The Stanford Bookstore

The Stanford Bookstore is where most visitors buy the red sweatshirt. It stands on the east side of White Plaza, the open square between Tresidder Union, Old Union and the law school. The store is open to anyone and sells Stanford apparel and gifts, general books, textbooks and technology. It also anchors a small network of Stanford shops on and off campus.

This page covers the main store, its published hours, how to get there and park and the other places to buy official Stanford merchandise. Hours below come from the store's operator as listed in late October 2026. For transit and parking basics, start with our Stanford visitor guide.

Location and hours

The store's address is 519 Lasuen Mall, on White Plaza. If you are coming from the Main Quad, walk a few minutes south along Lasuen Mall toward the student unions. The bookstore faces Old Union across the plaza and Tresidder Union is just to the west.

Follett, a national campus retailer, runs the store. Its Stanford store hours page listed these regular hours in late October 2026:

No holiday hours were posted at the time. Expect changes around Thanksgiving, the winter closure and the breaks between quarters. Move-in week in September and commencement weekend in June are the busiest times of year. Our commencement guide covers that weekend.

What it sells

The bookstore is three shops in one: a gift and apparel store, a bookstore and a technology store.

Stanford apparel and gifts

This is the part most visitors come for. Expect sweatshirts, T-shirts, caps, mugs and other Stanford-branded gifts for students, alumni and families. If you want game day gear, the Athletics Shop on Galvez Street, described below, has a narrower but more sports-focused range.

Books and textbooks

The store carries general interest books, titles by Stanford faculty and course textbooks. Textbook rental is part of its program for students. For new and used books in town, our guide to Palo Alto bookstores covers Bell's Books, Books Inc. and Kepler's in Menlo Park.

Computers and technology

The bookstore's technology department sells Apple products, other computers, software, printers and accessories. Its website says the bookstore has served the Stanford community since 1897. Some of the pricing it offers is for Stanford students, faculty, staff and departments only, so ask at the counter before assuming a discount applies to you.

Other Stanford stores

Follett lists three more Stanford locations alongside the main store. All hours below are as published in late October 2026.

• The Stanford Shop is the easy choice if you are driving and do not want to deal with campus parking. Town & Country Village sits on El Camino Real across from Palo Alto High School and has its own lot. See our Town & Country Village guide.
• The Athletics Shop is on the east side of campus near the stadium and the Stanford Visitor Center at 295 Galvez Street. It is handy before a game. Our Stanford sports guide covers game days.
• Tresidder Marketplace, inside Tresidder Memorial Union, is a convenience store for snacks, drinks and everyday essentials. It closes on weekends.

Getting there and parking

The bookstore's own store information page points drivers to the parking lot in front of Tresidder Union, between Mayfield Avenue and Lagunita Drive. Visitor parking on campus is paid through ParkMobile on weekdays. Many central lots are free on weekends, but read the sign at your space. Our Stanford parking and transit guide explains zones and payment.

Without a car, take Caltrain to Palo Alto and ride the free Marguerite shuttle from the Palo Alto Transit Center on weekdays. On weekends, walk about a mile up Palm Drive to the Oval and continue through the Main Quad to White Plaza. Bikes can lock up at racks around the plaza.

Which store to choose

The four Stanford stores overlap, but each suits a different kind of trip.

1. You are already touring campus: Use the main store on White Plaza. It has the widest range and the longest hours, including Sundays. It also sits between the Main Quad and Tresidder's food court.
2. You are short on time and driving: Use The Stanford Shop at Town & Country Village. You skip campus parking and can combine the stop with lunch or coffee at the shopping center.
3. You are heading to a game: Use the Athletics Shop on Galvez Street, close to the stadium and the Visitor Center.
4. You need a snack, a drink or a toothbrush: Use Tresidder Marketplace on a weekday.

All four are run by Follett, which also sells Stanford merchandise through its online store. If a size or color is missing in person, the online store is the fallback. Check it before making a special trip for one item.

Before you buy

• Cards and mobile payments are the easy option on campus.
• Keep your receipt. Returns follow the store's own policy, posted at the register and on its website.
• Planning to ship gifts home? The PostalAnnex in Tresidder is a short walk across the plaza.
• Buying for a graduate? Shop before commencement weekend, when the stores are at their busiest.

White Plaza and what is changing

White Plaza is the busiest open space on campus. Stanford says it hosts career fairs, craft fairs, performances and student activities through the year. The bookstore, Old Union and Tresidder Union frame it on three sides. Our guide to Tresidder Union and Old Union covers the food and services nearby.

Two changes are worth knowing about:

1. Mail: The White Plaza post office closes on October 31, 2026. A PostalAnnex shipping center opened on the second floor of Tresidder Memorial Union in September 2026, so you can still ship purchases home from the plaza.
2. Town Center: Stanford's Town Center project will reshape White Plaza. The Stanford Daily reports that construction is set to start in 2027 and that the bookstore will become smaller and more focused on events, while its merchandise section moves to another busy part of campus.

If you want to see the store as generations of students have known it, visit before construction begins.

Frequently asked questions