Kepler's Books

Kepler's Books on El Camino Real is one of the Bay Area's best-loved independent bookstores and a genuine cultural institution rather than just a shop. It has been in continuous operation since 1955, with one near-fatal interruption in 2005 that ended with the community pulling the store back from the brink. The current location has a large floor area, an excellent selection across all genres, and an active events programme that brings authors and thinkers through on a regular basis.

The store is close to the Menlo Park train station and Cafe Barrone next door, making it a natural combined stop. The events programme spans talks, readings, and community discussions, and tends to attract a well-informed Peninsula audience. Signed editions of recent titles are stocked after author events. For anyone staying in the area, Kepler's is worth a dedicated visit rather than just a browse.

things to do sight shopping
A story
Kepler's Books has been a Peninsula institution since 1955, when Roy Kepler — a pacifist and civil rights activist — opened it as a gathering place for Bay Area intellectuals. Joan Baez, Arlo Guthrie, and Ken Kesey were among those who passed through in its early years. The store went bankrupt in 2005 but was saved by a community campaign that raised $100,000 in three days, an early demonstration of what would later be called crowdfunding.