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Books Inc. Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Petition, Alameda Store to Remain Open

Berkeley store to close February 9

Books Inc., the Bay Area’s oldest independent bookstore company, has announced that it has filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California.

Alameda Post - An announcement from the Books Inc. Instagram page. It says "We are filing voluntary reorganization under chapter 11 of the US Bankruptcy Code to build a stronger future and keep our story going. We're not going away. Help us through visiting a store and picking up something to read."
Image Books Inc. / Instagram.

Utilizing Chapter 11 reorganization will allow the popular, privately held 174-year-old collection of neighborhood bookstores to continue operating while it establishes a sustainably solid financial footing in response to annual revenue losses resulting from steadily rising operating costs and dramatically changing consumer buying habits exacerbated by the COVID pandemic, according to a statement issued by store spokesperson Steven Silvers.

The Alameda store will remain open, as will nine other stores in in the Bay Area, but the Berkeley store will close on February 9, as part of the reorganization, pending court approval. Some staff from the Berkeley store are expected to be transferred to the 10 stores that will remain in the East Bay, on the Peninsula, in San Francisco, and at San Francisco International Airport. Gift cards purchased at the Berkeley Books Inc. will be honored at any of the company’s other stores or online at www.booksinc.net.



Books Inc. store locations remaining open, pending approval of the proposed reorganization plan:

  • Alameda: 1344 Park Street.
  • San Leandro: 2483 Washington Avenue.
  • San Francisco – Opera Plaza: 601 Van Ness Avenue.
  • San Francisco – Laurel Village: 3515 California Street.
  • San Francisco – The Marina: 2251 Chestnut Street.
  • San Francisco International Airport: Terminal 2, Books Inc.; Terminal 3, Compass Books.
  • Campbell: 1875 South Bascom Avenue.
  • Mountain View: 317 Castro Street.
  • Palo Alto: 74 Town & Country Village.

The BooksInc.net website will continue to operate and fulfill orders as normal. Books Inc.’s Frequent Reader Program and related benefits will continue without interruption.

“Books Inc. is not going away,” said Andy Perham, a 15-year employee who became Chief Executive Officer in 2019. “Our board, investors, senior managers and key partners agree that reorganizing with the tools afforded us by Chapter 11 is the fastest path toward putting our company on a smaller, financially stronger platform from which we can continue our long legacy of serving California readers.”

Perham noted that the process of restructuring Books Inc. for long-term viability “will require we make some very difficult decisions that affect our people and business partners, and we intend to do everything we can to minimize these impacts. The experience and dedication of our booksellers and management is the foundation on which we feel confident in our ability to transition Books Inc. to its next successful era.”

Perham said Books Inc. hopes that its many loyal customers will help accelerate the company’s emergence from Chapter 11 within the next several months, and said that support from loyal customers, communities, and business partners “has been incredible.”

He suggested that the best way to help Books Inc. quickly get through this challenging time is to come in the store and buy books, or order online. He assured customers that, “Our booksellers will continue to do their very best to provide readers with a vibrant, enriching, and fun experience.”

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