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Books Inc
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
301 Castro StMountain View, CA 94041
(650) 428-1234
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 9 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 9 am - 11 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
124 reviews for Books Inc
Review Highlights
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"Great hangout cafe upstairs with wifi, power and view." In 25 reviews -
"...see much of in Borders and Barnes and Noble, mostly because..." In 6 reviews -
"Great selection and organization and very good prices." In 9 reviews
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124 reviews in English
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Review from Jennifer P.
Mountain View, CA
5/10/2012
The top things I love about Books Inc.:
1) Discount section at the back: I have scored some fabulous kids books that have been huge hits as gifts. For $5-7 I've gotten unique interactive hardcover books ranging from Curious George Discovery Day to the Let's Learn Activity Book About the United States (has a dry erase marker with interactive simple activities to let you learn about the states)
2) Staff picks and seasonally appropriate picks - last night I was pleased to find a creative selection of books for grads ranging from Are You Smart Enough to Work at Google? (brain-teasing interview questions) to the inspirational Last Lecture by Randy Pausch to Seuss's epic Oh The Places You'll Go! Great suggestions and convenient.
3) Free wrapping paper - I ask for my wrapping paper "to go" instead of waiting for them to wrap things. This also lets me put my own flair on wrapping later, if I wish.
While I have occasionally browsed some of the other sections such as the travel section (seemed reasonably extensive) I mainly swing by this store not to look for a specific book but to snag cool and affordable gifts for kids' birthday parties and similar events. -
Review from Edgar N.
12/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
The hunt for my latest literary adventure (Lawrence Lessig's "Republic, Lost", for reference) brought me to Books Inc. recently. I've walked by this place a million times coming to and fro on Castro St. but never bothered to walk in until now.
Actually, let's rewind - I called them ahead of my arrival to see if they had the book I wanted. The guy who helped me out was helpful, quick and nice enough to put said book on hold for me.
I walked in, picked up my book and did some browsing. I come to find out that their computer science section is pretty slim because of the high cost and short shelf life of most technology books. I was bummed, as I was hoping that I had found a bookstore walking distance from work where I could pick up some programming books.
That aside, the staff were really nice, never pushy and got me out of there in time to grab some lunch & head back to work. So, next time I'm in the area and need to pick up some casual reading, I'll swing by Books Inc. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Los Angeles, CA
9/21/2011
I really wanted to like Books Inc. because I love small bookstores. But... they just don't have a good selection. You're more likely to find the tome you need at Bookbuyers. I have a pretty long list of books on my to-read list (both old and new), and after coming up empty after 7 tries I called it quits.
I'll admit that the cafe upstairs is actually pretty neat. And they do have a lot of kitschy gifts and gift cards. But I think the main draw for a bookstore should be the books, and this place didn't deliver. -
Review from Anh D.
8/25/2011
After eating at one of the many fine restaurants on Castro Street, I love to come into this bookstore to browse, read, and find a good book to buy.
It's very warm, cozy, and conducive to book-reading here. I love the atmosphere, the big light, airy windows, and the upstairs cafe.
The layout is very nice -- for lack of a better description, it's kind of like the library that Belle in Beauty and the Beast frequents in the Disney movie, with books everywhere, ladders, and stairs.
My favorite section is the cooking/food books section, which is to the right as soon as you enter the bookstore. They have a pretty good selection of cookbooks and etc., and I always find good finds.
However, the downside to small independent bookstores are two-fold:
1. Selection
2. Price
The selection is not too large due to the size of the store, the fact that these are small bookstore owners, and since we're used to Borders, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon.
The prices are also not as competitive as other much larger places with bigger profit margins, but all that is understandable. I still like to buy books here to help out small businesses and to keep my money local.
Great place! I planned much of my wedding here in the cafe after buying stacks of bridal magazines. :) -
Review from Feisty O.
Van Nuys, CA
8/9/2011
There's a lot to be said about cozy independent bookstores that can't be said about the big-chains. Though the very idea of a physical bookstore will soon be nothing but just a memory, Books Inc. is an example that you don't have to be big to be the readers' favorite. The fact that this store is still going strong as stores like Borders and Barnes & Nobles are getting the ax speaks volumes.
This is not your ordinary book store. Books Inc. has charm and that warm cozy feeling...not to mention a touch of personality.
Located in the heart of downtown Mountain View, this bookstore is one of more happening places. The main floor is the bookstore itself; it carries a variety of reads including magazines and other knick-knacks (check out their cool collection of 3D bookmarks at the counter). They carry items of interests that attracts all kinds of readers.
Upstairs is their very own cafe were patrons can dine on sweets and coffee drinks. Tables and chairs are available for those who want to sit n' stay for awhile of surf the Internet on their laptops. Free Wi-Fi for all patrons.
I hope Books Inc. will be around for a long time as it is truly unique. -
Review from Ringo M.
San Francisco, CA
8/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
My new favourite bookstore.
The staff suggestion cards are helpful when you don't know what you want to read and, as another Yelper mentioned, the layout of the store is very nice! The selection of books is amazing. I've found it easier to find books that catch my interest, instead of having to weed through boring after boring titles at larger stores. I end up buying something every time I visit.
The staff is always friendly. They have a frequent book buyer card (awesome!) and book club meetings that I may plan to start attending. There is also an assortment of random trinkets (very fun) and unique, great looking stationery.
Loveee. -
Review from Tiff T.
Cambridge, MA
10/29/2011
The staff at Books Inc. are always friendly and helpful, and the store has a fun collection of miscellaneous gifts and items apart from their wonderful collection of curated books.
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Review from Mike P.
5/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really - Books Inc has everything that I need - the variety, the personal touch, the knowledge by the staff, courtesy, and most importantly, the cozy feeling you get only from your local bookstores around the corner.
I happen to work for an employer that has an awesome book subsidy program with this bookstore so I go here a lot. The staff are phenomenal - they are very patient, knowledgeable and extremely inviting. The space is plenty - not B&N or Borders - but it's got what it needs to have, nothing superfluous. When I got there yesterday, they were setting up for a book-talk type of event, so you know that they are very active in the local community and act as a bridge between the authors and the community.
The location is awesome - located right smack in the middle of downtown Mountain View, the prices are good and the atmosphere is inviting and cozy. -
Review from Isa J.
Sunnyvale, CA
7/22/2011
Great place. They tend to have a lot of authors in for special readings and
signing. Every Saturday they have kids events in the afternoons. They have a good variety of magazines -
Review from Karin H.
11/6/2011
Whenever my hubby and I dine in downtown MV we often stop by Books, Inc. to get a cup of tea or coffee at their cafe and to browse and buy books. We also like their large selection of magazines that also include internat'l ones such as Paris Match and Vogue Italia. They have a nice selection of cards and gifts as well. The staff is very helpful and nice. There are always interesting fliers posted on their bulletin boards and their restrooms are clean.
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Review from Nancy C.
Los Altos, CA
6/26/2011
Love it here! The staff is knowledgeable and sweet. It's dog friendly-we can freely bring in our pooch and he gets treats every time from the staff.
They do a lot of local events and are an amazing independent store. Hope they are here to stay. -
Review from Alena B.
9/16/2011
This is a really cute store with super deals in the discount section of the kids section...I mean the discount section in its entirety was great but I especially found some cool deals in the kid's part. They have lots of cool kids books actually and more Halloween kids books than I have seen in stores 3 times it's size. Lots of cool books for Jewish children that I hadn't seen elsewhere too. This place is definitely worth a stop by. I buy newer books here and head next door to find some older, used books! A great way to spend an evening in downtown Mountain View!
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Review from Winifred X.
Santa Clara, CA
5/9/2011
With all the independent bookstores going away and Borders closing, I hope this place will live long and prosper...
it's always a delight to walk through a different bookstore, this place has been a staple to the downtown MV area for years...
love it! -
Review from kelly c.
9/22/2011
Read books and eat lunch?! well...I skipped out on the books part but when my coworker brought me to this cute place, I fell in awe. The three of us grabbed some lunch at the cafe. I got the lunch special $5.95 for half a sandwich and cup of soup. The sandwich I want, The California, was not offered as a half sandwich but the owner made it happen. It was delicious! Turkey slice with avocado, crunchy bacon, lettuce squished between two sourdough slices. They also have a decent sitting area to enjoy your lunch. The thai ice tea was so so but I would come back again for the paninis.
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Review from Kristen S.
San Jose, CA
11/30/2010
I came here last night for the Apolo Ohno book signing. But I have been here before on a "normal" business day and have to say that this is a nice little independent bookseller with an upstairs cafe. I like it but have found that the staff can be a little cranky and not exactly thrilled to help you at times. This puts a damper on the consumer, and personally discourages me from patronizing a small business as such. People remain loyal to certain small businesses over retail giants for a reason- we like the personalized and dedicated customer service that you may not find at the bigger guys like Barnes & Noble or Borders. That would be my only piece of advice to Books Inc. Work on the consistency of your customer service.
On to the booksigning event. I would love to rant about the epitome of human beauty that is Apolo Ohno, but that wouldn't be doing this review any justice. So I will try my best to refrain (although, if you want pics of the book signing...and the humble, talented, and gorgeous APOLO...head to my page!)
I thought Books Inc. did a good job of making the most out of the space allotted for the signing. This includes organizing the line as it wove through the store, rearranging their bookshelves to do so, and assisting in general PR and crowd ushering.
The cafe upstairs is small and somewhat limited, but does the trick.
I would return for another booksigning event, or to purchase a book if I happened to be in the area. That is, if the staff isn't feeling crabby. -
Review from Monica F.
Pretty awesome bookstore! I came here last night to go with a friend for Apolo Ohno's book signing. Apolo is damn cute, and i can review his perfect skin and genuine smile and sparkling eyes; however this review is for Books Inc.
Can i just say that the staff did an awesome job with the overall book signing?! Tremendous. It was very organized, thinking that there were probably more than a hundred people in line. Yes. Some people had to wait outside of the bookstore along Dana St. to get their books signed.
As for the books. I like the fact that they have little notes sticked on the shelves for little reviews of a particular book.
Indeed, it's a small bookstore, but it stands out in my mind whenever i think of a bookstore. Maybe because it's really cozy and it's situated in dainty, cute downtown Mt. View.
And the cafe upstairs ain't bad, either. -
Review from Tim L.
Santa Cruz, CA
11/16/2011
Great selection of kids books and great service from the staff. Its quickly becoming my favorite book store
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Review from Marie S.
8/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is exactly the type of place I would find myself in for hours at a time, without even knowing it. They have a great selection of books and magazines from all over the place with little trinkets, etc. that are one-off and not generally found at the chain bookstores. I absolutely love this place and have to force myself from not buying books here because they have such an awesome selection. Like others said, it has a cozy feeling here, you could simply get lost browsing, perusing and simply being. If you do find yourself wanting to purchase books (good for you! i'm jealous!) the prices may be a little more expensive than the chain stores, but they have a cool selection of sale priced books too.
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Review from Robert R.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/6/2011
Small. Intimate. This store doesn't have a wide selection but they look more than capable of getting books into the hands of their customers. I enjoyed the staff reviews they had on the book shelves.
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Review from Brennan H.
Santa Monica, CA
2/24/2009
HOLLABACK BOOKS INC
As a former employee of the Mountain View location, I gotta say that this store is not only a place that's cool to shop, it's a great place to work and one of a few jobs that I can say I enjoyed.
A few insider tips for you browsers out there:
1. Because the company's in competition with monsters like Borders and Barnes and Noble, what they really try to push and what you should take advantage of is the service. Sure, the floor itself doesn't have as massive a selection as the big stores. Did you see the size of the building? How could it? But if you need something you can't find on the floor, ASK. The ordering system used by the company is VERY efficient, and unless you're ordering something pretty obscure, the odds are good they can have it in-hand and reserved within 2-4 days. The shipping and service is free; you only pay for the price of the book. Hell, you don't even have to actually buy the book after ordering it, you're free to change your mind and send it back unless it's a rare nonreturnable item. And they will call you when they have it so you know it's ready to pick up.
2.) If you're reasonably friendly and intelligent, the staff will be more than happy to help you out.
3.)The store's stock is fluid--the more of a certain item or genre that sells, the more they'll begin to stock that item or genre and push out stock of the lesser-selling ones. So if you've got a lot of friends that read a particular type of thing, start buying here and you'll start seeing your options increase.
4.)The store's enemy number one? Parents. Yes, kids are the ones physically causing destruction when they climb all over a stuffed animal with wiring inside to be posed. That's the reason the big stuffed horses, giraffes, etcetera always look slightly crippled. Yes, the kids are the ones who physically pull an entire shelf down in the kids' room, or make a massive stack of the three dollar paperback books. But please, for the love of your local, friendly bookseller, take some friggin' responsibility and teach them to put away their mess or respect the store's merchandise.
5.) The coffee upstairs is nice, and as with the bookstore, treat the workers there like people and they will respond with favors. Yes, it IS a separate business--that's why you can't carry books up without buying them, other than the fact an unpaid book with a coffee spill is a loss to the store.
In the end, all you need to do to make Books INC a great place to frequent and spend anywhere from a few minutes to regular long afternoons is have a little sense and respect, rather than mistaking the place for your personal study or library.
All in all, love your local, indie bookstore and it will love you back. -
Review from Veronica V.
San Jose, CA
6/7/2008
Books Inc. is a small store and therefore limited in their selection. The travel region leaves much to be desired however, for children's books or mass market reading Books Inc. is perfect.
A nice refuge from the computer when I realize I havent gone outside during work for weeks, though lunchtime driving here can be a hassle. -
Review from Wendy K.
4/4/2009 1 photo
I had the pleasure of attending a book reading and signing by one of my favorite bloggers (and now authors) Wed. night. Before the event started, I purchased the book and was impressed with how organized the staff was regarding the book signing. They already had the book flap set to open to the title page, and they provided a Post-It for me to write my name so that it would be easier for the author to customize my book. I felt good supporting this independent book store.
In the brief time I spent browsing before grabbing a seat for the reading, I noticed that they have great little book displays that highlight some of the books at the store. Like the bigger chains, there was a section for best sellers. There was also a section for local authors, which I believe I haven't seen at the local big chains. There's also a cute section just for kids.
As far as the reading went, they were SUPER organized. They reminded everyone to be sure the books were open to the right page with a Post-It in place. When the author finished the reading, they systematically asked for the first row to get in line first, then the second. This was SO much better than everyone rushing to the front at once.
(http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Thanks, Books Inc, for a fun night. I'll be back. -
Review from kevo m.
East Bay, CA
6/21/2007
Books Inc. has its own personality. It's not quite Borders. It's not quite B&N. And it's not quite Book Buyers. Modernly quaint is how I would describe them.
I have always experienced friendly service! Books Inc is always a stop for me if I'm on Castro Street.Listed in: Do you know the way to San…
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Review from Carrie D.
San Jose, CA
9/1/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really like this bookstore! They have a decent selection and I sometimes meet my friend here for coffee breaks. It's quiet and the staff is very helpful!
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Review from Floria C.
Manhattan, NY
1/12/2008
Cute, quiet, no-frills place to go for a lazy afternoon, a good read and a cup of coffee, or to get some work done.
The lower level has a pretty good selection of books. New ones and old ones. Staff seems to have good judgment on which books are interesting enough to display and feature. I could definitely pass an hour or so just browsing their selection, reading book ends, etc.
There's a mid-size loft area with a cafe and plenty of chairs/tables too. The food and drinks at the cafe seem reasonable. $6.50 for a panini or sandwich. Girl next to me ordered a grilled cheese with mixed greens and it looked pretty yummy. A small selection of pastries as well. Variety of espresso drinks. I ordered a mochaccino, which had too much foam and was a little sweet for my taste, but otherwise decent.
Food and drinks are probably a better value than one of the more trendier cafe's in the area. But you are sacrificing that trendy-cafe-ish atmosphere for something more genuine and intellectual.
Since it's on the second floor, it's a good place to zone out and peoplewatch the customers below as well.
The crowd tends to be people with their laptops doing work, older people who are there to pass the time with a book, and a few students. It seems to also be a convenient place for two people to meet for business interviews, old friends catching up, that sort of thing. But you won't see a group of more than 3 people hanging out there. Not crowded at all.
They get free Google wi-fi (you just need a google account... such as gmail) but it seems to be on and off. I was there for a couple hours and it didn't begin working until the very end.
The staff I have interacted with thus far also seem nice and helpful.
Would be nice if it had more comfortable couches or chairs to lounge on. -
Review from Jessica C.
Cupertino, CA
11/20/2006 1 Check-in Here
I love this bookstore. Ok, so really I don't read all that much, which is probably why I love this bookstore. It has a cute exterior, located on Castro which has been getting more hip and happening lately, and I like people watching there.
A while ago my friend and I used to study for GREs here two times a week after work in the cafe. We'd get snacks, but only because we felt guilty about taking up the space without getting snacks, but no one has ever been pushy about it. I've actually seen other people bring dinner from outside to eat there and play some card game ~ a la Magic: The Gathering style.
The lady making coffee is always super nice and cleans the area quickly. Sometimes it gets pretty busy, but it's interesting to see and hear the conversations that go on here. And the desserts are really good here as well. I normally have a grapefruit italian soda, and a lemon bar. But their sandwiches and salads are also really good.
Then of course when we would get bored, we'd go downstairs and sit in the magazine section for a while before going home. I *heart* this bookstore, it's just such a chill place to relax and study. And they had this manga I really liked, as well as having a frequent buyers card where if you buy a certain amount of books you get one free.
Btw... for newbies visiting the place, the bathroom key is at the right most cash register, whereby you can just grab it and make it to the back of the bookstore. -
Review from Roger L.
Oxford
5/16/2007
It's interesting to read some of the other reviews of this place.
First off, I'll admit it. This is the default meeting place when meeting up with friends in Mtn View for a meal. Can't decide where you want to eat? Not sure if everyone will arrive exactly on time? Arrange to meet at the bookstore. It's centrally located, and there's something to do while you're waiting.
For those that think this place lacks personality, I say look again. Sure, the featured books are best sellers and favor techie business books... we are, after all, in Silicon Valley. But for a store of their size, they have a surprisingly good travel books section. They have great puppets. They have someone on staff who's a big enough Windsor McKay fan that they had several very large Little Nemo and Windsor McKay books on display. Now I'm a fan, too.
In the process of writing the previous paragraph, I realized that they have a number of strange quirks that should be major points against them, but somehow endear them to me. I know that the Economist is by the register and not on the magazine shelf for some inexplicable reason... and that no, they don't carry BUST but for some reason carry the much more radical Bitch. Their shelves of discount art books is... well, just one set of shelves.
Thing is... they're still the best place to meet a friend... they're still a nice place to browse... they still carry International magazines (see below)... have author appearances that I never attend... and best of all...
This is the Best Place Downtown to get sandwiches. On the weekends, I like wandering down to Books Inc, ordering a sandwich (which usually comes with a salad) and digging bits of newspaper out of the bin by the back stairs. I mean this is the way your local bookstore should feel, right? So I end up giving them 4 stars.
There are those that miss the old Printer's Inc location here... and I have to admit I do too. The thing I miss the most is that Printer's Inc had a huge selection of magazines, and I am a magazine JUNKIE. Books, however, has a great selection of international magazines. At the risk of annoying my wife by giving away her secret source, Book Inc is one of the few places in the South Bay you can get the English gossip magazine Heat. (Don't worry babe, I have a backup source now!) It is a shame, though, to lose a full-sized local book store and have it replaced by this smaller substitute. -
Review from Darlene W.
Santa Clara, CA
7/10/2007
I've been coming to this bookstore since it was Printers Inc. The best thing about this small bookstore is the staff recommendation display, which you can never get in a Borders or Barnes & Noble type of chain. The amount of community event information is also worth stopping in for.
The cafe upstairs offers a wide selection of drinks, pastries, and food. Unfortunately, the zucchini bread I purchased today was moldy. The cashier was friendly enough to replace it for me, but the original purchase left me kind of uneasy about the standards of the food quality and freshness. It would have been nice if I was offered a refund or a choice of another pastry instead of a second piece of zucchini bread (which I carefully inspected and found no mold, thank goodness). Anyway, stick to the books here. -
Review from Ginni S.
Cupertino, CA
4/29/2007
Besides selling the usual mass market books, I like how they have staff recommended books. The last time I saw that may have been at the Powell Bookstore in Portland.
A few random observations:
1. They have a limited selection of gardening/horticulature books.
2. This is one of the places where I went to find a 2007 Peanuts calendar...and they didn't have it.
3. The large sized stuffed animals close to the cash register are a little scary.
A while back, when I went to the bookstore, I noticed that they had a great selection of Asian authors. This time I went back, I didn't see it anymore. Maybe it was the theme of the month or something. Overall, there is a more limited selection of books compared to Bookbuyers. But the coffee shop on the second floor is a nice addition for those who enjoy bookstore coffee shops. -
Review from AccioSoyMilk ..
Richland, MS
11/13/2010
It's a smaller bookstore with less selection than a large chain, but the upstairs cafe, for me, was the real treat. I came in on a weekday, shortly after they opened.
There's a large amount of seating, and I thought the glass I received for my green tea was larger than what you can get from other bookstores and/or coffee shops. There is free wifi with no time limit according to the manager, but I don't know if that's because I came in on a weekday as opposed to a weekend. The cafe appears to have a wide range of treats and snacks, from your usual cookies and bookstore pastries to actual food.
The bathroom downstairs is okay. Not especially clean but isn't nasty either.
From what I understand the place can get crowded on the weekends and in the evenings for people looking for a place to study. I would definitely recommend it for students looking for a quiet place, especially if you can come in the mornings. There were a few chatters by mid-morning, but it wasn't too bad and could have been a lot worse. -
Review from Wayne W.
San Francisco, CA
4/7/2008
If you like having it all in a bookstore and don't want to go to a big chain like Borders or Barnes, then you'll love Books, Inc. This place has a great ambiance, a quiet enough place to study and the staff is very friendly. I live close to this bookstore and didn't realize it was here until I saw it on TV. I love that it isn't overly big and you can move around the whole store quickly and check out a huge selection of really good quality books.
The cafe upstairs is also worth going to because the egg salad sandwich is really good. I was thinking it was going to just be a sandwich they slap together but it was really well made and I've never had a egg sandwich anywhere else ever since.
The only thing bad I could say about this place is that you cant bring books up and read them while you're in the cafe. Other than that, this is a spot you need to hit if you're on Castro St.Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Evelyn K.
Cupertino, CA
8/3/2008
It is a small store but it's very cozy. I love their magazine section, they've got your regular mags like People, Instyle, etc. But they also have international magazines like England's version of people magazine, it's frustrating seeing a pretty clothing item and seeing a pound sign instead of a $ sign.
Their children section is like a secret hideaway, a perfect spot to disappear to with your favorite book or magazine.
There is a small coffee shop on the 2nd floor which is a great place to chat with buddies.
Also if you would want a clean bathroom to use, there's one on the first floor. -
Review from Johnny T.
Plano, TX
5/25/2010
I feel a bit guilty that I walk into this bookstore a good two times a week for the past two years, but have yet contributed a single dollar to the store's top line. So I figured I'd at least contribute a 5 star rating, mainly for the bookstore's stellar location on Castro and its continuing operations in spite of my absentee financial patronage.
I love to wander into this place after I pick up my frothy beverage from Verde Tea across the street. As I slowly consume my iced tea, I do my fair share of perusing from the shelves (but always after wiping my hands dry). Unfortunately, when the urge to buy strikes, I find myself either at http://amazon.com or http://borders.com.
Just as there is the romance and theater of seeing your espresso hand prepared, there is something wonderful about being able to physically pick up an electic assortment of books to browse by hand with zero intention of purchasing. Nonetheless, brick-and-mortar bookstores - I hope you stay in business! -
Review from bruce k.
Palo Alto, CA
8/30/2009
I love this place. Yes, it used to be Printers Inc, but as far as I can see it is very much the same, and a little cleaner to boot. I usually browse for non-fiction and I like their selection and have gotten many of my favorite books that I probably would not every have seen, touched, picked-up and browsed had I not seen it in the book store.
The staff is very friendly and helpful. I love the author events they occasionally have ... I wish they would have more of them actually.
The cafe upstairs is also really nice. Good food and a fun place to sit, eat and relax and begin a new book or read the paper. The good is very good, and the staff there is friendly and nice too. One of the reasons I go to downtown Mountain View.
I hope Books Inc. stays around for a long time, and I wish they would have more author events. Thanks for existing Books Inc, we appreciate you! -
Review from Amy O.
9/14/2007
I love this store, and was sad to see the Carmel location close several years ago. The independent book sellers need to stick around! Great atmosphere, not crowded, this bookstore really has the best customer service around.
If you are part of a book club, and your club signs in as a club, you get a discount. They have a great selection of books that are recommended with excellent descriptions, and also periodically, you'll find recommended reads in the other sections too! Since this is a smaller store, they probably don't have expanded sections in every genre, but, the store is definitely worth wondering through.
Upstairs there is a small cafe. It's okay, but the bookstore...oh, and it has this kids room that kids will love. -
Review from Ruth C.
5/9/2008
One of my favorite bookstores!
Does it have everything? No, of course not.
Does it need to? No. That's not the point of places like this. Ever see You've Got Mail with Meg Ryan? It's like her little bookstore.
It has a very specialized selection of novels of every genre, but the fun part is browsing and checking out everything and reading all the staff reviews (which makes it all the more personable and adds to the cozy atmosphere). Speaking of which - the staff are very helpful and knowledgeable. If you need a specific book, they can order it for you and let you know when it comes in.
Overall, this store really is not about the quantity but QUALITY. There are so many books that I want to read now because of what is offered and highlighted here.
Big warehouse bookstores like Barnes and Noble are so hard to browse because the selection is overwhelming. I usually only go to B&N if I have something specific I want to buy.
If you're like me and ever just feel like finding a good book to read, Books Inc will be your friend who can easily recommend something that you will probably enjoy.
Special note on their children's section located in a little room in the back right corner - SO CUTE. Surprisingly comprehensive selection on children's literature.
Also - they have a frequent buyers card. If you buy a certain amount of books, you will get one free for the average price of the books you bought previously. You can use this at any Books Inc location. -
Review from Vivek S.
Mountain View, CA
12/21/2010
My favorite bookstore in Mountain View.
This bookstore has a nice cafe on the floor 2: which is an awesome place to hang out at.
Its open until 10 pm.
The veggie Bagel and the Cafe Latte are my favorites. -
Review from Catherine G.
Mountain View, CA
9/11/2009
This review is for the cafe upstairs.
Friendly, quick staff and good drinks/treats. Unfortunately, when I asked for a decaf soy mocha, I was given a hot chocolate. Ooo-kay. When the barista re-made it, she seemed to forget the whole decaf part of the order. Normally this wouldn't be an issue. But it was 9pm on a Sunday night!
I spent the next 5 hours exhausted but wired. It sucked. Pretty major mistake to make, lady.
Otherwise, everything else was great. Had fun spying at people in the book store from above. Great for people watching. -
Review from Apollo L.
Sunnyvale, CA
6/10/2007
Smallish bookstore in downtown Mountain View, this place has a cozy little cafe upstairs.
The book selection is a little thin, but the staff are always very helpful. -
Review from Taya V.
Los Angeles, CA
12/7/2009
My first encounter with Books, Inc is kind of funny. I came here looking for a place to browse around before meeting my friend for lunch. I walk in and set off the alarm immediately. This had been happening a lot recently, and was quite embarrassing during Black Friday. I quickly apologized to the workers who were setting up a new display near the entrance. I thought it was my new bag and they kindly helped me try to demagnetize it, but I was still beeping. Turns out it was my coat -- the magnetic tag hadn't been taken out so I was beeping everywhere. They helped me remove it and I happily browsed their store.
I love this place because although it's a chain, it doesn't feel like one. It reminds me of many of the small bookstores I've visited in small cities. They carry a nice selection of blank journals and stationery, including those by Chronicle Books, featuring my favorite designs by Oh! Joy and Cath Kidson. They have a great selection of books you don't see much of in Borders and Barnes and Noble, mostly because they celebrate the local authors.
I haven't been to the cafe upstairs, but I will definitely give it a try next time I'm in the area, after reading all the reviews here.
