Another bookstore closing?
When I heard yesterday that Valencia Street Books was closing, I instantly thought of the recent Chronicle stories about Cody’s on Telegraph and San Francisco’s A Clean Well Lighted Place. What are we coming to?
Valencia Street Books, a medium-sized independent, has been open almost three years. Run by Amanda Cotten, the store features a general selection of books, plus jewelry on consignment.
I went by there this afternoon. They’re having a 40% off everything (except the jewelry) sale, and the place is already a little low on stock. I said I heard they were closing, and Cotten shrugged. “Maybe,” she said, “but then I found out a few things. So…”
They’re open noon to 9 pm every day including Sunday, so get down there and pick out some great books. They’re at 569 Valencia Street.
Photo by Liz Henry, used by permission.
That’s a shame. But I always wondered about this place and how it stayed afloat. It’s a pretty big space (so the square footage rent must’ve been high). And I’d say it was never ‘crowded’. Same goes for Borderlands (the sci-fi bookshop further down Valencia.)