noted, a good place to browse pre-film or post-dinner, although I prefer the dusty organized chaos of places like Green Apple to the antiseptic atmosphere here.
I had a huge fight with my husband at the sushi restaurant nearby and stomped out in a huff. I didn't have car keys, money, or a working brain, so I stopped into Clean Well Lighted to clear my thoughts. I read some selections off the new books table as I huffed and puffed. After perusing some more titles, I realized how futile arguing was and calmed down. Soon I wasn't thinking of how I wanted to kill him, but how I wanted to "maintain a healthy relationship through truth and understanding on a level of calm, serenity and peace." Yes, Dr. Phil saved my marriage.
Lovely bookstore that is great to visit before or after a film at the Opera Plaza.
as miriam b. posted, they closing. sad, really. im gonna stop by to pick a few things ive been meaning to.
something about local small shops, i feel like i dont mind the extra hassle, if any to purchase from these guys.
silver lining? the article did say one of the owners is opening up a place in west portal.
A great place to stop in on the way in or out of the Opera Plaza cinema (sadly the parking situation makes it hard to casually drop by for itself). A real book obsessive's paradise. The little handwritten notes make you feel part of a club, and the nooks and crannies, and stacks of books in every corner make you want to take up residence.
I love love this bookstore. As soon as I walk in, I go straight to the featured new books by the cashwrap for off the wall book selections, ranging from pop culture, how-tos, cookbooks, fiction and non-fiction. I go here when I need to find a kitschy, offbeat book for a gift.
I love this bookstore. I usually walk out with about three books. I love the ambiance, the coffee brewing, the comfortable laid back ambiance, and the great selections. I usually go to the one in the Opera Plaza, but I grew up with the Cupertino one. The readings are great, and the staff is super nice and knowledgeable. They don't suffer from the elitist intellectualist gravitas of usual bookstore staffers! Ooh, and a Peets next door, life can't get much better than this.
AArrrggghhhh. I just found out today that this place closed. Such a great space. Tranquil and a great location. You never even had to leave the opera plaza. A lot of weekends were spent here. I arrive: 6pm to brouse & read. Friends arrive:6:50. Movie at Opera Plaza 7ish. Dinner at Max's Opera cafe at 9ish. Walk home to my apartment at Geary and Larkin afterward. Simpler times.
This place is basically a copy cat of other small SF bookstores in the vein of Browzer Books & Books Inc. Not a huge fan, as I prefer enormous temples of literature like Green Apple.
Quickly browsed through the store earlier this week, after being VERY impressed by their selection of yoga/wellness books at the recent Yoga Journal Conference. This is a great indie bookstore with a nice selection of stuff. I would highly recommend checking them out - it's worth the trip even if you're not going to the Opera!
A classic Booksense (ie: Independent) choice. Really good book sales. Interesting visiting authors. What's not to like? (um,just the lack of parking and pan handlers) Stop in on your way to a movie at Opera Plaza.
They put a lot into booking the author events here. I love the little cards written by employees reviewing the stock.
The staff here have helped my non-commital ambivalent self find many a book. I like there collection of journals and calendars. I always buy a few, to keep on hand for simultaneous gift-giving. Nice place to spend a few hours pondering what reading material I will commit to taking home with me.
First, let me say that I hate the name of this bookstore. It seems pretentious and silly, and so I was pleasantly surprised when I ended up here on a lazy Sunday afternoon. During my browsing time, none of the staff bothered me and I managed to find a couple of books that I would've purchased if I didn't have a gift certificate I've been meaning to spend elsewhere (no, not http://amazon.com). But I do plan to go back and give them my cash $ support. Mostly I'm writing this review so that I can tell the following story:
The phone rings at the back desk, where the older lady employee is standing with a few piles of books. She answers it, and from what I can tell from her end of the conversation, is asked about events at the store. And not just events in general, apparently the caller wants to know every detail about every event coming up in the next few months. She offers to send them the newsletter by mail and/or e-mail, but still they want to know more. I'm just kind of browsing and not paying much attention to this conversation, but it goes on and on and I start to feel sorry for the poor saleswoman. Finally I hear her say, "Yeah, why don't I just send you the information...yeah, I've got 6 customers in line." I glance over at her and burst out laughing when I realize that she's still completely alone. I don't think she noticed that I caught her, but maybe she'll read this and realize that I'm onto her.
A Clean Well-Lighted Place is the title of an Ernest Hemingway short-story. That being said, this book store certainly lives up to its' name.
Their books on sale are usually good titles. they have a deceptively small store, but ACRES of non-fiction titles and a good fiction section. i also like that they support the local authors.
I know it's closed, but I'm still sad it's gone.
I miss this bookstore. I took photos of John waters there when he came for a book signing. I loved this store. It was so sad to see it go. What a shame.
My favorite bookstore. Quaint, friendly, and very knowledgable staff. Give them a favorite of yours and let them make you reccomendations.
They get some great people to do readings here. And I have yet to meet a more helpful staff. Knowedgeable, but not elitist.
What can I say? It's a clean, well lighted place for books.
Very nice bookstore with undersground parking. I met Jimmy Carter there in 1992.
I want to like this place more than I do. It has a great inventory, nice clerks, good events calendar. They don't stock many books on the counter culture or lefty politics, but they have a magnificent cookbook selection. Sadly I just find it a bit sterile here.
i love independent bookstores and this is one of my favorites in the city. i would hate to see it closed down.
I absolutely love this bookstore. And I don't take to bookstores lightly either, I one of those bookworm nerds in need of satiating daily bookstore dawdling quotas. CWLPB is clean and well-lighted (fancy that), quiet and serene, independent without being snub and elitist, and DOESN'T HAVE A CAFE ATTACHED. Dear lord, it's the rebirth of the original hideaway bookstore. The staff are more than helpful without disturbing the aura of calm or invading your fixated attention on perusing, and their cute notes of recommendation are usually right on the mark. The front entrance holds a myriad of fliers for local events, upcoming bookstore events, celebrity appearances, and more to aid all ye common readers interested in branching out as socially as you can in the shadowed realm of the book dweller. I was pleasantly surprised to see how well-stocked their food section was, and rare but intriguing books are a staple at this place as well. If you're familiar with Copperfield's in Petaluma, it has an uncanny similarity to it, especially with its selling of independently-made artisan knick-knacks (i.e. sin-o-mints and Freudian slippers from the poor philosopher guild). Since I live hardly a block away, I find the place really accessible, but I lament for those who have to try their patience with parking, and trust me... to find one parking space within a 2 square mile radius surrounding my apartment is unbelievable holy. When your boiling blood has returned to safe levels, however, you'll be pleasantly greeted with a "good evening" from the regular bum stationed opposite the front entrance to CWLPB. Good books, good company, and good food nearby as well at Max's Opera Cafe followed by a movie directly next door at the Opera Plaza Cinemas. I'll say it again... how can you go wrong.
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Bookstores
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
Category: Music & DVD's
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