Going to California ( the street) in San Francisco it seems it changes from neighborhood to neighborhood. California street in Financial District is different than California street in Laurel Heights. One type of business which is rare to find almost in any neighborhood in San Francisco is a bookstore. One of the best gifts you can give during the Holiday is the gift of knowledge with a book. There is a bookstore chain in San Francisco which is located in the Laurel Village Shopping Center called Books Inc. On a Winter Holiday stroll on California street at Laurel Village in San Francisco you will find Books Inc. Inside there are lots of books which are fiction and nonfiction. There are different books with diverse POV's and subjects. Come to Books Incorporated at Laurel Heights in San Francisco to discover and read a book about a new adventure. A great place to find that gift or stocking stuffer for the Holidays. Go to the place were words are already written and "created " it has subjects that personally "related" this place during holidays is festively "decorated" at the Laurel Village" Books Incorporated " Some of these books can't be read on the "mobile" you will find physical books about food, travel and outer space driven business "mogul "there are some books which are local some are "global" this once independent California Books Inc. is now owned by "Barnes and Noble" read more

See all

I am a fan of Books Inc, and I like this location very much! The staff is very helpful, friendly and they provide good recommendations. The selection of books is good and if not immediately available in store, the staff make it easy to order and pickup. read more

I was seriously offended this morning by the Books Inc staff. I arrived just after 9am to buy a Financial Times newspaper. I was the first to arrive at the cash register counter while they were unpacking the newspapers. There were piles on the shelf behind the staff. An older white male came up behind me and the young white male cashier scrambled to bundle that man's newspaper order ringing him up. Another white male came up after that man and his newspaper bundle was rung up. All this time I was standing there. After the first man was served before me, I asked if I had to pre-order my newspaper. The cashier said no. I can see these were regulars but as a customer who makes a point to support " THIS " bookstore, after this complete LACK of customer service, I won't be shopping at this store again. read more

I miss the Books Inc that closed in Burlingame. I am happy to see that the local chain still has some great neighborhood locations. Please patronize your local independent bookstores. Amazon is killing small businesses and soon the entry level retail jobs will disappear and we will have empty storefronts. read more

One of my favorite bookstores just because they offer a lot of sale books in different genres. There are some excellent hardcover cookbooks, bios, fiction, nonfiction, etc. on discount. The cookbooks, for example, are the ones that are famous and quite a few are those one can't buy in person at the chain bookstores. Plus the chain bookstores do not have these on discount ever. Also staff at this branch are really friendly, helpful. read more

Really friendly service! Great selection--and they can order any book I want and get it very quickly. (A particularly great selection of kids books, but I also get a lot of literary books here too.) Free parking out back. Just an all-around great independent bookstore! read more

I love a bookstore. Whatever ails me, just walking into a bookstore soothes me right down. Books Inc is in fact a chain, but despite that it is small & personal. I'm not so easy to please all the time. I have high standards. But w all my years coming here, I can't give this location less than 5 stars. If you're looking for something obscure, there's a good chance you'll have to order it. The staff are always great w first trying to locate your book at another location, though. But if it turns out that you need to order it, it only takes a couple of days. The cookbook section is pretty big, considering. Unless a title is sold out or been off the radar for a long time, you'll find all the essentials here. They gift wrap. They gift wrap! For free! There's only a couple of options as far as types of gift wrapping to choose from, but who cares? FREE! There's free parking in the back, too. Along w a back entrance to go w it. 5 stars. read more

Very fitting that these guys took over A Clean Well-Lighted Place for Books, because that's exactly what this place is. Disclaimer: I never actually went to ACWLPFB, so forgive me for any unjust comparisons to said bookstore's legendary greatness. In fact I didn't even know Books Inc was a chain before now (enlightened by Yelp as usual). Unlike the musty-attic charm of Green Apple, the polished, modern look here does an amazing job of imitating a Barnes and Noble (albeit far smaller). The little nook upstairs still has the rag-tag neighborhood-place vibe, though. I was quite impressed with the selection for such a small place, though I'm sure they're lacking a lot of the specialty books you can find buried in the corner at Green Apple. And yes, I keep getting fooled into thinking the stuffed dogs here are real. Now I'll have to check out the more convenient (to me) Castro location. And dare I go review the former ACWLPFB location without the ability to compare it to the old days? read more

Who doesn't love a local bookstore!!! I was lucky enough to witness kids story time... soooo cute. The reader was great as she read in both English and Spanish. Sorry no pics of that experience due to kiddos but believe me if you have kids in the area it's worth a stop in. They truly were engaged and the place filled with singing and laughter. Everyone was so nice and welcoming. I could have stayed in there all day flipping through and reading various books. If I didn't already have so many books on my shelf I needed to read I would have purchased a ton here. Great spot to take a quiet moment for yourself in the day! Happy Reading!!! read more

See all

The staff was very helpful recommending children's books for shy or introverted personalities. They even transferred in a couple they liked but weren't in stock, so I could browse them all before purchasing read more

From the outside, this looks like a small bookstore. However, once you enter, the store is pretty deep and there is an upper level. This store is packed with books. I especially love their discounted cookbook section! They also have a very good inventory of kids books. Service was perfunctory. In the digital age, you don't have many opportunities to actually browse a bookstore. I love walking around and looking at books. They remind me of Stacys (rip). read more

Super cute and cozy bookstore! I killed some time here before my hair appointment, and I was not disappointed. I loved their little kids corner, and people can actually write their own little reviews/summaries that get posted underneath the books! read more

Ordered two books online for in-store pickup, and received great customer service at every step of the way!

A book store! A unicorn! Yay for brick and mortar local businesses! We come here often for the wonderful kid's section. They always have loads of suggestions and cozy places to sit and read. My 3 y/o daughter loves coming here. My favorite part is their kids seasonal display. I love the choices all the staff pick. This location also has a wonderful fiction and nonfiction selection along with every magazine you can think of. When I need a kid's gift I always come to Books Inc for a present because they also have a beautiful selection of wrapping paper and cards. read more

I come to this Books Inc. often (about once a week) because I do a lot of shopping in Laurel Heights. I swing by to see what's new and interesting particularly when it comes to cookbooks and travel literature. Unfortunately, since it's the only bookstore in the area I also don't have much of a choice. I've found this particular Books Inc. location to be the *most* unfriendly of all their stores. I have fonder memories of the Castro location until it closed down. I wasn't necessarily chummy with the staff but at least they greeted you at the Castro Books Inc. The Marina and Van Ness locations also have much friendlier staff than this store. I've lived in the neighborhood for three years and even today I have yet to have a staffer (even those who've worked at this store since I moved to the area) approach me to ask if I need help (as other Yelp reviews noted). Twice (at most) I've received a "hello" at the door. (A sociological observation: the aesthetically "typical" Laurel/Pacific Heights resident seem to get the "hello" and "do you need assistance?") Meanwhile, a few times I've had someone at the register stare at me as I peruse the aisles. I realize we are there first and foremost for the books but a little hospitality goes a long way -- especially if we're talking about San Francisco's oldest independent bookstore chain. It's no surprise that I've spent more money at their former Castro location and in the Marina store because of the service. This store has a good selection of fiction and, as mentioned, I like to peruse the cookbooks and travel section. That said, their cookbook selection is especially noteworthy. They also have a solid amount of sale books in case you fancy something new to read at half the cost. If you stop by this Books Inc. location, don't forget to check out the second floor. It's somewhat hidden so make sure to find the stairs towards the back. They also have a rewards card. I'll keep coming here for the sake of convenience but let's be frank, if I had a choice, this wouldn't be the independent bookstore to patronize. Part of the point of shopping local is the personable attention and neighborhood feel. This Books Inc. gets a thumbs down for that. read more

I love the selection of this book store but hate being inside it. It is like walking into a rowdy kindergarten class. Children, stroller, moms, pregnant women pushing strollers with a kid or two in tow, talking loudly on their cell phones...INSIDE a book store? Where does the sense of entitlement come from? It baffles me. The staff seems friendly but I wish they would control the unruly crowds of toddlers and their oblivious parents to allow a more tranquil book shopping experience. This place makes me want to run home to my computer and log onto Amazon... read more

This place has a really homey feel. It would receive five stars if they had gotten back to me when I applied to work here, but that's another story. I like their selection, and the people working here--excluding the manager--are very friendly and knowledgeable. They seemed afraid of the manager or whoever came out to receive my application. He seemed kind of surly, but that's probably a plus for someone who runs a bookstore. I even ended up buying a couple books even though I was only there to apply for a job, but then that's the kind of guy I am--always spending money when I don't have it, and especially when I do. read more

There's a great selection of books for kids and they always have books on sale. The staff's written recommendations are posted on the shelves and we found them really helpful when looking for new authors. During COVID, they are limiting the number of shoppers allowed into the store at one time and providing hand sanitizer. We felt that there was plenty of space for shopping at a safe social distance and we did not feel rushed. And there is parking available if the store isn't within walking distance for you. read more

As an avid reader, I spend some time in bookstores. This is one of my favorite ones in SF (Green Apple is the other). The selection is good, the prices are reasonable, and the staff is one of the most knowledgable I have seen in the area. read more

The first perk I notice upon walking into Laurel's Books Inc is: WOW. So much bigger than the Castro location. (= more books!) Wonderful selection towards the rear of the store, especially with the local flavor, children's books, and graphic novels (they have Drawn & Quarterly!). Magazine rack does not contain too much variety. But, as there is a second floor... full of more books than I can ever dream of. Quite a few comfy chairs up there to sit and read the random books propped up on the shelf adjacent the chairs. Be sure to read the bulletin board. (on the second floor) read more

This is my favorite of the Books Inc. locations. Wide open spaces freak me out (have you been to the Borders at Stonestown with children running up and down the aisles? and people sleeping in the chairs? ahhhhhhhh!!!), so I love the size & coziness of this place. The staff has always been very nice and helpful to me there. I like the magazine section and the "recommendations" on the shelves. Recently, I bought my brother's birthday gift here - a coffee table book on famed surf-spot Mavericks - and they wrapped it oh-so-nicely. One thing, and this applies to all Books Inc. stores, those life-sized stuffed Yellow Labradors freak me out. I swear their eyes are following me and if one nips at my ankles, I am going to shriek like a banshee. Other than that, great store! read more

Great selection of books, and wonderful staff! My 3yo lives reading, and they have a great kid's book section. They always have a nice seasonal selection of books. Staff always makes good suggestions when asked. And if they don't carry something in particular, they'll find it and order it for you! read more

Before I got into Amazon's Kindle, I came here quite often to get books. My feelings of this place are mixed. There is a good selection of magazines and quite a good collection of new non-fiction books (my primary reading genre after architecture/travel books). Often, however, the store has poor ventilation and the place is very hot and stuffy, which makes it uncomfortable to be in there for extended periods of time. Some additional points: 1) Organization is somewhat random-when you have a specific book in mind talk to staff 2) Staff is hit-and-miss. Some very apathetic, some overly-enthusiastic and some just "out there" 3) Most books sell at list price, if you can wait get it on Amazon 4) With the "book club" you buy 10 books and get the average of those 10 off for your 11th purchase. (This is especially rewarding for me since I buy mainly hardcover) 5) Space is small-when kids are in their kids section and being noisy and irritating it tends to reverberate in the entire space. read more

I may be wrong, but this Books Inc. location seems smaller than most. It'll seem even smaller when you're looking for something in particular and they don't keep it in stock. It's a much better idea to stop by when you're in that between-dinner-and-coffee, who-knows-what-we'll-find browsing mode. These four stars are mostly for the children's books and the cooking section. I could (and do) spend hours poking around in the back room, looking for the perfect addition to my niece's bookshelf. And they have an undeniably good selection of cookbooks. Bonus: There are always quite a few Jewish interest books in the bargain section. Score! read more

I love the Internet. A LOT. Some may even say that I am addicted to it. I buy just about everything and anything I can think of online. Everything, that is, except for books. I'm a voracious reader and a lifetime lover of books. It may sound weird but I really enjoy shopping for books. I like the whole experience of cracking open a new hardback for the first time, reading the inside jacket, checking out the cover art and ultimately picking out a few new friends to take home. You simply can't replicate this on the Internet. Here's a perfect weekend morning for me - down to Laurel Village for a cup of Joe's from Pete's, then a stroll into Books. I can literally spend an hour here sipping my coffee and browsing the new books and magazines. The staff reviews are helpful, just like the staff themselves. There is a wide selection of books, magazines and gifts. Its also a good feeling to support a local bookstore - all of which are in danger of becoming obsolete these days. read more

So I called them to see if they had a book in stock. The sales associate was very nice over the phone stating they have my book but had trouble locating it, so she took down my name and number and said she'd call me back. She actually called me back rather quickly. Great phone service. Now for the store service. When I went to the back of the store to retrieve my held book, I was greeted by a sales associate that didn't seem to happy. I get it. It probably wasn't her day. But when I asked for my book and I said I wanted to look at it beforehand, it seemed like an inconvenience. She ended up flopping my book on the counter as if it was a big hassle. Geez! Ok I get it. Wrong sales associate to get. (Older lady, slightly verging, glasses.) Now I see why she never smiles and seemed so cranky. I don't want to bother getting her again. I've done customer service before so just pretend, I mean geez, we've all pretended like something you don't. read more

Gotta love a nice neighborhood book store. The place is clean, the staff is helpful and attentive, and they have a nice customer retention program (free books after a certain number of purchases). Since this is a smaller book store, their selection is more limited than a B&N or Borders, but still sufficient for most buyers. The staff is ready to help, too, and is happy to order anything for you that you might be interested in. My only ding on Books, Inc. is a minor critique on their selection. And sadly, it seems to be indicative of most book resellers in our fair city. I guess we do it to ourselves as SFers, but for all of the standard categories of books they do have and label (fiction, mystery, biography, children, self-help, humor), there is a noticeable gap of spiritual/religious books. And while I realize how politically motivated our city is and what an implied statement it could be to carry a book on Judaism or a book by Pope JP2 or CS Lewis, they continue to be bestselling books the world over that there's a market for. And I hate to have to go elsewhere (B&N, etc.) when I'm looking for something like this. Beyond that, this is a great spot. As is the Chestnut branch which was recently renovated and is open late. read more

I walked here with wet hair eating a grapefruit thinking of nohting else but the bees that were abundant in the air. The cute old lady gave me a frequent buyers cards. i bought harry potter. read more

I just love this neighborhood bookstore. Been shopping there over the years - going on 30 years now. They are helpful, friendly and will order any book for you and have it in 1 or 2 days. Love them. The mothers and kids MUST behave themselves though!! Really!! Its like an indoor playground in there!!!! Come-on staff - control them!! read more

Any surviving bookstore in SF would get many stars from me, even if it were located in a dim basement! We are so lucky to have Books, Inc. and Green Apple in our neighborhood. Each one is special in its own way. Books Inc. has all the new books anyone could want and they will order for you, of course. In my case, the book will be there for me in 2 days. Books Inc. is a pleasant store to visit and great for gift books. Magazines and kids books are two more pluses! The staff does the job! And parking is free at Laurel Village's lot! read more

Good, solid store for what you need. We've gotten travel books, fiction, and also once I needed a book for a five year old boy and the staff showed me some very good choices. I haven't been upstairs cuz I have a stroller, but I will soon. Also carry cards, notebooks, etc. They have a book club which entitles you to 15% off some selections. If you have children's books you no longer need, they accept donations. read more

The best thing about Book Inc at this location is ..the location. There's parking, there's coffee, there's all kinds of food places, hardware, shoe's, even bank ATMs. The store is cute, friendly and reasonable and has a lot of choices considering the size. I consider it a real treat to have the time to shop there. My biggest purchases and excitement has been picking up my HP books and attending the party with the excited younger set. I was there two years of the HP books, one time in the freezing cold waiting outside. It was..magical. read more

About as good as it gets in San Francisco now. The employees are helpful. Extremely overpriced on certain items, this is made up for with the discounts on great Novels, etc. I recommend the Library first, then this store depending on your Neighborhood. The selection is not generalized and only for one group of people, its a store where anyone who adores books can find one.Something becoming unheard of in Little Manhattan. Highly recommenced this place. The only sad thing is, they attempted to make a space in the front for people to read, its simply a Dog Watering Hole.It falls short. Perhaps made up by the fact the invite writters into the back. That area may be available to read in when not in use, if so...my bad. Front area is not comfortable in any way. In all, great Book Store, Thank the Gods! read more

My passion is reading a good book. Native San Franciscan, currently retired, Caucasian. Grew up in the Richmond district known today as the Lake District. Laurel Village is my go to place for Groceries, Ace Hardware, and Coffee. Reading the not so wonderful reviews by Ann S. and Susan A. about Books Inc. Laurel Village didn't surprise me. Unlike others my review is not 5 star. My recent experience nothing has changed in attitudes of the Caucasian ladies sales team. Would describe their attitudes as extremely unpleasant, simply nasty. Agree with prior reviews the normal encounter entering the store is locating someone to assist you. Will offer kudos to the young man who assisted me in March, greeted me and went the extra mile to locate a publication I was seeking. Green Apple books on Clement Street and 9th @ Lincoln Way my go to bookstore. read more

I love abuse. Otherwise, I would not continue to patronize this Books Inc. one bit. But because they always feature sales on cookbooks and novels from foreign countries I persist. And that's the reason for the 3*'s. But really being a now regular customer doesn't get anywhere. Take for instance this past Monday afternoon the Caucasian male & his wife, who just took the books off shelves to peruse them then didn't buy a thing, plopped themselves in the chairs with legs outstretched ignoring the non-Caucasians that needed to walk by. But did the snooty woman clerk even care? The paying customers get the icy, cold treatment while the boobs sitting and reading their books without buying a thing get the friendly treatment instead. Go figure!! read more

I admit, I'm usually one buys books on the cheap. Amazon.com, Target, used bookshops....I love to read but hate paying full price when I know I can find books that are heavily discounted, or even free if I head to the library. But today I didn't want to wait for shipping from Amazon.com and I didn't want to waste gas driving to Target or another megaplex, so I walked over to Laurel Village. Not only did Books Inc. have what I needed, they gift wrapped it - FOR FREE!!! I didn't think anyone offered that anymore. My hatred of expensive gift wrap counteracts my need for cheap books. I'll come back to Books Inc., and even if it's a book I'm buying myself, I'll ask them to wrap it up with nice paper, a shiny ribbon and a pretty gold sticker - just cuz! read more

medical book? none to my liking auto mags? none on specific M3's, GTI's or G35s sigh... the place is clean however. perhaps another time. read more

Very good selection. One of my favorite things to do on a Saturday is walk over to Laurel Heights, get a cup of coffee, and go buy some books at Books Inc. Sometimes I vary the routine by going to the Van Ness location instead. I know, I'm a thrill a minute. However, I always leave with at least two books. Right now I'm learning all about the Theodore Roosevelt family, something I never would have imagined taking an interest in, via "The River of Doubt" (highly recommended) and Stacey Cordery's "Alice" (I fear that Ms. Cordery does not do Ms. Roosevelt justice - either that or Alice was a big honking brat). I appreciate the frequent buyer cards, and the staff has been nothing but polite. This store could only be improved by additional size. read more

In between being a social worker, a student, and a nanny, I have a WHOLE lot going on. And sometimes, by the end of a 13 hour day, I am B-E-A-T. Sometimes, even though I'm beat, I'm still a nanny. And sometimes, as a nanny, I am forced to bribe children to do things. Things like turning off tv so we can go ANYWHERE they want for dinner (parents' orders). Yeah- there are actually people (albeit miniature people) who need bribing to be taken out to a nice meal of their choice...ah, the struggle! In Laurel Village, the cheapest way to bribe a kid is to promise them a new bedtime story book and then steer them towards the "wall of wonders" as I like to call it: the sale shelves at Books Inc. I LOVE this store. It's much larger than you'd think at first glance and their sales are out of this world. I just this very evening purchased $70 worth of children's books (for my entire itsy-bitsy entourage) for $30!!! They also have a lot of great books for grown-ups (please tell me what grown-up books are like. I haven't read anything but Thomas The Train and Mental Health notes in forever...). Great selection of cookbooks and design books. The shop is warm, cozy, and inviting. The open set up makes it easy to find things and keep an eye on little movers and shakers while you peruse your respective sections. My 5 year old friends give it two thumbs up and they have pretty distinguished taste! read more

small selection but some of the best service around. Well-informed staff, even happy to refer you to another spot that may have what you're looking for. read more