Aardvark Books – A Paradise for Used Book Lovers

Aardvark Books employees (from left) Rob Cahow and Eric Fallstrom stand next to manager David Lugn.
Situated at 227 Church St., the store specializes in used books.

By Brittany Lyles

In a neighborhood where stores and cafes are constantly changing, corporate stores are moving in, and neighbors are anticipating the next best thing, there is one used bookstore that has remained the same since 1978.

Aardvark Books is conveniently located on Church Street, about four doors down from Market Street, across the street from the Muni J-Church line and next to popular cafes and quaint stores.

“We are the general neighborhood used bookstore and the longest lasting business on Church Street,” said David Lugn, the manager of Aardvark. Lugn has been working at the store for 27 years.

“I moved here in 1978 and worked at another bookstore, but it was all new books, and nothing was unique or unexpected,” said Lugn. “Working at Aardvark I have found that used bookstores are so much more interesting. The store changes every day.”

Walking into the shop, one feels like they have entered a time machine. Situated inside an old Victorian building with beautiful floral moldings on the walls, the carpet is velvet red and each shelf is filled with books that don’t just have a story to tell, but have a history themselves.

Each section of the store is unique with directories in each aisle written with colorful markers so that no two are alike. The cooking section has a directory with a magazine cut-out of canned foods pasted on it and the gardening section directory is written in calligraphy using a turquoise and black marker. The current events section is next to the ‘60s drug section and each wall has a different poster or painting.

Aardvark’s specialty is buying books from anyone who drops in with a box full of endless stories and adventures.

“People bring us books to sell, and we also buy books appropriate for the store from auctions, estate sales, primarily neighbors, and sometimes we go to people’s homes if they have a large library,” states Lugn. Aardvark conveniently allows anyone to come in and sell books everyday until 10 p.m.
Of course not every book is accepted.

“We don’t buy textbooks – that’s a whole different type of business,” said Lugn. “The book can be
in good condition but we might turn it down because of the type of book it is or there is not enough space for it.”

Rob Cahow, a full-time employee of 15 years, is the official book buyer for the store. “People come in at any point during the day; it’s an ongoing job,” he said.

Cahow enjoys his job at Aardvark. “When you’re a book buyer you never know what’s coming in.
Plus, we’re kind of spoiled, it’s a fun place to work, and we have the convenience of the neighborhood,” he said.

Lugn and Cahow, along with most of the employees, are used bookstore veterans. Don, the newest full-time employee of three years, has the talent of memorizing titles of books for customers.

“I have roughly 50,000 books memorized,” said Don. “It’s my hobby. I’ve been in the used bookstore business for 21 years.”

“Don’s brain is like an encyclopedia full of info on books,” said Lugn.

“Everyone does pretty much the same thing, book buying, shelving books. We all stand together – we’re like a foxhole behind the counter looking out for one another,” said Lugn.

Perhaps that is why the bookstore has outlasted so many stores on Church Street.

“Were a community here and the neighborhood responds to that. They can depend on us,” said Lugn.

Aardvark Books is located at 227 Church St. Open everyday from 10:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.
552-6733.

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