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About Books Inc. Palo Alto
Books Inc. is a Bay Area bookstore chain with a store at Town & Country Village. The company lists the address as 74 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto 94301. In its own words, the Palo Alto store is a spot for books of all sorts and the gifts that go with them, from conversation pieces to socks, soaps, toys and games. It also describes the store as having a robust event schedule and calls itself a committed community member.
Beyond Palo Alto, Books Inc. runs stores at Opera Plaza, Laurel Village and the Marina in San Francisco, plus Alameda, Campbell and Castro Street in Mountain View. It also operates Compass Books in Terminals 2 and 3 at San Francisco International Airport.
A long history
Books Inc. traces its roots to the Gold Rush. According to the company, Anton Roman opened a bookstore in Shasta City in 1851 and moved it to Montgomery Street in San Francisco in 1855. With new hires Alex Robertson and Bret Harte, Roman started The Overland Monthly, a literary journal and publisher of California writing. The journal printed a piece by a young Sam Clemens, better known as Mark Twain. The store was destroyed in the 1906 earthquake and fire, then rebuilt.
The business passed through several owners and names before Lew Lengfeld renamed it Books Inc. in 1946. Lengfeld and his colleague Ann Alanson also hosted a weekly book review program on San Francisco's KRON television. He also opened stores in other states. After his death in 1996, the chain went through Chapter 11 and came out in 1997 with four stores, then grew again. Michael Tucker led the company until he retired in 2019, when Andrew Perham, a bookseller with the company since 2010, took over. The company now says it has more than 170 years of history. Its website currently carries a Barnes & Noble Booksellers copyright notice. Its shop menu also links to Barnes & Noble.
What you will find
The Palo Alto shop is a general bookstore, stocking books of all sorts rather than one specialty. The store's own description puts gifts alongside the books, naming conversation pieces, socks, soaps, toys and games. That mix makes it a practical stop for a last-minute birthday present, since you can pick up a book and something small to go with it. The company also sells its own Books Inc. merchandise online.
Events and book clubs are a big part of the store's identity. The events calendar on the company's website lists upcoming events across all its locations. A separate page covers book clubs. Check the calendar for Palo Alto dates before you plan a visit around an author talk.
Visiting
The Palo Alto store keeps long hours: Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Call 650-321-0600 to check whether a title is in stock or to order one.
The early opening on weekends makes Saturday and Sunday mornings an easy time to browse. If you are heading to the Sunday farmers market on California Avenue or the Saturday market downtown, the store is a short drive away along El Camino Real or Embarcadero Road. Evening hours on weekdays suit anyone shopping after work.
Town & Country Village has surface parking lots entered from El Camino Real and Embarcadero Road. The center also has Paper Source for cards and stationery, plus cafes and bakeries such as Douce France and Boichik Bagels for a break.
More bookstores nearby
Palo Alto has a small but varied book scene. Bell's Books on Emerson Street sells new, used and rare books. The Stanford Bookstore serves the campus. Our bookstores guide compares them, including Kepler's in Menlo Park. Families may also like the free library storytimes. The Palo Alto libraries guide covers the city's branches.
Location and getting there
Books Inc. is at 74 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Town & Country Village area of Palo Alto. Our Town & Country Village guide covers what else is around.
The nearest train stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.5 miles away. That is roughly a 12 minute walk.
Parking: the center's own free surface lots.
Hours
| Monday to Friday | 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
|---|---|
| Saturday | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. |
| Sunday | 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. |
Hours from the business's own website, checked October 30, 2026.
What is nearby
- Chase Town & Country Village, service business, under 0.1 mi
- Mamahuhu, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
- Peet's Coffee Town & Country Village, cafe, under 0.1 mi
- Gott's Roadside, quick-service spot, under 0.1 mi
- Everything But Water, store, under 0.1 mi
- Town & Country Village, under 0.1 mi
- Stanford Stadium, 0.3 mi
- Palo Alto History Museum, 0.4 mi
Other books, gifts, art and specialty shops nearby: Paper Source (under 0.1 mi); Bell's Books (0.4 mi); Qualia Contemporary Art (0.5 mi); Mac's Smoke Shop (0.5 mi). Browse the full books, gifts, art and specialty shops list.
Before you go
- Hours for small shops can change with the seasons and holidays. Check before making a special trip.
- Many independent shops will order items they do not have in stock. Just ask at the counter.
- Gift wrapping is often available, especially around the holidays.
About this listing
Checked October 30, 2026 against Books Inc. locations and hours; Books Inc.: our history; Books Inc. in the news. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Books Inc. in Palo Alto?
Books Inc. is at 74 Town & Country Village, Palo Alto, CA 94301, in the Town & Country Village area. The nearest Caltrain stop is the Palo Alto Caltrain station, about 0.5 miles away.
What are Books Inc. Palo Alto's hours?
Books Inc. lists the Palo Alto store as open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where is Books Inc. in Palo Alto?
The store is at 74 Town & Country Village, the shopping center on El Camino Real at Embarcadero Road, across from Palo Alto High School. The phone number is 650-321-0600.
Does Books Inc. Palo Alto hold author events?
Yes. The company describes the Palo Alto store as having a robust event schedule. Upcoming events and book clubs are listed on the Books Inc. website's events calendar.
What are Books Inc.'s hours?
Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m..