| The Palo Alto History Project |
| Bell's Books 536 Emerson Street |
| Bell's Books: The Anti-Borders Bell's Books on Emerson Street in Palo Alto is an old-style two floor bookstore with requisite nooks and crannies --- a place where you can find dusty out-of-print magazines and signed copies of aging hardcovers. Dating back more than 70 years, the store hangs on as an independent downtown bookseller even with the big Borders dominating all on University. In 1935, Henry Bell came north from L.A. during the Depression ready to sell the textbooks he had accumulated in the back seat of his car. Setting up shop near Stanford, he began importing college texts from back East, later purchasing used books from local attics and eventually buying up old libraries. What resulted --- and still remains today --- is an uncomputerized, stack house of books you can find nowhere else. Bell's was originally known as College Book Store when its door opened in 1936 where the Blockbuster Video now stands just off the University Avenue underpass. In 1953, the Bell's moved to the high ceilings and forest green storefront of 536 Emerson, where they have remained since, eventually putting the family name over the door. Through the years, Henry Bell along with his wife Valeria --- and later daughter Faith and sons Michael and Jonathan amassed a collection that includes out-of-print and hard to find books, signed first editions, and complete sets that line the 22 foot walls from head to toe. Bell's boasts an incredible 450 different book categories and 100,000 volumes --- only 20% of which is reachable without the aide of a ladder. At one time, the Bells used to lend out opera glasses for eyeing the titles on the upper shelves --- now some long-time customers bring their own. But although used book stores have never been synonymous with easy profits, the rise of the huge chain stores such as Borders and Barnes & Noble have made life even tougher for the indy bookstores. After gracefully welcoming Borders when it opened, Kepler's Books in Menlo Park nearly had to close its doors in 2006 and smaller shops like Megabooks on University have recently seen their final days. Hopefully, Bell's Books will be able to survive such corporate domination. Faith Bell had much to say when the Varsity Theatre was refit into a Borders Books and Music in 1994-1996. "We Palo Altans don't want super-stores or strip malls here. Do you suppose the Long's Drug stores and chain bookstores will be shown off proudly in 50 years? Can't we keep this building (the Varsity) true to its nature and use?" Still, a decade has passed and while Bell admits that many customers are simply there to browse and soak up atmosphere, her store survives and a niche remains. So while you might stop by Borders to pick up the latest Danielle Steele or John Grisham, if you're searching some outdated, out of print horticultural hardback, there's only one place in town. -Matt Bowling |
| Your milkshake in the old tin style |
| The Original Bell --- Henry |
| The map below shows the Downtown West area |
| Bell's from the outside |
| Bell's from the outside |
| Another one bites the dust |
| Borders dominating the scene |
| Palo Alto: Then & Now |
| 2007 |
| circa 1975 |
| Sources: Palo Alto Weekly, Palo Alto Historical Association, Palo Alto Times |
| Links: Bell's Books Website: http://www.bellsbooks.com/ |
| Faith Bell, profiled in the P.A. Weekly in 1993 (PA Weekly) |
| An old ad for Bell's, when it went by the name College Bookshop |
| Looking at the tall stacks |
| Valeria does some book sorting (PA Weekly) |
| At left is Bell's Books in the mid-1970s. At right, the tree has grown some, window displays are more elaborate and a gold trim has been added, but basically the building at 536 Emerson Street remains timeless through the years. |
| "In a recent visit to this lovely bookstore, Faith told me the story of a lady that recently came in the store and asked her little boy if he wanted to see the place where mommy and daddy had their first kiss. When Faith heard that, she asked the woman to tell her more about it. She said that both she and her husband were in Europe (refering to the Europe section of the bookstore) and since it was so quite and perfect... Faith remembered asking her "oh, and have you been to Europe since then?" to which the lady in question replied "Yes, we've been in Europe many, many times" ;0) Isn't that lovely?? -Veronica |
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