Books Inc. — Local services in Mountain View

First of all, I am a regular customer of this bookstore because they have very interesting books and especially quite a few good children's toys and gifts. The staffs have always been very friendly and helpful.

Now comes the however. Yesterday I went to the store again to buy some birthday gifts for my family and I was greeted obviously not quite welcomed. Start with the entrance,. I even cautiously waited at the door to make sure I was OK to come in to browse around with my mask on. The lady at the cashier counter in the front barely acknerowledged me and seemed to be bothered by my asking. I did not feel welcome at all. That was for the start.

Fortunately, there was this older lady staff whom I recognized before and she was helpful as usual and help me to pick out several toys for my kids.

Now back to the cashier counter. While this staff was OK finished wrapping up my items and processing my payment, she was less than friendly and helpful again when I asked her about one of the items for sale nearby. I actually brought it to her to see if she was able to open the box without damaging it and show me how it work. Instead, she was only willing to half-heartedly open it halfway and warned me not to take it out further. Now, what made her think I would do such a thing without her permission and right in front of her. Very unfriendly and unhelpful indeed. She definitely made me feel like she did not enjoy working there. Unlike the other regular staff who was helpfull.

Would not go in again if I see her on...

First day in town for a conference, feeling homesick as a newish mom; it happens to be days before my birthday (tomorrow), and I knew no one in Mountain View even though I worked in that same city for years (met my husband here). This was the first evening I had to myself in a long while.

I headed this way looking for a thrift store for fun but it was closed. Stumbled around in Books Inc for 45 minutes looking for something, not sure of what it could be. A book centered on the bottom shelf in the ’favorites’ pile near the front caught my eye and after some long waffling I decided to break into a 400 page fantasy book with a glowing staff recommendation (I haven’t read a novel in years).

Sat alone at the Crepevine across the street, the staff as kind as ever, armed with an chai latte and I turned open the first page. Suddenly I’m in turn-of-the-century Paris when night begins to fall, punctuated by an accordionist across Castro coincidentally playing La Valse d’Amelie. When the waiter took away my plate I was on page 87, so I decided to leave a nice tip and wandered over to sit just behind the musician (her name is Nadia) who unexpectedly played all the familiar melodies I taught myself on the piano as a child over two decades ago.

Truly a birthday present like no other—it just took one book and I felt SO LUCKY. The luckiest.

I wish whoever finds themselves in a Books Inc is also gifted an evening as special as that for themselves, to transport into a whole world and wakes up more courageous the next day. 11/10...

A few months ago I was studying upstairs at the Cafe Romanza and had run out of note paper. I was happy to find that the bookstore carries 1 notepad, though a little pricey. It was of a good quality so I bought it anyway, plus I needed a notebook for my homework!

Now, months later, I'm at the same Cafe Romanza upstairs and need a notebook again. The bookstore still stocks the notebooks I like (Moleskine) so I go down to buy one. After I opened it up (it's shrink-wrapped), to my horrific surprise I noticed it isn't lined! A second look at the labeling said plain pad! I was scared they wouldn't take back my purchase since I had already torn open the shrink wrap. AND, I noticed a huge gash on the side of the notepad that I hadn't noticed before I bought it. I tried to exchange it for the correct lined notepad anyway. And they gladly took it back! I told him that the shrink wrap was gone (in case he hadn't noticed), but he said it was fine.

Thank goodness. I like being in this cafe and I like this bookstore. Now...