An Oakland institution since 1973.
Five decades of real people selling real books on Grand Avenue — through recessions, a pandemic and the rise of the internet.
The East Bay's finest independent bookstore.
Walden Pond Books opened on Grand Avenue in 1973, in the heart of Oakland's Lake Merritt neighborhood. Half a century later we're still here — buying, selling and trading new, used and rare books.
For more than 50 years the store was guided by Marshall Curatolo (1928–2024), who could talk with you about jazz, radical studies, Cuba, B. Traven — and everything else in the store. His love of books is on every shelf.
When the pandemic closed our doors in 2020, the community we'd served for nearly 50 years stepped up and helped us survive. In 2021 we restored our vintage neon sign, and in 2023 we celebrated our 50th anniversary.
Ask us anything.
“Knowledgeable without the ego” is how one customer put it. Here's who to ask — shelved alphabetically, of course.
Marshall 1928 – 2024
Owned the East Bay's finest independent bookstore for 50 years. Jazz, radical studies, B. Traven, Cuba, Mexico, postcards — and everything else.
Aldous
Ask about: Art, music, Latin American literature, books in Spanish, magazines, Mexico and publisher imprints.
Angela
Ask about: The rare book room, eBay, fantasy & sci-fi, tarot and the occult, true crime, Nabokov, Pynchon and gift-wrapping.
Bob
Ask about: Rare books, modern British authors, book awards, historical novels, mysteries, mythology — and Samoyeds.
Jay
Ask about: Radical studies, political science, jazz, antiques, Art Deco mica lampshades and Bakelite.
Justin
Ask about: Critical geography, experimental music, internet history, “de-Googling,” rock climbing and Thomas Bernhard.
Kody
Ask about: Cults, socio/psychological nonfiction, podcasts, gay fiction, graphic novels and all things horror.
Kyle
Ask about: Vinyl LPs & 45s, hard bop, soul, blues, punk, 20th-century American lit, classic sci-fi and board games.
Magdalene
Ask about: Children's books, juvenile & YA fiction, graphic novels, true crime and reference.
Neder
Ask about: Contemporary literature, Marxism, labor history and Middle East studies — and anything else. Don't be shy!
Paul
Ask about: Metaphysics, enneagrams, astrology, art books, sports, comics, Maui and Flatland. Also: paying all the bills.
Ronah
Ask about: Gender & queer studies, poetry, Persian literature, Afghanistan and dark feminist fiction.
Sydney
Ask about: Short fiction, speculative & queer fiction, Asian American and diaspora literature — and taiko.
Taylor-Lynn
Ask about: Cards & gifts, cookbooks, romance, speculative & transformative fiction, and The Power Broker.
★★★★★“Much more akin to scholars in classic literature than people you would find at a big chain. These guys know their stuff. This is what a bookstore should be.”
— Erica G.
★★★★★“This bookstore feels like home. The staff recommendations are always amazing, and the staff is lovely.”
— Kacie J.
★★★★★“A paradise of great books and music and magazines of all kinds, a wonderful children's area, awesome recommendations, and a friendly and knowledgeable staff.”
— Jahan S.
★★★★★“I have described books in the most vague terms and they've been able to help me find them.”
— Nikki C.
★★★★★“Very knowledgeable staff that take pride in their expertise without the ego.”
— Chris H.
★★★★★“Always friendly, actually answer the phone, and usually have what I want.”
— Jennifer S.
Our most popular staff.
Customers come for the books and stay for the Samoyeds. Scout (Amos and Kip's grand-niece) would like you to pick her up a copy of White Fang.
Lake Merritt & Grand Lake.
Lake Merritt — a tidal lagoon just east of downtown Oakland — became the United States' first official wildlife refuge in 1870.
Its 3.5-mile path is lined with parkland, and its north shore anchors the Grand Avenue and Lakeshore shopping districts. We feel lucky to be at 3316 Grand, in one of the most diverse and desirable neighborhoods in the Bay Area. Pick up the Walk Oakland! Map & Guide at the counter to explore.
Plan your visit