Bay Books

Bay Books on Willow Pass Rd in Concord closed in mid-​August.
They moved their books to their San Ramon Store.
RIP – another independent book store bites the dust due to rent increases/

Better than I anticipated. Doesn’t have the same selection of specialized nonfiction that you’d find in HPB, but the children’s and fiction sections were probably better.

Ahhhh, I love this place. I actually go out of my way to stop here on my way to my parents’ house sometimes, and always end up spending far too much money (because really, who doesn’t need 25 new books?)
I live in the city, which has a decent used bookstore selection if you’re looking for non-​fiction and rare. And I do read non-​fiction, for the hours I’m looking to better myself. But I also need fiction to wipe my brain clean of the day’s craziness, and this is the place for fiction!
Speaking of, I’m overdue for a trip back…

As it turns out, there is a decent independent book store in greater Pleasant Hill. It’s located in the Park N Shop Centre (near Fry’s) and is the sister book store to the one in San Ramon. And since it’s about the same drive here than to the twin Death Stars (Borders/​Barnes and Noble), why not stop here first?
This family-​owned bookstore is large, meanders through the entire building, and is loaded with all sorts of new and used books. They will also buy or trade for your books and the available stock is nicely discounted. You can also order your books on-​line and pick them up free at the store. I also appreciated the little note cards on various parts of the shelving that explain the book and author. And like their other store, they really could use a book store cat and maybe a little more seating to hang out and enjoy the selection.

Up until this store I wans’t sure what is all the fuss with small, privately owned bookstores. From my experience the stuff was not always nice, not knowledgeable, books were not organized well enough for me — etc, etc. I left 3 of ‘those” stores few times just because of the personal.
no, if I said «no I don’t wish to get this book» I really mean it.
BUT — this store was different to me and much better, bigger, nicer from their twin store in San Ramon.
I went with my girls — we looked for some books and we all found what we were looking for.
Yay! I’m a fan.

A pleasant book buying experience. Good selections, friendly staff and a decent selection of quality used books.

They had Easter eggs hidden throughout the store today (the day before Easter), each with coupons and prizes hidden in them. I found one in the history section with a 25 cents off coupon. Don’t tell anyone, but I quietly switched it with another egg I found hidden in the travel section. It was for 50 cents off. Score!
It’s that kind of thing that makes this a special bookstore. It’s got a small town feel, with really helpful, nice staff. They’ve got a great selection of classics and art books. Although, their audiobooks are just sort of thrown on the shelves, without much order. Also — if you’re looking for film and theater books, I’d go down the street to the less charming Half-​Priced Books.

After a few years living in Berkeley, it was a shock to the system to move east of the tunnel. The only sources for a book junkie like me seemed to be the usual-​suspects-​chain-​stores (which honestly are fine; I just prefer to support local business and find quirkier/​more interesting items).
But then, I discovered Bay Books and life got a little better. They have an excellent children’s collection – well-​organized by both level and subject – great for me as a new teacher still developing my classroom library. (And their used children’s books are quite reasonably priced!) Their fiction for adults can be hit-​or-​miss, but they have at times had a copy of a book I could find nowhere else. I usually check at Bay Books first before I buy elsewhere, since their books are in good condition and their prices competitive.
I’ve never sold any books there, but the staff has been friendly and helpful whenever I come in looking for some oddball volume or can’t remember the author of a certain book.

I lived in Concord for 10 years and used to always go into Bay Books. They have a great selection and they have a lot more upstairs if you can’t find it on the floor.
I still make the 30 minute trip over there every few months to restock on books.

It’s a good supplement to Half Priced Books down the street.

I guess that I’ve realized the perfect «Bay Books.» I don’t trade my books (I swap them online for free books), so not a problem for me.
The store is very nice and clean. It doesn’t have that usual musty Auntie Mae’s smelly basesment smell of most used books stores. The books are in good condition.
However, they don’t have all the awesome discounts that Half Price books offer.

Aside from the traumatic book selling I did back in college (where I nearly had an aneurysm over how little they were giving me for my textbooks) I have never had occasion to sell off my personal books.
Books have always been like my family. I’ve loved them, cared for them and returned to them again and again during various moments in my life.
However, unlike my family, books are worth MONEY!
Ahem…I consider my family priceless just as a sidenote.
Unfortunately when you are trying to sell 8 boxes of books to Bay Books before moving you discover some things.
1) They don’t have carts or people who will offer to help you carry the boxes inside
2) They don’t take all your books nor offer to recycle any they don’t take
3) They don’t pay cash on paperback books.
They DO pay top dollar for their used book buying but it’s so selective it’s almost not worth coming here instead of Half Price up the street. I do like their store layout better though.
And I’m $ 25 richer after selling them members of my book family!
Ahem…I would never sell my REAL family as a sidenote.

I like this book store. They have pretty good sales.
They have a great selection and okay prices. Their help is nice too.
I gave it a three because they do not buy paperbacks for cash. This kinda irks me because i’ve never come across a book store with the same policy. Grr.

A diamond in the rough! I didn’t even know it was there until my boyfriend started working there. It’s a family-​owned, used book store so it has a lot of charm. Their prices are totally fair and they have a lot of older stuff to rummage through. I’m stoked they have a specific section for horror which makes my trips a lot easier. Adorable!

I like this bookstore. It has a good selection of used and new books and the staff are pretty helpful. They also have birthday cards and some other odds and ends. I have picked up quite a few paperbacks here when I was running low on something good to read. They have a decently sized sci-​fi section and their mystery section is pretty decent too. Worth a gander if your in the area.