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 record was published by The Centurion Awards from the public record. 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.
The details, verified.
- 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
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.
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. The verification above is from the latest published award. Open a year for that year’s citation.
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 for free to manage it, correct it, or remove it. If you want the award kit (badge, certificate, and announcement), you pay after you claim. Through December 31, 2026, publishing is $99. The evaluation itself is free. The $99 covers the first year only. Renewals are $199/year. That fee never buys selection.
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.