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    Builders Booksource

    4.6 (80 reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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    Jacqueline F.

    I'll be honest. I like to come here and browse. They have a nice chair in the back, I'll get a book and read. My husband has actually bought stuff here. I wanted to, but was ignored, so I didn't. I did buy what I wanted online. They have some interesting books and the items at the front of the store are quite whimsical - and feature interesting cards, children's books, and magazines. But they remind me of an experience, where you go into a small shop, and no matter what, the person working the counter won't interact with the customer unless you go to the counter with something to buy. If the store was totally busy, that would be one thing, but that's never been the case. So, I come, browse, and lounge.

    Ed U.

    Come on, everybody...clap your hands!...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LssoTizDld8 "I'm gonna build a mountain, from a little hill. I'm gonna build a mountain, least I hope I will. I'm gonna build a mountain, I'm gonna build it high. I don't know how I'm gonna do it, only know I'm gonna try." Did you know Bob the Builder comes here? So does the construction worker in the Village People. And Mike Brady visits when Carol is out of town. ...yes, anyone into design, architecture, landscaping or construction comes here if they know what's good for them. It's a browsing paradise if you want to study Gaudi's buildings, the history of the Airstream trailer or how to set up an irrigation system in your backyard. The staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I must have spent a good hour in here after licking my little Sketch ice cream cup bone dry. I even bought a really cool book that presents all the subway maps around the world just because I thought it was really cool and I am a nerd about geography(http://www.amazon.com/review/R2LG6D7WG0Z14B/ref=cm_aya_cmt?%5Fencoding=UTF8&ASIN=0143112651#wasThisHelpful). It's a great indie bookstore and now the only one on the 4th Street strip since Cody's high-tailed it to Downtown Berkeley.

    cute picture book that I bought at this book store
    佑香

    I love book choices of this store! I was looking for some picture books for my daughter, and finally found one at the store. A clerk named David was very friendly even though I and my friend couldn't speak English well. I was really glad that I talked to him! Thank you so much! I'll be back here to find another book for my daughter!

    Liza P.

    I am addicted to Architecture books, so this is an EXTREMELY biased review. I am sick, I really am... it is not healthy, it is not normal, but I will drive all the way to Berkeley, I will spend over $100 on ONE book, and I will walk out of Builders Bookstore with that huge Renzo Piano book that I barely hardly lift... it's the agony of love. What can I say, they really do have more Architecture books than ANY other book store in the Bay Area - picture books, code books, arch theory, light theory, social implications of building, architecture of power, sex in architecture, green building, interior design, sustainable architecture... EVERYTHING! If you love buildings like I do, come here - it's orgasmically fun, but devastating for your credit card.

    Qype User (lizo…)

    I am addicted to Architecture books, so this is an EXTREMELY biased review. I am sick, I really am it is not healthy, it is not normal, but I will drive all the way to Berkeley, I will spend over $100 on ONE book, and I will walk out of Builders Bookstore with that huge Renzo Piano book that I barely hardly lift it's the agony of love. What can I say, they really do have more Architecture books than ANY other book store in the Bay Area - picture books, code books, arch theory, light theory, social implications of building, architecture of power, sex in architecture, green building, interior design, sustainable architecture EVERYTHING! If you love buildings like I do, come here - it's orgasmically fun, but devastating for your credit card.

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    14 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Beautiful little store with a well-informed staff. Go in, browse & buy. Good spot to pick up fine notebooks for yourself or for gifts.

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    20 years ago

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    19 years ago

    Great, great books. I especially love the section on treehouses. It just makes me happy. :)

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    18 years ago

    Great bookstore, lots of books on cities, architecture and design, worth checking out if you are in the area.

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    13 years ago

    Staff is always a pleasure to deal with. Rhodia and Moleskines sold here! An open door to the creatives.

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    15 years ago

    great architecture bookstore and very friendly and knowledgeable staff. much smaller than expected cted though

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    11 years ago

    a lot of useful books there, and service is friendly...only problem is no parking so go there early...

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    18 years ago

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    Page 2 of 2

    Ask the Community - Builders Booksource

    Review Highlights - Builders Booksource

    I was just in there today and they have increased their graphic design section-- with a wide array of interesting and current titles.

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    Half Price Books

    Half Price Books

    (374 reviews)

    $

    Downtown Berkeley

    Save your time! Save your money!…read moreIt's time that they got what was coming. We came here and it was an absolute waste. Most of the stuff they have are packed up in the boxes that you can see in some of the pictures. You can also see they pulled a lot of stuff off the shelves and the prices are higher. I have a picture of two of the same books. One looks used. The other one looks new and one is 699 and the other one is 599. It isn't like one has a signature or anything. It's not special. It just cost more. The people who work there were kind of just hanging around in the back and not doing much. And they're already closed! I remember what the days when they were open until 10 11 o'clock at night but that was a long time ago back when they were relevant. I say it's karma because they didn't buy everybody's books. I have a picture of them saying they are no longer buying books. They don't buy books from Black people, full stop!And so. Bye!!! The problem they always said they had my books that my books are old. So why am I looking at a bookstore with nothing but old books. If they have separate pricing for Black people, they should just say that and suffered the consequences for that. This is a place I used to go to for all my books and I loved going there because I love getting a bargain, however, when I wanted to sell some books that's when things got funky. I find it interesting that I get more money from other places selling less books than I've ever gotten from them and I never did do my experiment where a white friend would walk in and sell my books so that I could see how much money she got. I bet she wouldn't have been told about how old her books are, which is hard to understand when the books are old as Methuselah! But, now they won't be my inspiration for purchasing off of Amazon, which is pretty much what they've become to me. I see a book in the store, look up the author and the book online, and if I can get it at my library or on Amazon, I will get it because I don't wanna waste money with people who say they buy books and don't buy them., full stop! Bye...

    I have came here several times but never reviewed. There's a lot of street parking but a very busy…read morestreet. This bookstore has been here for a very long time so it is a little older. It's a pretty good size they have plenty of books, kid activities, and music. They do not have a public bathroom. The prices are pretty reasonable. We were able to find a few things here.

    Builders Booksource - bookstores - Updated May 2026

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