Marcus Books
Best Bookstore in Oakland · CA
America's oldest Black-owned bookstore
Marcus Books is the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the United States, founded in 1960 by Drs. Raye and Julian Richardson and named for Marcus Garvey. Its Oakland shop is a community hub for Black literature, history, and self-knowledge, hosting authors and organizers for more than six decades.
A cultural cornerstone that has weathered rent battles and the loss of its San Francisco location, Marcus Books endures as a vital gathering place — a bookstore that is also a movement.
Customers said it first.
A Centurion Award verifies the public record that’s already there. Read the reviews yourself on the platforms below.
Public-record snapshot as of July 2026. Live ratings are always current on each platform.
Why this business cleared the bar.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. Founding cohort: evaluated in 2026 on public evidence available then, labeled 2025. Selection follows the published criteria; Marcus Books met them on that evidence. The business can claim the listing or ask us to remove it.
- ✓Years in operation. Operating in Oakland since 1960 — 65 years of continuous business.
- ✓Sustained online presence. An established local institution with a consistent public footprint — listings, coverage, and word of mouth in Oakland.
- ✓Established customer track record. A deep public track record: Oakland has kept Marcus Books busy for 65 years.
- ✓Liked by customers and the community. Genuinely beloved by Oakland regulars and visitors alike — a bona fide community favorite.
- ✓Recognition in the local community. Named best bookstore in Oakland for 2025 for six decades as the nation's oldest Black-owned bookstore and a cornerstone of Black literature.
The specific data behind this award, and the exact thresholds, stay internal so the standard can’t be gamed. Read the methodology.
This page was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. Own this business? Claim the listing to manage it, or ask us to remove it.
Award record
2025 Centurion Award
Best Bookstore in Oakland Oakland, CA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluationVisit Marcus Books
The details, verified.
Clean, checkable facts about Marcus Books.
- Legal / trading name
- Marcus Books
- Category
- Shop
- Founded
- 1960, Oakland, CA
- Location
- Oakland, CA
- Centurion Award
- Best Bookstore in Oakland — 2025
- Record last verified
- July 2026
A signal you can check.
This is a dated award record published by The Centurion Awards after reviewing public evidence for Marcus Books against the 2025 criteria for its market and category. The business did not have to apply for this page to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. The criteria are public. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. If an award stops holding up, we may revoke it. For anything current, like hours or bookings, go straight to the business itself.
Frequently asked questions.
What is Marcus Books?
Founded in 1960, Marcus Books is the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the United States and a cultural anchor of Oakland.
Is Marcus Books award-winning?
Yes — Marcus Books is the 2025 Centurion Award winner for Best Bookstore in Oakland, a verified, criteria-based award. Named best bookstore in Oakland for 2025 for six decades as the nation's oldest Black-owned bookstore and a cornerstone of Black literature.
Where is Marcus Books?
Marcus Books is in Oakland, CA.
Run a business like this one?
If you’ve put in the years, you may already qualify. Evaluation is free, private, and never for sale.