Cody's Books facts for kids
Cody's Telegraph Avenue store held their closing sale July 4 – July 10, 2006
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| Private subsidiary | |
| Founded | Berkeley, California (1956) |
| Founder | Fred Cody & Pat Cody |
| Headquarters | , |
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Key people
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| Products | |
| Owner | IBC Publishing Group |
Cody's Books was a famous independent bookstore in Berkeley, California. It was open from 1956 to 2008. Cody's was special because it helped bring paperback books to people. It also stood up for freedom of speech. During the 1960s and 1970s, it even offered a safe place for people protesting the Vietnam War.
Contents
The Story of Cody's Books
Starting a Special Bookstore
Cody's Books first opened in 1956. It was on Euclid Avenue in Berkeley, California. The founders were Fred Cody (1916–1983) and Pat Cody (1923–2010). In 1960, the store moved to a bigger spot on Telegraph Avenue. It moved again in 1965 to another location on the same street.
A Safe Place for Protesters
In 1968, Cody's became a first-aid station. This happened when people protesting the war were hurt outside. Police and the National Guard were involved in protests on Telegraph Avenue. The store's employees helped those who were injured. Later, in the early 1970s, a famous activist named Mario Savio worked there.
New Owners and Famous Books
In 1977, the Codys sold the store to Andy Ross. He owned Cody's until 2006. The bookstore was known for its huge collection of books. These included books on literature, politics, and school subjects.
Standing Up for Books
Cody's faced a big challenge in 1989. Someone threw a firebomb through the store's window. People thought this was because the store proudly displayed The Satanic Verses. This book by Salman Rushdie had been banned by some Iranian religious leaders. An unexploded pipe bomb was also found.
Even after this attack, the staff bravely decided to keep the book on display. Many other bookstores had removed it due to pressure.
Famous Visitors and Fair Business
Cody's was also famous for its author events. Many well-known writers and important people visited. They would read from their books and talk to fans.
Some of these famous guests included:
- Tom Robbins
- Norman Mailer
- Ken Kesey
- Alice Walker
- Allen Ginsberg
- Maurice Sendak
- Former Presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter
- Boxing legend Muhammad Ali
- And even Salman Rushdie himself!
In the 1980s, Cody's fought for fair business. They were part of lawsuits against larger chain stores. These lawsuits claimed that independent bookstores were treated unfairly. Andy Ross, the owner, spoke out often. He supported small, independent businesses against big chains and online stores.
The End of an Era
Moving and Closing Stores
The Telegraph Avenue store was the main Cody's location. It closed in 2006. This caused a lot of discussion in the local news. Many believed it closed because of pressure from large chains like Borders. As of 2015, that spot was still empty.
The Cody's store in San Francisco also closed in 2007. It closed for similar reasons. In September 2006, a Japanese book company called Yohan, Inc. bought Cody's.
The Final Chapter
In March 2008, the last Cody's store moved. It went from 4th Street to its final spot on Shattuck Avenue. This move was due to a rent increase. But financial problems continued. The store had to close for good on June 20, 2008.
A TV show called Paperback Dreams was made in 2008. It told the story of Cody's Books and another bookstore, Kepler's Books.
Cody's Books Timeline
Here are the locations of Cody's Books over the years:
- Euclid Avenue, Berkeley: 1956–1960
- Telegraph Avenue and Dwight, Berkeley: 1960–1965
- 2454 Telegraph Avenue at Haste Street, Berkeley: 1965 – July 10, 2006
- 2 Stockton Street, San Francisco: 2005–2007
- 1730 4th St., Berkeley: 1997–March 2008
- 2201 Shattuck Ave., Downtown Berkeley: April 1, 2008 – June 19, 2008. A final sale was held from August 14–August 23, 2008.
