The Booksmith
The Verdict
"Check the events calendar for author readings. The silent reading parties are a genuinely good idea. Pair with a trip to Amoeba Music down the street."
What you need to know
What to expect
The stock covers literary fiction, narrative nonfiction, politics, history, sociology, gender and race studies, graphic novels, magazines, and a children’s section. Author events run regularly. The store also hosts book clubs and silent reading parties.
The Story
Gary Frank opened The Booksmith on Haight Street in October 1976. Current owners Christin Evans and Praveen Madan bought the store from him in 2007. San Francisco granted Booksmith Legacy Business status in October 2016.
Visiting
Located at 1727 Haight Street, San Francisco, CA 94117. Open daily from 11am to 7pm. Free to browse.
Getting there
On Haight Street between Cole and Shrader, a short walk from Amoeba Music. The N-Judah stops at Carl and Cole, about four blocks south. The 6-Haight/Parnassus and 7-Haight/Noriega buses run on Haight Street.