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Category: Bookstores [Edit]
1007 B StMon-Fri. 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
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I used to come here all the time when I needed a book for class. The man who owns the store is really nice and he knows all the books kids need for their school reading lists so it's a great place to go shopping. The store front makes the shop look small, but it really has a lot and a good assortment of books on just about every subject.
Also, he buys used books and allows you to use your used book $$ toward the purchase of a new book. I brought in a bunch of old books and he let me use my trade-in money toward the book my husband wanted. I was sooo happy because I didn't have to spend too much out of my pocket and my husband loved the book.
People thought this was:
I'm reticent to give them 5 stars because they usually think I'm stealing as I pass through to look for Hemingway after the Farmer's Market (something about buying stuff to make stew makes me want to read "For Whom The Bell Tolls"), but I always end up with at least a couple books, which is rare, as I'm about the pickiest reader ever. Eclectic selection + dirt cheap classics = Chances took.
This place is probably my favorite bookstore in the bay area. The shelves are so tall, I can barely reach the top row, which sounds like a put down, and would be, if it was such a nice feeling. Feels home-y, which is sorely lacking from every other place that sells books nowadays. Every time I come out, I always end up with something I end up treasuring, which is just brilliant.
Favorite finds: A copy of Fitzgerald's "Tender Is The Night" in the paperback edition with the cover Betty Draper was reading in Season 2 of Mad Men. And "Look Back in Anger" complete with illustrations at the end of each scene.
The store is in the quaint - and newly renovated down-town section of hayward. There is always plenty of parking here. They also have great hours - client hours, not grumpy store-clerk hours. Their prices are also very reasonable, even for new books (which I rarely buy anywhere). They cram a huge selection into a very small space, but it never seems crowded. And every title is easily searchable (and reachable) by subject and author.
The staff here really KNOW books, and they are always friendly and eager to help. I don't live near this store any more, so I usually call ahead to make sure that they have the book before I make the drive, and the staff is always willing to check and make sure they carry the selection I need. No grumblings what-so-ever. They are also willing to offer ideas and suggestions if I can't decide what to read next. They are always happy to take in my used books, and they give you great trade-in value too.
This is my all time favorite book store.
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Almost 50 years old, this bookstore is a legend. While other communities are loosing their indie book shops, The Book Shop endures. There are new owners who are totally people oriented and know their books. I was searching high and low for Julia Child's MASTERING THE ART OF FRENCH COOKING, and they were the only bookstore to have a copy. None of the big box stores had one in stock. If they don't have exactly what you are looking for, either new or used, they can order you a new copy and have it in two days. Love the location, too. Plenty of great one of a kind places to eat and/or drink within a block or two.
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I don't write many 5 star reviews, so here's a 5 star breakdown. Not that you care anyway. :)
First Star - The book shop smell. I walked in and was completely intoxicated with the overwhelming aroma of old books. Oh sweet nectar.
Second Star - Mastering the Art of French Cooking Volume One for 5 dollars!!! What, What, What!?! I've been searching high and low for a used copy, and I finally got it for 5 dollars. Hell yes!
Third Star - The selection. From fiction to non-fiction to romantic novels to travel books to cook books, they have a section for just about everything. We also found Judy Blume, and the Baby Sitters Club.
Fourth Star - The Book Shop Lady. She was so friendly and helpful. She knew the authors of the most random books. We also bonded on the distaste for "Julie & Julia". And I here she gives a discount for Yelpers.
Fifth Star - The history. The Book Shop has been in operation since 1961. On the day I went in, the owner told us that yesterday was the 20th anniversary of the day he purchased the Book Shop.
It's right down the street from over trendy Bijou, which yelpers consistently refer to as a "gem in Hayward". In my opinion, the Book shop is the REAL gem in Hayward.
People thought this was:
Good variety, great price, lot of quality used books.
It's missing a star because all the customer who goes there seems to be like a long-term regular customer who are buddy-buddy with the worker,
so the lady was helping me find a book, and in middle of it this lady just walks in, and they start their friendly chatting.
I know I only went there once, and the lady was probably regular customer and all, but it should be first come first serve..
overall a good store though, friendly staff.
I love this little book shop. This is a great book store! They have New and Used books. I called to see if they had a book and they had it in used and held it for us. She also offered to order a new one if I would rather have it new.
They have a great selection of adult and kids books. The staff is very nice and helpful too! They spent time talking to my son about what books he liked too!
This place is definitely on my top 5 best used books store list!
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I love this little book shop. They have a great selection of adult and kids books. The staff is… Read more »
I'm always thinking about coming back here.
My BF and I love bookstores - specially used ones.
Nice staff, incredible prices, and tons of books!
Happy, happy, joy joy!!! (doing the book-finding dance.) I love this place. Shop folks are friendly and just chatty enough without being annoying. They have a great selection and excellent prices. it is a small shop but they try very hard to maintain a wide selection. They carry both new & used and take trades - unlike many other places they are actually happy to see people come in with bags of books for trade. Ever since Grey Wolf in San Leandro closed I've been jonesing for a local used bookstore. Sooooo happy to find this place.
People thought this was:
I suppose if I leave with a book every time then they must be doing something right. Whether it be in the used or new section I can easily find something to suit my fancy.
The lady who helped at the cashier me spoke lyrically, "And a ($)20 he said to the ($)16.29. Responding with a ($)3.71."
She pulled out a plastic bag to put the book in.
I respond with, "Thank you, but I"ll just take it as it is."
"Oh, then take it, naked."
I chuckled as soon as I left the store.
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This is like the only mom and pop bookstore in downtown Hayward that I know of. The majority of… Read more »
Bibliophiles Rejoice!
There is always a spot in my heart for the used bookstore and The Book Shop is no exception. I've been in quite a few times and have had a great experience every time. Rarely do I enter with a title in mind- usually just a topic. Sometimes I wonder around and see what I can find other times I just ask Renee and she'll let me know if they have that subject, or a similar one. (I know that she mentally files away my requests so she can point them out on my next visit.)
In used, they have a good selection of Fiction and Sci-Fi, and what's in that back room? I never seem to make it that far. Another trip is in order.
What have I walked out with my last few visits?
Backyard Ballistics
The Dangerous Book for Boys
(Yes, these were for me)
And a complete OED with slipcase and the magnifying glass! Wow!
Besides the books, the staff has a library of knowledge that they are more then ready to share.
Oh, Hank has always been welcoming and helpful . :)
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Renee is a rock star! Throw a title at her and BOOM! she'll have an opinion for you, or at least some cool information about it. She's quite wealthy in her literary knowledge and keeps up with all the trends. The rest of the staff is friendly also.
The shop has a nice selection of old and new, literary and not. Cheaper prices compared to used bookstores in OAK/BERK/SFO. If they don't have what you're looking for, you can have them order it for you. They also a small selection of calendars and giftcards. For booklovers, it's a fun place to linger after shopping at the Saturday Farmers Market.
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Disclaimer- if your expecting another review with dwarf hookers,eating mystery meat tacos in Mexico,unwelcome sexual advances while in the county slammer,my courageous fight with meth/cigarettes/ex-girlfriends then read no further my friends...........I needed a book for my Cha-blow college humanities class and decided i would support local businesses by coming here to buy my copy of The woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston from the moment i spoke to the very friendly woman on the phone about the availability of said book to the moment i walked out of the shop i experienced nothing but customer service excellence.I even received a discount by mentioning yelp. And lastly, i've had a crush on the girl behind the counter for years now. http://babeswithbooks..../
People thought this was:
This place is great! Small and packed with books like a bookstore should be. Borders and Barnes and Noble are too freaking clean and bright. Book stores are supposed to be dark and musty. They have decent lighting here but I will forgive them that. Large sci-fi section. Lit kind of hit or miss but what can you do? I found a newish hardcover I was interested in and when I asked if it was the price on the back cover the woman at the counter said yes but she suspected it was about to come out in paperback and might be able to lower the price. And she did! 25% discount, nice. She was very nice and as Gabe F. said, hot.
People thought this was:
This is the kind of locally owned, community conscious business I'd like to see more of in Hayward. The first time I went in, a few months ago, the first thing I noticed was the amazing selection of books on display. They even had a book from one of my UCSB professors ("Is Wal-Mart Good For America", by Applebuam) in prominent view!
When I couldn't find the book I was looking for, I inquired at the counter for it ("The Unbearable Lightness of Being", by Kundera) and Renee produced it in 5 seconds. It seems the owner had just finished reading it! It felt like fate! The also had a copy of "The Last Unicorn" behind the counter!
With a sweet, literate, and helpful staff, I have no complaints about this business. They also buy your books back for a fair price.
One of my best friends worked here when we were in high school but I've only recently went. Don't make the same mistake I did, go visit them know!
People thought this was:
This will always be at the top of my list for book stores because I went in a few years ago as a last ditch effort to find a book that had been out of print for years and it was sitting there on their shelf. Try them out, you won't be sorry.
A home away from home for me.
Tasteful selection of new books complimented by just enough used ones to keep me busy each visit. There is a Bobby Fischer-Brained lady that makes the entire experience a pure joy if you employ her unmatched book recommendation skills. I owe many hours of satisfied reading to her acumen.
Don't miss this one if you like friendly faces, local color, or books.
so i went here again, and they gave me 10% off just because im a yelper.
so see? yelpers dont just yelp for nothing.
this book shop feels like one of those infamous shops in movies, where in the back room, there's… Read more »
Amazing and wondrous, with oodles of information and a superb selection from mainstream bestsellers to organic pot farming or obscure scf-fi.
Make Hank laugh and maybe he will give you a cookie.
I'm sorry that CL thinks the Book Shop staff are mean. I used to work there and Hank (the owner) is indeed a curmudgeonly old dude, but Renee (the manager) is probably one of the sweetest people alive. She is the one who trains people, and she certainly never would encourage meanness towards anyone. She will remember your name and the books you like even if you only met her once before for a few seconds. She will get to know you and put in the extra mile to get you whatever you need. That kind of relationship is hard (maybe even impossible) to find at Borders, B&N, Amazon, etc.
CL, if you see meanness in the world, I suggest that you look within your own soul.
I walked in and within a few minutes of browsing I had 2 paperbacks that I couldn't even find on eBay or Amazon, for 5 bucks and some change. Lots of neat miscellaneous non-fiction. This place smells like you'd expect an old-timey library to smell like, a little dusty with that sweet undertone of pulp and a faint tang of ink. I wish I had more free time during the day as I could probably browse here for hours. I noticed they had a lot of books about local history and neighborhoods, and they also rotate artwork in the windows regularly. Reminds me a lot of Holmes in Oakland when they were still around, but I haven't yet met any ghosts!
People thought this was:
i love the bookshop. great used selection, plus the employees will work to find it for you. definitely a gem in downtown hayward. seriously support this place
It is a nice book store ans it has alot of book about hayward's history
Great used bookstore located in downtown Hayward right between two cool bars. Good way to spend a winter afternoon when you've called in sick to work, buying a cool book or two and sidling up to the bar.
I used to work across the street at Clay's Comics (now Comix and Comix). Much of my meager paycheck went into used books from The Book Shop. I would browse on my lunchbreak and buy penguin classics that I thought as a budding intellectual, I should read. The owner, Hank I think his name is (It's been a long time), is a bit cantankerous, but really friendly and animated when you get to know him. The intimacy of the the small shop makes browsing easy, and the selection is pretty balanced. Good selection of art books and calendars too. This is definitely a local business to support. I remember it fondly.
A great find...for both new & used books. They have a great selection and are very helpful and friendly. I try to shop there whenever I have gifts to buy or need to replenish my 8 year old's library as he's read Harry Potter boooks at least 6 times each.
This is a wonderful place. As others have noted, there's a cranky but decent owner, but I've only encountered friendly and helpful staff members who have done whatever they've been able to for us.
Their stock of new books isn't huge, but they order, and they have plenty of used books. My only request of them (and I should make it) is that the shelves are poorly labelled, and I'd prefer clearer labels.
Castro Valley, CA
Category: Bookstores
Castro Valley, CA
Category: Cards & Stationery
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San Leandro, CA
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