Et al. is at a new gigantic location right by 24th st Bart. I think it's easy to come into the bookshop in the front and completely miss the giant gallery space in the back. KEEP WALKING! Also the prices for the used books are on the top right corner of the first page. Most of them are pretty affordable but you have to watch out in case it's a collector's item- then it's like $300 or something crazy.
How long has it been here? They moved to this space in spring of 2023, but it was next door in the smaller space for five years before that. What's in that space now? Another gallery- go check it out.
This place is run by Jackie Im (born and raised in SF) and her husband, Aaron Harbour (nerd) who started their curatorial project in a tiny studio space in Oakland. They eventually moved it into a basement under a dry cleaner in Chinatown. Then by a weird twist of fate (the gallerist who used to be there moved to LA) they were able to get into this enormous space. I don't know how they make it work other than both of them have full time jobs elsewhere. The place is pretty DIY and hardly makes any money. BUY SOMETHING SO IT DOESN'T DIE AND TURN INTO A WEWORK!
They have events here constantly- opening receptions for the art shows, poetry readings since the literary org, Small Press Traffic keeps their archive in an office in the back. Book releases, performances, and all kinds of other things happen here that you can keep up with on their instagram.
I don't know what to tell ya- if you want to look at art and read books then this is the best spot to go to within a half block radius of 24th st. Bart! read more