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.
Every award, on the record.
Each Centurion Award is its own dated annual record, and staying current means clearing the bar again each new year. Open a year for the full citation and verification details.
2025 Centurion Award
Best Bookstore in Oakland Oakland, CA · Awarded under the 2025 evaluation View the 2025 award →Awards run one calendar year and renew only if the business clears the bar again. Selection is by published criteria, never for sale.
Visit Marcus Books
A signal you can check.
This page is the standing record for Marcus Books (2025). It was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record; the business did not have to apply for it to appear. It wasn’t voted on or sponsored, and selection is not for sale. Owners can claim the listing or ask us to remove it. For hours, bookings, and live reviews, go straight to the business itself.
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.
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.