Acres of Books facts for kids
Acres of Books was a really big and famous independent bookstore in downtown Long Beach, California. It was known for having tons of books, like a million of them! It was a special place for many book lovers.
The Story of Acres of Books
The bookstore started way back in 1927 in Cincinnati, Ohio. A man named Bertrand Smith opened it. In 1934, he moved his store to Long Beach, California. Later, in 1960, it moved to the building where most people remember it.
Acres of Books became the biggest and oldest family-owned second-hand bookstore in California. They said they had over a million books! Imagine how many stories were in that building.
A Gift of Rare Books
In 1959, Bertrand Smith gave a special gift to the people of Long Beach. It was a collection of very rare books. Some of these books were printed as far back as the 1400s! This collection also included a copy of the Gutenberg Bible. This important collection is now kept at the Long Beach Public Library.
A Special Landmark
In 1990, the City of Long Beach recognized Acres of Books as a cultural heritage landmark. This means it was an important historical and cultural place for the city.
Many famous people visited Acres of Books over the years. Some well-known writers and actors loved to browse its shelves. One of the most famous visitors was Ray Bradbury, a very popular science fiction writer. He even wrote an essay about how much he loved the bookstore!
The Bookstore Closes
Acres of Books closed its doors on October 18, 2008. The owners sold the land where the store was located. There were plans to turn the site into an art center, but that project didn't happen.
You can even spot the bookstore in a movie! It appeared in the film The Jane Austen Book Club.
