After all these years, Walden Pond Books is still a place I like to go into to see if I can find a book to purchase and read on BART. I always find a good book to read. Good reason to take BART and walk over is the Grand Lake is a great place to sit around as if we are tourists from a planet named Saturn. read more

I was browsing Grand Avenue past the Grand Lake Theatre and landed in here. I'm much more of a library goer than a book store spender, buuuut, I love books regardless. That ended up not being what I browsed, though. I went over to their small but sufficient record selection. They had top albums and artists, like Stevie Wonder's Songs in the Key of Life. I kept looking and looking and found The Internet's Ego Death for $32. Yep, found what I needed and almost left but checking out their used albums they had Kendrick's good kid, m.A.A.d city and Drake's Views for about $27 or $28 each. Idk what a good used album price is really going for these days, but I was happy with my selection, went to the counter and checked out. I can't really say much for service because I was in and out so quickly and there didn't appear to be many employees, which I get that these days. read more

Walden Pond Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

Amazing bookstore super close to lake Merritt! They have an excellent collection of curated books that are both new and used. Staff are super friendly and helpful and the vibe in there is incredible. Could absolutely spend hours just browsing the shelves read more

Adore this bookstore that makes its beliefs known real loudly. Great selection of books to choose from for adults and kids. Decent prices on all the books. Always quick to assist you and very friendly. read more

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The store is surprisingly big and has a pretty solid inventory. Their used books are in good condition, so you can expect to pay more for them than you would at an old-timey used bookstore where some of the books are pretty seasoned, but also will get them in better shape. I had a super negative experience when I went during their book buying hours to offer them some books, though. Their buyer was out during the buying window, and the person they had step in was shockingly rude. I was offering six recently-published books in new/mint condition from a popular radical independent press. She took one look at them (I'm pretty sure she had no idea what she was looking at), spat out a bunch of gibberish about different types of store credit so quickly that no one could have followed a word she was saying, and when I asked whether the amount they would offer in cash was the same as store credit, she basically sneered at me and said she would offer me maybe $6 (for three of the books I'd brought, about $75 worth), clearly implying that they were garbage and not worth anything. It was such a needlessly disrespectful and off-putting way to talk to someone for no apparent reason (if she wasn't interested in the inventory that's of course totally fine, but the rudeness was completely uncalled for). I haven't had my day ruined by someone working in a shop like that in a really long time. Obviously I said no thanks. I had just found this store for the first time a week ago and bought a haul of books, and was looking forward to being a frequent customer, but I won't be going back. read more

my favorite local bookstore! i appreciate being treated like a real person when shopping here and love that it's a family business; their giant fluffy white dog used to hang out on the sidewalk by the entrance. every time that i'm on grand ave, i have to admire the window display and browse the outdoor used book racks (almost always end up finding a book or two). also, as a postcard and vinyl hobbyist, walden pond has a great selection of postcards and records. read more

Excellent curation of books, records, card games. Pop in to discover a new find- I enjoyed reading the write ups for new books and recommendations. We walked away this time with a few records! read more

Great place. Support your local book store. Keep your money local. Gift cards make great gifts too.

I had a wonderful time at Walden Pond! It's a remarkable place for finding new, old and interesting books! I will go back the next time I'm in Oakland! read more

A neighborhood treasure. I don't have much of a book budget these days, but I try to support this very special store as much as I can. read more

Walden Pond Bookstore - When my kids were young, they played in the little Playhouse. My granddaughter found her own spot. - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

Very nice people and the atmosphere is great. The book selection is broad and has rare boos.

I used to live near here and this Bookstore has been here a long time!! It seems like you never get to spend as much time in a bookstore like this as you want to, you want to make sure you don't miss anything. Besides books, they also sell greeting cards, games, puzzles, and records. This place has been here so long, the old wooden floors 'creak' when you walk on them. Lots of old books to choose from here, which is the appeal to me. Located on Grand Avenue in Oakland, a very popular bookstore!! read more

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I stumbled upon Walden Pond after snagging coffee nearby. It's a curious and unsuspecting store from afar with a TON of great reads. They have everything from volumes of comics, to coffee table reads, and likely genres you've never heard of. I had probably 10 books in my hand and had to settle for two. The staff is really helpful and the place is very organized and well kept. It's a super chill vibe just walking around. I'll likely visit regularly because there's just so much to parse through and explore. I'd recommend if you're bored and need some low cost fun to spend the weekend afternoon Loved it read more

Walden Pond Bookstore - Rare book room - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

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Quaint little book store. FOund it while exploring grand ave neighborhood. Picked up a few good things including some stickers and shirt. Lucky to be just down the street from this place. Definitely check it out if youre in the area, many good food and coffee spots nearby too. read more

This place is so rad. Has one of the best book curations I've ever seen. Truly a gem.

Incredible selection and such a beautiful bookstore. You can spend hours at Walden's searching. I always end up getting so many more books than I intended. I love that they also have used books so you can spend less than other bookstores. read more

Walden Pond Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Oakland, California

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Old style bookstore in Oakland that is a pleasure to browse in! Nice employees, and great cards, books, puzzles and gifts of all kinds. So nice that Walden is still in Oakland in spite of Amazon! Check them out and support local businesses! (PS--they buy your used books, too!) read more

Stopped in here while in town to help my daughter move for college, and I had a few hours to kill. I was happy they open at 10AM, since most other record shops in thr area didn't open until noon. I really didn't expect much from their vinyl selection given the smaller size of the shop and since they appeared to focus more on books than records. But I was super impressed by their great selection, from classic rock, to indie, to electronic, to blues, and jazz. They had new, sealed vinyl as well as some preowned options. I came away buying WAY more than I had expected, as I found a few hard to find titles from my wishlist, several of which were marked down, so the pricing on many were less than I've seen at other shops. I liked that their staff provided some of their recommendations on the shrinkwrap, many of which showed good taste in my opinion. Although it's a lot smaller than the bigger Bay Area record shops, they've got some great options! Plus, they had a ton of book options throughout the store. The staff was also very pleasant. If you're shopping during the week, make sure to pay for parking at the kiosks to avoid the ridiculous parking fines they give out! (I got one for $72 a block away!) read more

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Such a fantastic, large, and cozy bookstore! I love all the wood floors and shelves. The selection is enormous and well thought through with tons of Pulitzer, Booker and other prize winning selections. The Children's section is very nice as well. The staff are warm and knowledgeable. They buy books as well from Thursday through Sunday. It's next to the fabulous Sirene restaurant and the terrific Almond & Oak restaurant is across the street which make for a great evening of dining and independent book shopping read more

It's a local bookstore, that's really enough. Staff are friendly and helpful, which is important. Wonderful in house selection including when I'm shopping for teens and of course you can get anything online. I like to do pick up but when I have more time ordering is easy and goes through a network I really appreciate! There are also discounts, which helps if you buy multiple or expensive books! There's also gift items, cards and journals. read more

Favorite bookstore of all time. Even though the used psych/self help section is not what I envision (Pegasus on Solano has more breadth and variety, though less space) i can't help but love this store. The prices on used books are very fair, unlike some other used sellers, and I just feel good about trading my stuff there and buying new books whenever there is one I can't wait for. The dude with the white dog is just a nice man, somehow isn't crazy even though he's an old smoker who runs a bookstore through the pandemic read more

This is a very cool bookstore that originated in the early 70s, and is Oakland's largest independent bookstore. They will be starting to buy and trade books again this September. Besides books they carry LP records, greeting cards, and they sell rare and collectible books on eBay. Ambiance ***** If you have never been in a bookstore, you owe it to yourself to drop in and check out their scene. I love how much there is to explore. There is a large collection of masks above the books on the west wall. The wooden floors actually creaked when I walked in reminding me of some really old libraries. If you're into really old books, you might want to check out their Rare Book Room upstairs. Service***** They have a very friendly staff ready to locate what you want. Accessibility ***** Cost**** read more

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My favorite book store in the bay! with an excellent sci-fi/fantasy section. what I love: 1. independent bookstore 2. really good recommendations 3. really good curation of books 4. atmosphere - can we talk about the fantastic wood floor that creaks? it's actually very charming 5. new and used books 6. staff are lovely and helpful 7. is hypothetical, because I've never run into the dogs there, but I have hope for the future. . . I can be in this bookstore for an hour easily just looking thru one or two sections because the recommendations are super helpful with a brief paragraph for each - I've found many fantastic books this way. The sci-fi/fantasy section is really well curated with a large selection - you're not going to find every sci-fi book ever here, but you will find enough that you wonder if you really can bring home that many books today. read more

Favorite indie bookstore in Oakland! They have a great selection and diversity of authors. I was recommended to come here because they organize collections for LBTQIA and/or POC books. I even stumbled upon the stairs and caught the rare book room section while it was open. It has character and feels like an adventure as you browse, I really love bringing friends when we're near the lake! read more

Even if Walden Pond was only 10% as good I'd still go because it's an independent local bookstore surviving the onslaught of corporate monopolization. That said, the selection of new, used and rare books, plus music and gift cards and the vintage neighborhood vibe, and knowledgeable staff, well...why the hell aren't you there right now? read more

I'm all for supporting small, local businesses. However, I'm not wiling to pay literally x5 Amazon prices. Also, the snobby and patronizing owners/employees (?) don't make visiting their store an enjoyable experience. Don't recommend. read more

I've been in love with the selection of record, books, and really well curated card selection for my 15+ years of patronage. The only caveat to this is the staff. It always feels like I'm interrupting a private meeting when I have a question, other customers are usually left standing while being ignored at the counter, and there is a general sense of disinterest helping people find things. Also, please start wrapping purchases as gifts. This place has saved my life so many times by having exactly the book I want to gift, but all they have in the way of gift accessories is oversized bags and expensive tissue. read more

Dogs welcomed! I love this book store. It's brings back memories for a place like this to still be here. The creek floor boards, the thump, clip and clop from footsteps and the smell of printed books. That unique smell of books that reminds you of walking into a library. Every book lover's heaven. I walk in here to walk in even if I don't have a book In mind. You can scroll through the aisle and look at books that might interest you. They have a huge selection of books and a staff with a wise variety and interests to display or recommend. You can trade in books, buy new or used books or staff can even find some books you thought were gone. I highly recommend you check out this place the next time you look to order a book. read more

Who doesn't love a small business bookstore? They were friendly on the phone when I called to ask about a book and were also helpful in person when I came by to buy it. read more

This is my favorite local bookstore. I've gone here to buy books for all kinds of special occasions over the years. I especially like that they have bilingual books for kids. Unfortunately, with them closing at 7:00 p.m. it's been tough for me to get here after work. Today I showed up a couple minutes before closing but they had already locked up. What a bummer. Wish they were open later. read more

Pros: -Great selection (fiction/nonfiction, new/used, mainstream/niche, etc) -Well organized -Reasonable prices (although not the cheapest in Oakland, used graphic novels are pretty expensive here) Cons: -Don't bother selling books here. One time I got $7.75 in store credit for 3 or 4 books in good condition (seriously couldn't even round up to $8?) -Iffy customer service. Staff aren't super friendly to begin with, and when they do actually interact with you, they can be pretty pretentious. I've been going here since I was a kid (and buying stuff) and they don't really care to cater to non ~literary~ tastes. read more

Books on books upon books in here! As with any good find, I was just strolling past down the strip when these books caught my eye. They have a nice selection lined up outside their store that you can peer at. And eventually, go inside the store for even more! For so many books, they're pretty well organized with them. There's quick descriptions of top books on the shelves and featured ones at the beginnings of the rows. Solid recommendations for sure! I ended up buying a New Yorker issue and Junot Diaz's 'This Is How You Lose Her'. They popped in a free paper bookmark too once you purchase. I could spend hours in here if I had the time. Great bookstore, chill vibe, highly recommend! read more

Really bad service. Poor collection and not inclusive business. The location is great but the experience was a disappointment.

Okay wait, I just got a text from WPB saying my book is in. WHAT! It's like getting a hott message from your crush! I'm coming over babe! I may have to wait one extra day to get my book instead of getting it over at RELENTLESS.com but I'm efforting to keep my money away from them. Thanks book bae! Can't wait to see ya read more

Great selection of discounted used books outside the store. And once you're inside, very well organized, and we loved all the descriptions of the recommended books. Pretty solid recs too :) Will return next time we're in the area. Walked away with five books today! read more

This bookstore has amazing everything. Great staff, wonderful staff book recommendations, and a wonderful atmosphere. I love being in here, love browsing, and love feeling like a part of the community when I buy my books here. They also carry lots of local interest and local authors, which I love. I've also sold old books here and am always happy with the trade in option they've offered. In short, this place is a total local gem and worth every book penny you have to spend. read more

Go. See. Read. It is inspiring and worth the visit. You may even meet an amazing author working the store. We had a great time and can't wait to return. read more

This is my current local bookstore and I've been trying to get everything there. Sure, online is a bit cheaper, but going in to browse is always so much more fun. And if you like it too, you gotta show it with your business. I've also had them order books for me and I'm always a little surprised at how quickly they come in. read more

O Facebook, my Facebook, my dread journey yet begun; My physical friends so long been gone, my will for talking done; My fingers fast than e'er before, three screens the fourth is loading; It's quantity I seek, more friends more friends! elixir masks forboding; But O heart! heart! heart! O fading love, of dread, Where on the deck my Captain lies, Fallen cold, unplugged and dead. When you feel the Mayan prophecy pressing down on your small self, come to Walden. When all this reaching ends with empty hands, come to Walden. When it seems your anchor has loosed for good, when no purchase on the sandy bottom appears sure for days ... Come to Walden Pond. Stacks on stacks of what's more important than this. Promises of a fire and a curled cat, of questions, answers, exercise and exorcise. Come - you've forgotten to read the old fashioned way. read more

"If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; That is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them." ---Henry David Thoreau, "Walden" My life is a series of castles in the air. Actually that's the title of one of my favorite Don McLean songs. But I digress. This indie bookstore is a urban renewal survivor that's named after Thoreau's favorite nesting place, Walden Pond. Hey, I've been there. But I digress again. I used to live above Grand Avenue many, many years ago, and one of my regular spots for lingering and loitering was Walden Pond Bookstore. After a hearty breakfast yesterday at Lynn and Lu's across the street, I came in to find that little if anything has changed since those days of Dynasty-style shoulder pads and moussed-up hair. Not that I looked like that...at least there is no photographic evidence...that I know of. It still has that hippy-dippy vibe, but it also has a vast inventory of used books of all kinds. Just the history and politics sections would take days to browse through. I also like the airiness here versus its SF brethren like Browser or Bibliohead where the cramped quarters eventually do get to you. I just read it's been open since 1973, which pleases me to no end that a super-chain has not swallowed it with its commercial treachery. Stop by, contemplate Thoreau, or at least hum some Don McLean. read more

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