books inc. is a locally owned and operated independent bookstore with 11 locations in california. the origin of books inc. It dates back to the gold rush days of 1851, when Anton Roman struck it rich in the town of Shasta, California, and established himself in the business of selling books. That little bookstore was moved, bought, sold, burned, rebuilt, renamed, and became Books Inc., as we know it today, in 1946.
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lew lengfeld, owner since 1946, passed away in 1996 leaving books inc. to a few trusted employees. the good news was that he left them the business; The bad news was that he left the business just as the national chain stores were discovering and colonizing the West Coast. The impact of this climate change within the book trade was the closure of ten of the twelve Books Inc. stores and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in an effort to restructure and save the company.
At the time, only Michael Grant and Michael Tucker remained as owners. they were determined not just to survive, but to thrive. the company emerged from chapter 11 in august 1997 with 4 stores and added a 5th in 1998. all comprehensive systems have been revamped and computerized, from purchasing to accounting. editors began to take notice when this phoenix rose from the ashes.
Tragically, Mike Grant died suddenly in August 2000, just as the company was poised for further expansion. michael tucker assumed the role of president and carried out the plan.
the external focus of books inc. is now and has always been customer service. the internal goal is to train the next generation of booksellers.
Today, with 11 stores and around 200 employees, Books Inc. serves as a shining example that the independent bookstore can survive and thrive, even if we have to dance with the elephants.
books inc. timeline – a genealogy
2015 – books inc. announces location in santa clara to open in 2016
2015: the berkeley store moves to shattuck & vine
2015 – compass terminal 3 lease granted to books inc.
2011: compass books open in new terminal 2 at sfo
2009: opening of the berkeley store
2008 – the store in the stanford mall moves to the city & country town, palo alto
2006 – opening of the opera plaza store
2004 – the alameda store opens
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2001: opening of the disney and mountain view stores
2000 – burlingame store opens
2000 – michael grant dies suddenly.
1998 – chestnut street store opens in the marina
Aug 1997 – Emerged from Chapter 11, under the ownership of Michael Grant, Michael Tucker (4 stores)
1995: market street store opens, compass/bzinc books open at sfo terminal 3
1995: Lew Lengfeld dies, leaving company to employees Michael Grant and Michael Tucker; National chains colonize the West Coast. Chapter 11 bankruptcy filed in an effort to restructure and save the business.
13 of 15 stores closed. all stores in southern california closed
1976 – laurel village store opens on california street 1974
– 26 stores in the west
1963 – books inc. inducted into the “100 year club” at the california state fair
honor the company that celebrated 100 years of operation
1957: Opens a store in Palo Alto in the Stanford Mall
1955: Expansion to Seattle, Southern California, New Mexico, Dallas, & denver (hartman’s, hunter’s, etc…)
1950: Books Inc starts the first commercial television book review program. lew lengfeld presenter
1950 – Ted Lilienthal leaves the business
1948 – leon gelber dies, books inc. merges with gelber-lilienthal.
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1946 – barbara thompson and lew lengfeld found books inc. at the fairmont hotel
1925: Harry Robertson sold the store and stock to Leon Gelber and partner Ted Lilienthal (Gelber-Lilienthal, Inc., 336 Sutter St.) who founded Lantern Press
1924 – alex robertson dies
1906 – san francisco earthquake & fire destroy original montgomery st. store
1891 – Robertson bought out his remaining partners
1882: Pearson and Robertson (bought Roman stock)
1880 – anton roman republishes overland monthly but sells his shop to george billings
1879: Anton Roman Booksellers is combined with Robertson’s and a variety of partners
1872: Roman first publishes Mark Twain’s Roughing It
1870 – roman sells by land monthly
1867 – anton roman sets overland monthly (edited by bret harte)
post harte’s “luck of the roaring camp”
1863 – anton roman begins publishing
1860: hire alex robertson as an assistant
1859: grand opening of anton romans on montgomery street
1857: Anton Roman establishes a store in San Francisco
1851: Bavarian publisher and bookseller, Anton Roman strikes gold in the town of Shasta, ca December 1851: Anton Roman founds the Shasta Town Bookstore
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