What are the opening hours?

Monday 11am - 6pm Tuesday 11am - 6pm Wednesday 11am - 6pm Thursday 11am - 6pm Friday 11am - 6pm Saturday 11am - 6pm Sunday 11am - 6pm

Books Inc. Opera Plaza

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San Francisco, CA
Books Inc. Opera Plaza

Books Inc. is the West's oldest independent bookseller - we've been around since 1851!
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10/01/2025

(Main takeaway: All of our stores will be closed for a short period of time, and all of our stores will be opening back up in a couple of days! We're so excited to welcome everybody back soon!)

Due to our recent acquisition into the Barnes & Noble family, our stores will be undergoing some exciting new upgrades.

While we work on making those changes, starting October 1 all of our stores will be closed until at least October 3.

Please call ahead or check our google business hours to find out if your neighborhood store is back up and running before visiting.

We can't wait to see you back at the bookstore!

09/04/2025

Big news! 💫

In order to successfully exit Chapter 11, we are being acquired by Barnes & Noble, subject to the approval of Bankruptcy Court.

But that doesn't mean Books Inc. is going anywhere...

Going forward, we will still be Books Inc., locally run, with the same name, stores, culture, leadership, and booksellers you know and love.

More things you should know:
💫All gift cards will be honored.
💫Rewards points can be transferred into our new system.
💫Book clubs, author events, and community gatherings will continue as an essential part of who we are.
💫We plan to have a brief period during which our stores are closed for renovation.

This acquisition will give us the stability and resources to keep our shelves stocked with the books you're looking for, while keeping everything that makes Books Inc. special going strong.

We're excited to continue our story together and to celebrate our 175th anniversary with you next year!

https://booksinc.net/announcement

07/17/2025

What makes your heart skip a beat? 💞

Bookstore Romance Day is coming up on Saturday, August 9 and we want to hear your very correct opinions in our Swoon Survey, a questionnaire for readers who know exactly what they want in a love story.

Tell us:
The best meet-cute setting
💋Your forever-favorite trope
💋The character that gives you butterflies

We'll use your answers for games & giveaways on the big day!

No wrong answers, just lots of feelings.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/

07/01/2025

Happy July, friends!

The year is officially half over, and through blustery skies, summer clouds & everything in-between, our towering stacks of all things shiny & new have been our perfect ever-constant companion.

After careful consideration, our bookseller teams have crafted this wonderful catalog of our favorite books of the year (so far), for every voracious reader in the family!

https://booksinc.net/booksellers-favorite-books-2025-so-far

What have you loved reading so far this year?

05/30/2025

School’s out for summer! 😎

It's time for our favorite way to get into our Summer reading: Book Bingo is back!

Here's how it works:
📚Grab a bingo card at your local Books Inc. or download one from our website!
☀️Read books that match the categories and fill in your card
🕶️Complete four in a row (or a blackout for ultimate glory) and bring it in for your prize!

So, which category are you going to start with? Cause we have some great recs for each.

You can download each card here:

https://booksinc.net/book-bingo-2025?

05/23/2025

Setting up for our Warehouse Sale at Books Inc. Opera Plaza, this weekend, May 24 & 25!

Join us for great books (all for $5-$10) and to support a great cause!

All proceeds from the sale will be donated to our nonprofit The Reading Bridge, to help them bring free books to local students at title 1 schools!

See ya there 🤘

05/12/2025

Tonight’s the night, friends!

We’ve been waiting on bated breath for tonight’s phenomenal author event with the incomparable Christopher Moore, and it’s finally upon us!

There are still tickets available for admission, which you can purchase here:

https://booksinc.net/event/2025-05-12/christoper-moore-books-inc-opera-plaza

05/10/2025

Three cheers for all of the moms this weekend! 🌺

Whether that special mom in your life has a little one in tow, or an adult child out in the world forging their own path, we all know one thing: the love of a mother is unlike any other.

So in celebration of this exceptional day, we’ve curated a fantastic list of books within all genres perfect for reading on a Spring night out on the porch bench or in the car while out on a family adventure.

💐Check out our website catalog here:

https://booksinc.net/mothers-day-picks

💐And our Libro audiobook selections here:

https://libro.fm/playlists/booksinc-mom?bookstore=booksinc

Plus, we’ve got a wild assortment of teas, chocolates, and fragrant soaps as another extra treat!

04/28/2025

What an absolutely magical Independent Bookstore Day it was! 💫

To our beloved customers who joined us as we celebrated another year of bookish joy, thank you for letting us be your favorite neighborhood bookstore! We couldn’t do what we do without each & every one of you.

What new books did you add to your home collection on Saturday?

04/26/2025

Happy Independent Bookstore Day, friends!

Among the hustle & bustle of today’s magical celebration, the official IBD 2025 Tote Bag has everyone oohing & aahing in wild acclaim!

Here’s a glimpse behind the design of this year’s Indie Bookstore Day exclusives!

Award-winning illustrator and graphic novelist Adrian Tomine—the creative mind behind this year’s Indie Bookstore Day t-shirt and tote—sat down with Program Director Courtney Wallace to talk art, indie bookstores, and what inspired his exclusive design.

You can read the interview here: https://www.indiebound.org/blog-posts/new-yorker-contributing-illustrator-adrian-tomine-draws-indie-bookstore-day-focus

04/25/2025

Tis the day before Independent Bookstore Day, and our store teams are busy decking the stacks & prettying up the tables with a wild array of festivity. 🎉

All the while deciding upon the *perfect* hiding place for the infamous Golden Libro Ticket. 🎧

While you’re eagerly counting down those hours tonight, hop on over to our Libro shop to browse through over a dozen curated playlists, including an ongoing collection of audiobook favorites (for all ages) reviewed by booksellers from each of our 10 stores!

https://libro.fm/picks/booksinc

04/23/2025

Happy Book Birthday to The Book of Alchemy by Suleika Jaouad!

Bestselling author of Between Two Kingdoms is back with this masterful guide book to the creative art of journaling.

In this inspiring work, Suleika has assembled wisdom from one hundred writers, artists, and thinkers— including Hanif Abduraqqib, Michael Bierut, Elizabeth Gilbert, Salman Rushdie, George Saunders, Gloria Steinem, Jia Tolentino and many others-in the form of an essay and a writing prompt.

Now on shelves for all of you artistic souls!

📸: Nadia Albano

https://booksinc.net/book/9780593734636

Address

601 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA
94102

Opening Hours

Monday	11am - 6pm
Tuesday	11am - 6pm
Wednesday	11am - 6pm
Thursday	11am - 6pm
Friday	11am - 6pm
Saturday	11am - 6pm
Sunday	11am - 6pm

Telephone

+14157761111

Website

http://www.booksinc.net/

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