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Category: Bookstores [Edit]
Neighborhood: Santa MonicaMon-Sun. 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
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I have heard from various friends and family that some of the best Art & design book stores are in California. It was with that in mind that when I by chance happened upon this store I walked in. I was not disappointed. The longer I looked the more I began liking the place. It was at this point that I decided to try and find a particular book on marbled endsheets that I had been having a lot of trouble locating in Seattle. Something told me I would find it here and as it turned out I was right. If you like books about design, art and architecture, this is your store. As a general rule I like used books stores over book stores that only sell new books. But if the store is amazing then I over look that little prejudice. In this case I will over look it again and again.
To bad it is not a whole lot closer to me.
Hennessey & Ingalls Art and Architecture is my favorite Santa Monica bookstore. I have known this Santa Monica book store every since it's days on Third Street Promenade... which was before Barnes & Noble, The Apple Store, and Starbucks moved in on the block. Back when, 3rd street was home to great bookstores like Hennessey and Midnight Special (no longer). Luckily, Hennessey survived and moved to Wilshire Blvd.
Hennessey & Ingalls Art and Architecture store offers history books, coffee table books to every book imaginable that is related to architecture, interior design, art, and photography. From books on Bauhau architecture, Richard Neutra to Frank Gehry... Hennessey & Ingalls Art and Architecture Bookstore has it all. I am a fan of this store. I love perusing and buying wonderful books from this store. May this store never go out of business. It's too good.
At first glance this bookstore may seem too niche but everyone can find something to look at whether its architecture, photography or pop art. They also have tons of cool cards and stationary.
The staff is nice and you always feel able to browse for as long or as little as you want without being bothered or given the bum's rush.
Awesome collection of stunning books. Could spend many hours and many $$$$ here!!!!
I consider this place to be a true sanctuary for any art school alum residing in Los Angeles. The store is definitely is where I'd go if I found a bag of loot that was discarded by a fleeing bank robber. Unfortunately the bags that I find on the street don't warrant me discussing their contents. So with that being said coming here on payday can be a very dangerous thing for me.
The thing a really love about this store is that you can browse their huge selection of photo books. Never once, when I've been here did I feel uncomfortable by the sales people as I flipped through their display copies. My experience at the store was similar to that of going to record a store where the still sell vinyl, and your able to listen to 12 inches. The sales staff is also very knowledgeable and FRIENDLY. This is an added bonus because some shops that sell art books often have employees that can be a little let's say................antisocial.
Hennessey and Ingalls is the perfect gift destination if your searching for something for a creative friend, or if you just need another gift alternative. They carry Art and Photo books from Rizzoli, Phaedon, Taschen, Aperture, Powerhouse, and other smaller publishing houses.
I've been here twice and spent about an hour each time, just wandering and browsing. They have almost everything you need in the way of art, design, and architecture books. I'm particularly fond of their photography section. They have an amazing online store as well. The rumor about them serving free Hennessey cognac is bullshit though.
I love this place. They have such an amazing collection of photography, design, you name it books. I typically go in just wanting to browse around, find a few things that I like, end up buying 3 of them on Amazon through my iPhone, then picking up that rare magazine or book that I can't get anywhere else here. What? They're kinda pricey.
They also have a great selection of Moleskin notebooks. Always pick one of those up here as well.
Whoa! All the best art/design/architecture books in one place and it's not a university architecture library!!
While I prefer the indie off beat Arcana around the corner, I will definitely come here if I can't find what I need there.
Spacious, brightly lit, and well organized - you have found art/design/architecture book browsing heaven. Has lots of books in more obscure categories.
I was looking for an out-of-print book, but they were able to order it - so I'll be coming back here soon!
Drool....
Inspiration Paradise!!!!!
this is one of my favorite bookstores in the world so far. they have everything you could dream of in the art world. there is no way to go into this store and leave empty handed or have spent hours there. the staff is super knowledgeable and helpful. shipping is great too! and the website is clean and simple easy for ordering.
go to the back and look at their out of print copies. they have some really neat collectables. great place to buy gifts for anyone. lots of nice coffee table books.
Sublime. Funny to read that Michael Jackson coveted it too. Go figure.
The best bookstore in LA?
Possibly the best bookstore in America.
Love this shop! They have books on everything related to architecture, branching into enterior design, landscaping & gardening, art history, local history, etc. I could entertain myself for hours just perusing in here :)
There are many used books that can be a bargain to snatch up. New books are of course more expensive, and many come in hardcover adding to it. If you can really stick to buying just what is on your list and find used books it's very affordable. But if you're like me and have a tendency to impulse buys on books or can't find a used copy be prepared to drop a bill at least.
If you are in need of a book on a specific topic fast you're likely to find it here and the staff are very willing to assist you in finding something. The location is great, very near to 3rd Street Promenade so you can take your new beloved books and head right over to a coffee shop or even to Palisades Park to read by the ocean.
My only wish is this were closer to home and that free parking were more available in the area.
H+I is top drawer. This place is like an art fag's wet dream. Its this art fag's wet dream, at least.
There are rolling hills forever of art, architecture, design, and fashion books. In the front there's a section of novelty gifts, mags, calendars, diaries, and such.
There's a bathroom "for customers only" which is just as immaculate as the rest of the store.
Things are nicely organized and tidy.
There's a good range of prices, from affordable to "Holy crap, is it made of gold?" They even have a used books section. Its very small and the selection is pretty dated and may have been used at masturbatory material in the past, but you have to take your chances with marked-down items. Like fish.
True, there's no real homey feel. Like, you're not invited to sit and sip your coffee whilst you flip through an unpaid for catalog of Matisse's lesser works, but they don't bitch at you if you curl up in the fetal position in the middle of the floor with some warm and fuzzy Duchamp.
As with the rest of Santa Monica, parking is gonna be a little of a hassle.
This is my favorite bookstore, hands down! I love this place. I've been coming here for years and it's my Achilles heal. It's so hard to leave without a book. I come here for inspiration before I start a design project, and I wish my book collection looked like this bookstore. Maybe one day when I become a famous designer and can afford all of them.
If you want a comprehensive store on design books of all sizes, and all subjects, this is the place to go. The bookstore rarely has a sale, but when they do, that's the best time to buy books, or if you have money to burn.
This is my favorite Architecture/ Art/ Design book store to come and get lost in inspiration!
The people here are very helpful usually I will go to just look. but sometimes I have an idea of what I am looking for. They are good at piecing my description words and lead me to a book!
Good Business Good BookS!
ok, i have to be quick.
THIS PLACE F*CKING ROCKS.
i was looking for a book for almost a year. couldn't find it anywhere. had been to 10 or more stores and scoured the internet. nothing. called H & I and described the book to the nice lady who answered the phone. she couldn't find it using normal means. she went the shelves and called me back 7 times until finally she FOUND IT! she was as excited as i was. among the best customer service experiences ever. and their selection is simply unparalleled.
Go.
and enjoy.
Hennessy and Ingalls doesn't need another 5 star review, however I do see that some people just don't seem to appreciate the depth and breadth of how special this place really is so I think that all of the 5 star people should harass and berate the non 5 star people into changing their reviews.
btw, I don't know the owners of this place.
I could literally spend hours in this bookshop and they don't mind it at all. They welcome visitors to sit and flip through all of their books if you are so inclined. Although, it is worth buying your favorites because you will keep them forever. I have a selection of classic coffee table books, which I value so much and which are only easily found at Hennessey and Ingalls.
They have a thorough selection of books on all subjects pertaining to design. I love browsing the fashion and architecture sections. They also have some fantastic books on Los Angeles including photographic essays or even guidebooks. The people who work here seem to enjoy their jobs and they are incredibly knoledgable on design, which makes them very helpful. Oh! I also adore purchasing their little Christmas cards or party invitations-- they have a wonderful amount of graphic and darling box sets or individual ones for sale.
If you are at all interested in design or art you must go to this bookstore!
I finally made it to Hennessey + Ingalls last weekend and I am in love. A well-organized bookstore that caters to lovers of design in all its forms, I spent an hour in the graphic design section on Saturday and I could have spent another hour or two checking out other sections if I didn't have a hot lunch date to get to (note to self: don't make plans on days that involve a trip to H+I).
It is wonderful to have an independent bookstore that carries not only popular titles that you've previewed on Amazon, but also independent and low press count books. There is also a back room that holds their out-of-print collection. I felt rather frugal to make it out with only $90 worth of fun and interesting graphic design books. So, uh, if you are trying to save money you might want to leave your plastic at home and just ogle the merchandise.
I am an architect by trade so obviously I am a bit biased, but for a bookstore, this place is so thorough. They know their books, support local firms, and also have new books all the time. They are very knowledgeable and have books about other design practices as well. Such an easy place to get lost in for a day. Into design at all, or like pretty pictures of pretty places? This place is one of the best ones to stumble into.
If you are looking for a gift for someone and don't know what to get them, this is the place to go! You will find a huge collection of quirky and fun art books on a variety of subjects. Looking for something fun? Try the graffiti and street art section.
Just go in empty handed, because you will want to pick up and flip through a lot of books!
One of my all-time favorite bookstores, but you must love art and architecture-related subjects to really appreciate this store. My husband is eternally resigned to the fact that I must spend several hours at Hennessey & Ingalls whenever we go there.
Best bookstore in So Cal, maybe even the state. Best selection of art, photo and architectural books that you won't find anywhere else. I stop in as much as I can when I'm in the area. Support this store rather than Amazon so it will remain a fixture for many years to come.
The 3rd Street Promenade pretty much makes me want to impale myself on a sharp object, so what the HELL is this fabulous bookstore doing nearby? I'm thinking that H and I made the move off off of the Promenade for the same reason.
Anyway, the most complete and thorough collection of art, architecture, photography, and obscure pop culture books around. Even if you don't have the bucks to buy one of the beautiful books or THINK you have no interest in architecture, you should drop by and explore. I promise you, you'll be in there for awhile.
Hands down the best bookstore I've ever been to.
The greatest selection of art, photography, architechture, pop culture, and reference books PERIOD. If you want to buy fiction or the latest book by whats-his-face, don't waste your time going to a bookstore, order it online.
This is the only bookstore you'll ever need to physically walk into, unless you go to Equator books for an event or you need a super-expensive first edition.
Nineteen reviews and all five stars and deservedly so. You gotta put the success of Hennessey & Ingalls within the context of its surrounding. Just down the street are two of the nation's largest chain of bookstores: Barnes & Noble and Borders. These two have been slaying indie bookstores for well over a decade now but H&I continue to thrive.
H&I is not a hole-in-the-wall wee little bookshop of antiquities. It doesn't host vacuous little talks by lefty douches. Gore Vidal doesn't even have a book here. It is, in the words of Will Ferrell in Elf, GINORMOUS. Shelf after shelf after shelf of visually arresting books grabs your attention forcing you to linger longer and browse. The selection for arts & architecture is the most thorough you'd find anywhere else. The prices I think are reasonable since you really can't find many of these books anywhere else and the chains only cut prices for popular books anyway.
Unlike other indies, H&I is clean and professionally-run. While indies rub it in your face that they are struggling and proud of it, H&I is optimistic evidenced by their friendly staff.
If you are ever around the 3rd St. Promenade in Santa Monica, I suggest you stop by here.
Seriously thee best book store i've ever been in. And okay then..all you smarty farty pants intelluctuals - i don't read alot of books but this place is just incredible.
I love art, i love fashion, i love photography, i love architecture and design of all kinds. This place is a one stop shop for fine art book shopping or perusing!
I walk in knowing what i want to look for but instantly i'm drawn to something else. 1 parking ticket (damn you fowl meters!) and 2 hours later i got a whole stash of books ready and waiting to take home! They've got the nicest people working there. Super knowledgable and actually eager to take a question from you! I NEVER get that from Borders or Barnes - it's more like stand around and wait and someone may help you or ...not.
They've got a great website too! Hennessey & Ingalls rules on the westside!
Since its founding in 1963, Hennessey + Ingalls has grown to fill a unique niche in American retailing. Our store is now the largest art and architecture bookstore in the western United States, and it is probably the largest retail operation in the country dealing just with books on the visual arts. The business was founded by Reginald Hennessey as an outlet for rare and out-of-print architecture books and is still family- owned and managed. We moved in 2003 into our new location at 214 Wilshire Boulevard, Santa Monica, just around the corner from where we had done business for some twenty years in the Third Street Promenade.
Hennessey + Ingalls has become a landmark in the visual arts community. From our over 8,000 square feet of selling space, we provide books to a wide selection of customers in Southern California and indeed all over the world.
We are pleased to count many of the area's and the country's leading architectural firms as our clients, along with museums, collectors, art galleries, students, interior designers, graphic design firms, and schools. We are the primary book supplier to three large academic art libraries in Southern California, as well as to smaller schools and corporate libraries around the country.
We maintain especially strong and in-depth selections of books in art and art history, all phases of architecture, photography, interior design, graphic design, and landscaping. The broadness of our collections and the knowledge of our staff have Hennessey + Ingalls an important stop for art directors in film, television, and advertising.
Hennessey + Ingalls also maintains a small but active publishing division, producing about six titles a year and distributing them to bookstores and libraries across the country. Our list of about fifty titles in print consists mainly but not exclusively of reprints of classic titles on California modernist architecture.
In short, Hennessey + Ingalls has proven itself over the years through the combination of unequalled stock and most attentive customers service to be a successful and valued member of the vibrant art, architecture, and design communities here in Southern California and beyond.
The single greatest bookstore I've been into for photography, architecture, art, and design books. It's a candy store if you're into that stuff, and boy am I. The staff is knowledgeable and will track something down for you, even if they don't have it in stock. They have great discounted books on top of some of the islands, it's hard to walk out without something. They also publish some great SoCal related books, check them out. They also have a lot of out-of-print books and some foreign stuff that I've never seen elsewhere.
Make sure to sign up for the mailing list so you don't miss the 20% off everything week they have late each year.
This is one of my favorite book store in LA county! If you love spending 3 hours at a bookstore, then this is the place for you. This store has an amazing array of fine art books, from Architecture to Photography, from Graphic Design to Paintings. You name it, chances are, they will have it.
Any art lover or artist at heart will just totally love and appreciate what this beautiful store has to offer. Best part is, they often has some of the most amazing deals on sale. This store is alot bigger than their older 3rd Street Promanade location.
Happy hunting!
This bookstore ought to be proclaimed a Los Angeles landmark.
I've seen my fair share of bookstores specializing in art/photography/architecture - four continent's worth. There's not a bookstore in Manhattan that's superior. Yes, that includes Strand.
Three or four hours go by without notice if you're not careful. The space is grandiose - it feels like you're inside a warehouse transformed into a bookstore. There's breathing room.
Be it contemporary (Gerhard Richter, Jeff Koons, Jeff Wall) or from different epochs, the art section is remarkable.
The photography selection isn't as vast, but they carry a totally acceptable repertoire from your usual suspects (Doisneau, Kertesz, Bresson, et al.) and then rarer items from people such as William Eggleston.
If you're an architecture major living in L.A., I doubt you haven't heard of H+I already. If you haven't, drop everything you're doing and head towards Santa Monica.
Yeah I could spend hours in the graphic design section. Great for inspiration, I'll always go directly home afterwards and try to reproduce some of what I see but it never works. One of these days BAM I'll get it you'll see
my best bookstore i've ever been to besides strand (ny), and eslite (taipei).
they actually have a motion graphics section. rock on!
Based on the reviews of others, I ventured out specifically to explore this bookstore and I can attest it was definitely worth the trip. H&I is one of those awesome places where you can just have tons of space to walk around their huge selection and be overwhelmed, flipping casually through several books, or sitting on the floor and devouring one.
It's a bit pricey, but these kinds of books always are. The redeeming feature is the amazing selection and the helpful categorization. I particularly like the photography, graphic design and regional design sections as well as the digital art and art theory books. Plus they have a lot of books about art and architecture of LA, and for somebody who just moved here, that was really fun to see.
This is THE place that you should go for any type of art, design or architecture related inspirations. You'll feel like a kid walking into a candy store, dazzled with the wealth of information here. I've been visiting here since I was a design student, and now at an art director level, I still find this bookstore a treasure hide-out. You can spend your life in here reading and amazed by all the current design trends, journals, etc.
Rather than going through the messy and incomplete collection in most "graphic design" section in Barnes and Nobles [ or Border's ], your time will be well spent here. Hennessey and Ingalls also has some international import reference book as well. It is almost like a very well maintained art library, with knowledgeable staff that gives you references and advices.
So when you're on the 3rd street promenade for a shopping spree, try to stop by this amazing bookstore and lessen your guilt.
It is fun to browse here but the atmosphere is oppressive and too sterile. I would like a dirty floor and maybe some rock and roll music playing. I sound like a Philistine. Actually...... what I would really like is if the place was made up in the style of an hr giger bar. That would be really cool. Also. many of the art books are redundant and do not offer a new perspective.
You lose 3 hours before you know it in this place! You can look at works of famous architects (I like Meier), then move onto city planning, then interior design, then furniture, then print art... The list is never ending! They also have tons of deep discounted, out-of-print titles that are great to round out any collection! The only thing better than H&I is Powell's (their archtecture section alone is like 20k SF!), but who can make it up to Portland on a regular basis?!?!?
The best.
I like to go here and sit on the floor reading books until my legs fall asleep.
Book Mecca for designers and artists...
Yay! I missed this place desperately when they closed their doors on the SM Promenade so I am overjoyed they found a new home. Cream of the crop for Architecture and Art books, but don't over look the Travel section, home of the invaluable "Blue Guide" series. Even tourists should stop here!
From Warhol to Gehry, this is a dream bookstore for any Art and Architecture enthusiast. They have everything you've been hoping to find and more while maintaining an absolutely charming store. If you don't believe me, check out their website which is equipped with a searchable book database. Next time you're in the promenade, hop over a block to check this place out. You won't be disappointed!
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Category: Bookstores
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