Book Alley
STILL OPERATINGCataloged Bookmarks & Tickets
1 SpecimenTIMELINE
Grand Opening
611 E Colorado Blvd, Pasadena
Annex closed. Main store moved to 1252 E Colorado Blvd.
Annex closed. Main store moved to 1252 E Colorado Blvd.
Relocated to 611 E Blvd
Relocated to 611 E Blvd
Opened Annex at 696 E Colorado Blvd
Opened Annex at 696 E Colorado Blvd
Bookstore History
Founded in 1992 by Tom Rogers, Book Alley began in an alleyway space in Old Pasadena before relocating eastward along Colorado Boulevard. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, it operated at 611 E. Colorado Blvd in the Playhouse District—supplemented briefly by an auxiliary annex, Book Alley Too, at 696 E. Colorado Blvd—before establishing its permanent home at 1252 E. Colorado Blvd. Spanning more than three decades in Pasadena, it has grown into one of the largest used, rare, and out-of-print bookshops in Southern California, maintaining over 50,000 volumes with a strong emphasis on art, architecture, graphic design, cinema, and literature.
Historic Location & Map
Explore the physical neighborhood and historic street address on Google Maps
Alley in Old Pasadena
1st Location (Original)Active 1992–1995Pasadena, California, United States