Old Capitol Books

Old Capitol Books Old Capitol Books is your local friendly bookstore, located in downtown Monterey. Independent bookstores are locally owned and usually owner-operated stores.

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Old Capitol Books is a black-owned bookstore located in Monterey's historic downtown Monterey. We stock a wide variety of used and new books, with everything from best-selling novels to radical political theory to local interest topics. Accessibility: Accessible parking is located behind the building at Calle Principal. We are also a venue and art gallery,

hosting lectures, book clubs, philosophy discussion groups, poetry readings, and much more! They cater to the needs of customers in a way that chain stores cannot. Independent booksellers care deeply about books and readers, authors and writing, and not just about making money. Support independent bookstore and come visit us! :)

Brian Sheffield poeting. From the 2026 Monterey Poetry Festival
08/18/2026

Brian Sheffield poeting. From the 2026 Monterey Poetry Festival

W
07/04/2026

W

Happy Birthday Emma Goldman
06/27/2026

Happy Birthday Emma Goldman

This Friday at 7pm, the philosophy reading group is meeting to discuss The Agony of Eros by Byung-Chul Han.Free and open...
06/24/2026

This Friday at 7pm, the philosophy reading group is meeting to discuss The Agony of Eros by Byung-Chul Han.

Free and open to everyone
No prior reading or knowledge required

I snapped this photo in our home library at Giggle House exactly 10 years ago today. Turk Dog still enjoys a snooze by t...
06/20/2026

I snapped this photo in our home library at Giggle House exactly 10 years ago today. Turk Dog still enjoys a snooze by the book shelves

Local poet Brian Sheffield here to kick off Heather Flescher's launch of her new book, For the Duration (Collapse Press,...
06/20/2026

Local poet Brian Sheffield here to kick off Heather Flescher's launch of her new book, For the Duration (Collapse Press, 2026)

A very special event this Friday evening, featuring poetry from Heather Flescher, Jeff Erwin, Kent Leatham, Leslie Hayne...
06/17/2026

A very special event this Friday evening, featuring poetry from Heather Flescher, Jeff Erwin, Kent Leatham, Leslie Haynes Little, and Brian Sheffield. All our favs.

Come out to check it all out. Friday June 19th at 6pm

Steph and Demian are still on the road - this time in Lost Valley, Idaho. Here they are relaxing and reading by a forest...
06/15/2026

Steph and Demian are still on the road - this time in Lost Valley, Idaho. Here they are relaxing and reading by a forest lake.

Did you know that camping on BLM land is free? This makes for a very low cost road trip! (More money to buy books!)

Ryan and Amanda are holding down the bookstore this week, so come say hello! TUESDAY-SUNDAY 12-6PM

Desert Sun, Desert Road, Desert Solitaire.You know your booksellers are always jostling around the summer schedules so w...
06/11/2026

Desert Sun, Desert Road, Desert Solitaire.

You know your booksellers are always jostling around the summer schedules so we can all take turns road tripping. This week, Demian and Steph are enjoying the hot dry days and nights of Nevada and the eastern Sierras and reading along the way.

But don't despair! Ryan and Amanda are holding down the bookstore while we are gone.

Tuesday-Sunday 12-6pm

The weird, the sublime, and the dangerous. Going on the shelves today
06/09/2026

The weird, the sublime, and the dangerous.

Going on the shelves today

Address

482 Alvarado Street
Monterey, CA
93940

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 6pm
Wednesday 12pm - 6pm
Thursday 12pm - 6pm
Friday 12pm - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 6pm
Sunday 12pm - 6pm

Telephone

+18317471322

Website

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