Cody's Books

Cody's Books
Company type	Independent bookstore
Industry	Retail (Bookselling)
Founded	1956
Founder	Fred Cody, Pat Cody
Defunct	2008
Headquarters	Berkeley, California, United States
Area served	Berkeley and San Francisco, California
Key people	Andy Ross (owner 1977–2006), Steve Van Strum (executive until 1968)
Products	Books (notably paperbacks, poetry, literature, political and scholarly works)
Parent	Yohan, Inc. (from 2006)

Cody's Books (operating from 1956 until 2008) was an independent bookstore based in Berkeley, California. It played a pioneering role in the paperback book movement within Berkeley, actively opposed censorship, and served as a sanctuary during the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations throughout the 1960s and 1970s.

History

The original store was established in 1956 on Euclid Avenue by entrepreneurs Fred (1916–1983) and Pat Cody (1923–2010). Expansion followed with a new location on Telegraph Avenue in 1960, and in 1965 the bookstore moved to a purpose-built structure characterized by high ceilings and ample natural lighting, becoming the region’s largest bookstore specializing in paperbacks. Steve Van Strum, a key executive, helped forge international connections, including collaborations with Oxford University Press and participation at the Frankfurt Book Fair, before his departure in 1968.

During the civil unrest of 1968, Cody's took on an essential community role by offering first aid to anti-war demonstrators injured by police near its Telegraph Avenue premises. In the early 1970s, the store also employed prominent activist Mario Savio.

In 1977, ownership transferred to Andy Ross, who managed Cody's until 2006. Under Ross’s guidance, the bookstore enhanced its reputation for an extensive collection of poetry, literature, political works, and scholarly publications. Cody's became known for pioneering author events featuring luminaries such as Tom Robbins, Norman Mailer, Ken Kesey, Alice Walker, Allen Ginsberg, Maurice Sendak, Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter, Muhammad Ali, and Salman Rushdie.

On February 28, 1989, Cody's experienced a firebomb attack believed to be connected to its display of Salman Rushdie’s The Satanic Verses, which was banned under an Iranian fatwa. Despite further security threats—including the discovery of an unexploded pipe bomb—staff unanimously resolved to continue carrying the book. This decision highlighted their firm dedication to free speech and demonstrated strategic leadership amid industry-wide pressures.

Throughout the 1980s and beyond, Cody's actively resisted market conditions detrimental to independent bookstores by filing antitrust lawsuits against preferential treatment afforded to chain retailers. Owner Andy Ross became an outspoken defender of independent booksellers confronting competition from large chains and emerging online retailers.

The store’s business approach focused on fostering community ties, offering carefully curated selections tailored to a discerning clientele, and strategically countering competitive challenges—factors that contributed to Cody's enduring influence within the bookselling sector.

Neighborhood booksellers

Cody's was a significant member of a network of independent bookstores spanning North Berkeley to North Oakland. This group included Moe's Books, Pendragon/Pellucidar/Pegasus, Shakespeare & Co., Black Oak Books, and Diesel. Situated near the University of California, Berkeley campus, these stores collectively formed part of the Northern California Independent Bookseller's Association (NCIBA), which supported the region’s independent bookselling industry.

Moves and closure

The flagship Telegraph Avenue location closed in 2006 amid local disputes and growing competition from chain bookstores such as Borders. The building remained unoccupied until 2016 when it briefly reopened as "Mad Monk, Center for Anachronistic Media" before shutting down again in 2018.

Cody's San Francisco branch ceased operations in 2007 due to similar market pressures. In September 2006, Japanese book distributor Yohan, Inc. acquired Cody's. Financial difficulties prompted relocating the final remaining store from 4th Street to Shattuck Avenue in March 2008; however, it ultimately closed permanently on June 20 of that year.

The intertwined narratives of Cody's and Menlo Park’s Kepler's Books are documented in the 2008 PBS film Paperback Dreams, which explores broader challenges faced by independent booksellers across the industry.

Timeline

Locations:

Euclid Avenue, Berkeley, 1956 to 1960
Intersection of Telegraph Avenue and Dwight, Berkeley, 1960 to 1965
2454 Telegraph Avenue at Haste Street, Berkeley, 1965
2 Stockton Street, San Francisco, from 2005 to 2007
1730 4th Street, Berkeley, 1997 until March 2008
2201 Shattuck Avenue, Downtown Berkeley, April to June 2008; final sales held August 14 through 23, 2008

External links

Cody's Books: Paperback Dreams (archived)
"Last Cody's Bookstore Bids Farewell to Berkeley" – The Daily Californian