Moe's Books

Moe's Books is an independent bookstore in Berkeley, California, located near the University of California, Berkeley on Telegraph Avenue. Founded in 1959 by Moe and Barbara Moskowitz, the store began on Shattuck Avenue before moving to its long-standing Telegraph Avenue location during the 1960s. It developed around Moe Moskowitz's dissatisfaction with the low trade-in values offered by conventional booksellers, an experience that helped shape the store's emphasis on used books, distinctive inventory, and direct relationships with readers and sellers. The business occupies four floors and has been described as carrying more than 200,000 new and used books across a broad range of subjects and genres. Its inventory includes general-interest titles as well as literature, history, politics, art, philosophy, scholarly works, and rare or collectible books. The combination of scale, variety, and used-book specialization has made Moe's a destination for students, academics, collectors, tourists, and local readers. It is widely regarded as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's historically important bookstores and as a significant cultural institution on Telegraph Avenue. Moe Moskowitz remained involved in the store until his death in 1997. His daughter, Doris Moskowitz, subsequently assumed leadership. The family's role has connected the business across multiple generations, while the store's identity has remained associated with independent bookselling and Berkeley's literary and countercultural traditions. A Berkeley Historical Society plaque honoring Moe Moskowitz was installed outside the store in 2014. In 2016, Doris Moskowitz published Radical Bookselling: A Life of Moe Moskowitz, which documented her father's life and the history of the bookstore. The store has also been associated with writers, publishers, and booksellers who later became prominent in the literary world. Heyday Books publisher Steve Wasserman wrote about Moe Moskowitz's influence on his education in bookselling and literature. Bob Baldock and novelist Jonathan Lethem are among the people reported to have worked at the bookstore. Moe's Books also appeared in a scene in the 1967 film The Graduate, further linking it to Berkeley's cultural history. In 2016, the store became involved in the recovery of stolen rare books. After a van containing books valued at approximately $350,000 was stolen from bookseller Lawrence Van De Carr in Oakland, the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America circulated an alert. Two men attempted to offer some of the stolen books to Moe's Books, including first editions attributed to Cormac McCarthy and William Faulkner. Employees recognized the situation, delayed the prospective sellers, and contacted law enforcement. One suspect, Joshua Anderson, was arrested while trying to leave through the front of the store; the second person escaped through the rear. Moe's Books faced the broader pressures affecting independent retail during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, it launched a GoFundMe campaign seeking $100,000 to help preserve the business. That year, on March 9, staff members unionized with the Industrial Workers of the World, citing concerns about workplace safety procedures. The effort drew guidance from workers at Elliott Bay Book Company and Bookshop Santa Cruz after an earlier unionization attempt roughly a decade before had failed. Following disputes between employees and management, including a reported conflict involving a recently hired worker and union members, Doris Moskowitz recognized the union and a contract was reached in 2021. The bookstore continues to operate in an environment shaped by online commerce, changing reading habits, and difficulties affecting Telegraph Avenue. Despite those pressures, its large inventory, physical scale, used-book expertise, and cultural history distinguish it from ordinary chain and online retailers. It remains one of the most prominent surviving bookstores near the University of California, Berkeley and one of the Bay Area's best-known independent booksellers.

Moe's Books was established in Berkeley in 1959 by Moe and Barbara Moskowitz. The original shop operated on Shattuck Avenue and was partly inspired by Moe Moskowitz's dissatisfaction with trade-in values at other bookstores. During the 1960s, the business moved to Telegraph Avenue, where it shared a building with Print Mint until that company departed in 1966. The Telegraph Avenue location became central to the store's identity and connected it with Berkeley's student, literary, and countercultural life. Moe Moskowitz ran the bookstore until his death in 1997. His daughter, Doris Moskowitz, then took over leadership. The family connection remained important to the store's public history: in 2014, the Berkeley Historical Society installed a plaque outside the shop honoring Moe Moskowitz, and in 2016 Doris published Radical Bookselling: A Life of Moe Moskowitz. The book presented a personal account of Moe's life and the development of the bookstore. Over time, Moe's Books expanded into a four-floor operation carrying more than 200,000 new and used books. Its range has included general literature, scholarly works, art, history, politics, philosophy, and rare books. The store has been associated with several literary figures and booksellers, including Steve Wasserman, Bob Baldock, and Jonathan Lethem. It also appeared in the 1967 film The Graduate. Publications covering the Bay Area and California have repeatedly identified it as a notable bookstore and cultural landmark. In 2016, the store's rare-book department helped law enforcement respond to a theft case. A van belonging to bookseller Lawrence Van De Carr had been stolen in Oakland with rare books reportedly worth about $350,000. After the Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America issued an alert, two men tried to sell some of the books to Moe's Books. Staff members recognized the possibility that the books were stolen, kept the men engaged while police were notified, and helped facilitate the arrest of Joshua Anderson. His alleged accomplice escaped. The COVID-19 pandemic created a severe challenge for the store. In 2020, Moe's Books sought community support through a GoFundMe campaign with a $100,000 target. On March 9 of the same year, employees organized with the Industrial Workers of the World, raising concerns about safety protocols. Workers received advice from employees at Elliott Bay Book Company and Bookshop Santa Cruz, especially because an earlier organizing attempt had not succeeded. Relations between staff and management later became strained, including a reported dispute involving the treatment of a newly hired employee in relation to union members. Doris Moskowitz eventually recognized the union, and a contract was reached in 2021. Moe's Books remains active despite competition from e-commerce and challenges affecting Telegraph Avenue. Its extensive physical inventory and long presence in Berkeley have allowed it to remain one of the area's most significant independent bookstores and one of the few large bookstores still operating near the University of California, Berkeley.

• 2021

  Union contract is recognized

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Management recognizes the union following workplace disputes and a contract is reached.

• 2020

  Pandemic fundraiser and unionization

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The store launches a survival fundraiser and employees organize with the Industrial Workers of the World.

• 2016

  Family history is published

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Doris Moskowitz publishes Radical Bookselling: A Life of Moe Moskowitz, documenting her father's life and the bookstore's history.

• 2016

  Store assists in stolen rare-book investigation

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Employees identify suspected stolen books offered for sale and help police arrest one suspect.

• 2014

  Historical plaque honors Moe Moskowitz

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The Berkeley Historical Society installs a plaque outside the store honoring its founder.

• 1997

  Doris Moskowitz assumes leadership

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  After Moe Moskowitz's death, his daughter Doris takes over the bookstore.

• 1960

  Move to Telegraph Avenue

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  The bookstore relocates to Telegraph Avenue during the 1960s and becomes associated with the Berkeley cultural district.

• 1959

  Moe's Books is founded

  [1]Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org

  Moe and Barbara Moskowitz establish the bookstore in Berkeley, initially on Shattuck Avenue.

A large, independent, multi-floor Berkeley bookstore combining extensive used-book inventory with new, rare, and collectible books. Its positioning is rooted in knowledgeable bookselling, literary culture, discovery, and the preservation of a historic physical bookstore experience.

• Book retail · 1959

  New books

  Moe's Books sells new titles across general-interest and specialized categories. Its new-book selection complements the store's used and rare inventory, allowing customers to browse current releases alongside established works in literature, history, politics, art, philosophy, and other subjects.

• Book retail · 1959

  Used books

  Used books are central to Moe's Books' identity and heritage. The store's large, varied inventory supports browsing and discovery, with titles spanning many genres and fields. Its used-book orientation reflects the original business model developed by Moe Moskowitz in response to dissatisfaction with conventional trade-in practices.

• Rare-book retail

  Rare and collectible books

  The store maintains a rare-books section offering collectible material, including first editions and other higher-value books when available. This department was involved in identifying books connected to a 2016 theft investigation, demonstrating its participation in the professional rare-book marketplace.

• 2016

  Attempted sale of stolen rare books

  After rare books were stolen from a van in Oakland, two men attempted to sell some of the books at Moe's Books. Employees had received an industry alert, delayed the prospective sellers, and contacted police. Joshua Anderson was arrested while trying to leave through the front of the store, while an accomplice escaped.

  Source

Read more

• 2020COVID-19 survival fundraiser

  Berkeley · San Francisco Bay Area

  Moe's Books used a GoFundMe campaign to seek community financial support during the COVID-19 pandemic, setting a stated fundraising goal of $100,000 to help preserve the bookstore.

  Outcome. The available reference material does not state the final amount raised or provide a detailed accounting of the campaign's outcome.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of pandemic support fundraiserStrategy

  Background

  COVID-19 created an immediate threat to the continuity of independent retail and bookstore operations.

  Action taken

  Moe's Books appealed directly to the community through a GoFundMe campaign with a $100,000 goal.

  Aftermath

  The reference material does not identify the final proceeds, but the store continued operating.

  Source

• 2020

  Employee unionizationStrategy

  Background

  Employees raised concerns about workplace safety protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and drew on organizing experience from other independent bookstores.

  Action taken

  Staff joined the Industrial Workers of the World on March 9, 2020.

  Aftermath

  After subsequent disputes between staff and management, the union was recognized and a contract was reached in 2021.

  Source

1. 1Moe's Booksen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Moe's Books official websitemoesbooks.com