RESOURCE – Specialty Book Stores

It’s an understatement to say that by nature I’m a bit of a book addict. While many people may think it’s fun to joke that the residents of Los Angeles don’t even know *how* to read, you and I both know that there are a gazillion absolutely incredible places for bibliophiles to get their book fix in this town. After the jump is a listing of some of the most unique *specialty* book stores to be found in Los Angeles. Whether you’re looking for the latest in Armenian fiction or a manual on how to meet code when building a home, if these vendors don’t have the topic you’re looking for in stock, they can probably point you towards someone who might.

*If you notice any errors or would like to suggest a beloved shop that we’ve missed, please e-mail us.*

TRAVEL
Geographica – Travel, Toluca Lake (818) 848-1414
Distant Lands – Travel, Pasadena (626) 449-3220
Traveler’s Bookcase – Travel, 3rd Street (323) 655-0114

HOBBIES
Autobooks-Aerobooks – Aviation and Automobiles, Burbank (818) 845-0707
Janet Jarvits Bookseller – Cooking, Pasadena (626) 296-1638
The Cook’s Library (it’s still open!) – Cooking, West LA (323) 655-3141
Hollywood Magic Inc – Magic, Hollywood (323) 464-5610

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Taschen – Arts/Pop Culture, Beverly Hills (310) 274-4300 and 3rd Street (323) 931-1168
Fashion Bookstore at California Market Center – Fashion, Downtown (213) 622-5663
Hennessey + Ingalls – Art/Architecture, various locations
Samuel French – Acting/Theatre, Hollywood (323) 876-0570 and Studio City (818) 762-0535
Arcana Books – The Arts, Santa Monica (310) 458-1499
Writers Store – Writing, Westwood (310) 441-5151
Larry Edmunds Bookshop, Inc. – Theatre/Film, Hollywood (323) 463-3273

HORROR/CRIME/MYSTERY/SCI FI/COMICS
Book ‘Em – Horror, South Pasadena (626) 799-9600
Dark Delicacies – Horror, Burbank (818) 556-6660
House of Secrets – Comics, Burbank (818) 562-1900
Mystery Pier – Mystery/Crime, West Hollywood (310) 657-5557
The Mystery Bookstore – Mystery/Crime, Westwood (310) 209-0415
Mysteries to Die For – Mystery/Crime, Thousand Oaks (805) 374-0084
BloodPage Books – “Crime and Extremism,” Downtown (323) 342-9771
Mystery & Imagination – Mystery/Crime/SciFi, Glendale (818) 545-0206

SPIRITUALITY/RELIGION/PHILOSOPHY
Bodhi Tree (will be closing in 2010, so go now!) – Spirituality, Beverly Hills (310) 659-1733
The Mitzvah Store – Orthodox Judaism, West LA (310) 247-9613
Psychic Eye Book Shop – Psychic/Spirituality, Sherman Oaks (818) 906-8263
Agape Quiet Mind Bookstore – Spirituality, Culver City (310) 348-1266
Anthroposophical Society of America – Anthropology/Spirituality, Pasadena (626) 578-7513
Alexandria Metaphysical Bookstore – Spirituality, Pasadena (626) 792-7885
Word of Life – Christianity/Spirituality, various locations  (323) 295-8223
The White Lotus – Spirituality, Los Feliz (323) 665-7322
Libros Revolución – Communism, Downtown (213) 488-1303
Pathfinder Press – Marxism, SE LA (323) 233-9372
Vedanta Society Bookstore – Spirituality, Hollywood (323) 465-7114

CHILDREN
Storyopolis – Kid Stuff, Sherman Oaks (818) 990-7600
Once Upon A Time – Kid Stuff, Montrose (818) 248-9668
Children’s Book World – Kid Stuff, West LA (310) 559-2665

VOCATIONAL
Firefighters’ Bookstore – Technical, Hollywood (714) 375-4888
Opamp Technical Books – Technical, Hollywood (323) 464-4322
Building News Bookstore – Construction and Building, Palms (310) 474-7771

WORLD CULTURE
KinoKuniya – Japanese Influence, Little Tokyo (213) 687-4480
New Mastodon Books & Fine Art – German Influence, Miracle Mile (213) 525-1948
Asahiya Express – Japanese Influence, Sawtelle WestLA (310) 575-3303
Siam Book Center – Thai Influence, Hollywood (323) 665-4236
Zahra’s Books & Things – African Influence, Inglewood (310) 330-1300
Eso Won Books – African American Influence, Liemert Park (323) 290-1048
Shamrock Imports – Irish Influence, Valley Village (818) 505-9221
Joongang Book Mart – Korean Influence, Koreatown (213) 387-2665
Kingston Culture Plaza Inc – Chinese Influence, Alhambra (626) 570-1277
House of David – Jewish Influence, Valley Village (818) 763-2070
Nippon Book Co – Japanese Influence, Downtown (213) 617-1966
Dehkhoda Persian Book Store – Persian Influence, Westwood (310) 477-0044
Sardarabad Book Service – Armenian Influence, Glendale (818) 500-0790

MISCELLANEOUS
Social Studies School Service – Learning and Teaching Aids, Culver City 310 839-2436
One Dollar Bookstore – Exactly as advertised: $1 books, various locations
Abba Padre Bikes and Books – Book store *and* bike repair shop, Culver City (310) 390-5203
Dragon Books – Rare Antique and Collectible, Bel Air (310) 441-8545