Cody’s Books

I feel like a surgeon in a TV melodrama from the 1950s standing over the inert body of Cody’s Books, shouting «Live, damn you live!!» and thumping on its chest…
I know Cody’s closing is part of a larger trend having to do with declining book sales, online bookselling and difficulties that independent book stores all over the US are having…
You’d like to believe that a community like Berkeley could sustain such a store. I guess independent businesses just simply meet the needs of specific times and generations…
And then when circumstances change, they just can’t go on any longer. It’s perplexing because Cody’s had such a vibrant history and was such a part of the community.

Cody’s Books closed it’s doors — or rather didn’t open them today, and is no more.
20 June, 2008.
Throw your roses, bitches.

Instead of cramming binding after binding of books into shelves piled high, Cody’s Books in downtown Berkeley takes a different approach, an almost boutique approach to being a bookstore.
Spend easily an hour fingering your way through the fiction paperbacks, wandering the aisles of political books and thinking of current events.
Do all this while a revered author’s voice floats through the store — Cody’s hosts many author talks and readings, to build community and warm the bookish soul.
Don’t come here to buy a hard-​to-​find, obscure book. Come here for the experience of shopping for a book — for yourself, for someone else. The selection at Cody’s is most thoughtful. I’d start in the fiction corner.

OK so there I was, at this book-​signing by Raj Patel (Stuffed & Starved: The Hidden Battle for the World Food System).
Standing room only, the joint was packed. There was virtually not one free inch of space for people to move around in, ya dig me?
A lady in her mid-​50s, in a sports bra and tank-​top and au naturel wild gray hair, comes and sits on the floor next to me and starts doing FULL-​ON YOGA POSES. Sttrreeetcchhh, pull, sttreettcch again. Damn. I wanted to clock her.
Welcome to downtown Berkeley, Cody’s!

About the only physical book store I’ve been to in the last few years. I use Amazon, but whenever I’m around 4^th street I visit here. Alas, it’s moving to downtown. Current 40% off sale. I made a killing!

I should first say that I LOVED Cody’s on Telegraph when it was still open. I loved wandering around the two floors of books — not just mainstream ones but also those obscure — and how there were always lots of other people around absorbed so deeply in whatever they were perusing that you couldn’t walk anywhere without saying «excuse me, sir/ma’am» at least a half dozen times.
So a year or more after that one closed I ventured to 4^th St to check out the other Cody’s in Berkeley, and was severely disappointed. It was pretty bare. A year on one would think they’d have moved everything from the other store into this one or at least restocked their formerly amazing selection. But it was mostly calendars, stationery, posters, wrapping paper, cards and gifts… and the rest of the collection made me feel like I was in some corporate place like Borders (with a few exceptions).
It was heartbreak.

One simple reason I go to Cody’s: ELIZABETH!!! Is there a book this woman has not read? Is there a book she does not have a (very) strong opinion about? I think not…
Whenever I take my sons here, she immediately «gets» them and what each one of them needs/​likes/​must read! She single-​handedly turned my middle son around when he had been diagnosed needing «special help» in reading. She turned us on to a series of books written by Henry Winkler (that’s right, THE FONZ!!) who, himself, is dyslexic and was always given a hard time for his «inability» to read. The series is called «Hank Zipzer, World’s Greatest Under Achiever» and by now we’ve covered the whole series. BTW, my kid is 2 grade levels ahead now. Just goes to show you that when there’s something interesting to read, kids read. Take a tip textbook companies (don’t get me started).
The rest of the staff is knowledgeable, friendly, and always ready to order a book if you can’t find it or they don’t have a copy. In addition, they also carry a mighty fine selection of cards, and the art book selection is as good as the museum book store. I liked the old location set up, but Telegraph Avenue got really a bit too funky at a certain point. On the opposite extreme, this location is almost too sanitized and suburban, tho’ the positives far out-​weigh the negatives here. Go and get a book, keep the local book store going! Chat up Elizabeth! She will never steer you wrong!
AN UP-DATE:…BIG BUMMER!!! Went in today (January 21^st) to chat up Elizabeth and get some good books for the boys. Not only has E. moved on to greener pastures (I hear tell of a swell bookstore in Alameda) but the store no longer has their Frequent Reader cards (spend $ 10.00, get a stamp… save up, then get a 20% discount)…Shift is in the air, but this wasn’t what I wanted to see happen… sigh…Still, a comprehensive store, and I am cautiously optimistic about what will happen next.

Cody’s on Telegraph was wonderful, but the cookbook selection here is fantastic! For people who really like to cook going to B&N or Borders and being inundated by ‘cookbooks’ from Food Network personalities gets old really fast.
With this one and their San Francisco location (also closed), you could tell that a lot of care was put into choosing the selection. It is the same with the crafts, art, architecture, and graphic novels sections. There is little or no filler, despite the fact that it is a pretty large store.

I loved the original Cody’s on Telegraph, but still enjoy this new, more suburbanite version on Fourth. I tend to group visits to Fourth due to the limited parking, so it’s on my list when I go to Bette’s for breakfast, then The Ark for toys and children’s books, then to Cody’s for books and mags, then Sur Le Table for cooking extravaganza.
Cody’s has a nice selection of children’s books — as well as books by local authors.
Have seen some wonderful author readings here, and they are always well organized and fair in how they seat people.
Most of the sales staff are very literary and delighted to share their opinions.

I spent far too much time in this hot, poorly ventilated store last Sunday. I managed to find some gems (re: an erotic tarot deck and lots of stationary!). Turn on the A/​C and I’ll consider a return. Otherwise, I’ll pass.
Cody’s does have good stock. They are a No Cal institution after all. I liked the sound of the train passing nearby. How often can you hear that? I guess I’ll forgive you.

My favorite place to while away a lazy Saturday morning after brunch at Bette’s diner across the street or while sipping on a semifreddo from Peet’s. They also stock a variety of MikWright products guaranteed to make you giggle. Cody’s has also rescued me from inevitable gastro-​intestinal doom – their bathroom tucked away in the far corner of the store has been my saving grace when the line at the Peet’s bathroom has failed me.

Fantastic!
+ location
+ selection
+ interesting people
+ quiet
+ great stationary selection
the crowning glory of 4^th street.

I like this Cody’s, but I do miss the Telegraph Cody’s. But I love the great selection that Cody’s offers.
And better yet, it’s a dog friendly store. :)

I really loved the Telegraph location, especially since its selection of magazines and books was much better than the one at this 4^th Street location. At the Telegraph Cody’s, there were usually 20 different French magazines to choose from, and at this location, there are less than 20 non-​English magazines total, and not very interesting ones at that. Plus, it isn’t too comfortable to sit and browse here.
With that said, the poetry and cookbook sections are rather good and the store is very clean.
Also, the store, while «independent,» isn’t locally owned – it’s actually now owned by a Japanese corporation…

Having recently moved here from Southern California, home of big parking lots and an appalling lack of support for independent bookstores, I felt like a little kid on her birthday when I first walked into Cody’s. I got all tingly and excited and I didn’t know where to look first. I have spent hours just wandering the (mostly fiction) aisles, picking up random books and reading, never feeling as though I have to buy something. I appreciate that they acknowledge that, if you are shopping there, you are likely intelligent enough to choose books without the benefit of bestseller lists or the dreaded Oprah.
They also have great readings. If you can’t tell, I’m kind of in love with this place …
UPDATE: I just found out that Cody’s is closing. A moment of silence for another excellent independent biting the dust.

I love this bookstore! The staff are always so frindly and helpful, they have a great selection of stationary and cards, and in a pinch it’s one of the few clean restroom options around ;)
I was so bummed when the one on Telegraph closed, so I encourage folks to continue to support your local indie bookstore!

I’m definitely sad that Cody’s has closed in San Francisco and Telegraph because it makes it very difficult to get to on public transit. That said, I still like Cody’s because they have great guest speakers (e.g., Art Spiegelman, author of Maus), they offer fantastic customer service, the store is nice and big, and I like their recommendation system (i.e., the display that shows «if you like this book, you’ll also like this…»). Plus, I have to give a store that’s the same as my middle name five stars!

Let’s hope this Cody’s can stay open. It’s still best in class. Great selection, knowledgable staff and a convenient and fun location. It’s nice to buy something to read and hang out near Peets (too bad Pete Olson the musician got chased off). I do miss the Telegraph avenue atmosphere and the huge selection of magazines. Folks (staff and fellow travelers) here have also been very friendly to my rather active and engaging 11 year-​old son.

I’ve been to this location, and Cody’s will always be Cody’s… but I still can’t get over the fact that they MOVED FROM TELEGRAPH AVE!
I used to live right off Telegraph and EVERY DAY as I walked home from Cal, I would walk past Cody’s… Granted, I bought waaay too many books, but then I also read them, so spending more money on books than food was justified.
Still giving Cody’s all FIVE STARS, because they are still an AMAZING store with a lot of really good books.
Come here, buy books, support independent bookstores that are run by people who actually READ!!! I love that I can ask the STAFF at Cody’s, and they can actually RECOMMEND books on the basis of something other than what is the «paperback bestsellers» stand this month. These people READ books!

I bought the Lonely Plant Guide to Paris here, and got a history lesson at the check-​out! Did you know that high heals were invented in Paris because people would dump their feces in the street?
Great travel selection, cool nick-​knacks, really awesome staff.

I love this store. So many nooks and crannies to get yourself lost in while you browse the books.
Staff is friendly, atmosphere is warm and inviting.