Browser Books

This bookstore has been a Fillmore Street mainstay since 1976; owner Stephen Damon started out as assistant manager there in 1978. The vibe is akin to a comfortable home library, with low lighting, a smattering of art, and colorful area rugs underfoot. (The store’s motto: “You’ll not only find the book you want, you’ll enjoy looking for it.”) The spot is known for its fiction and literature sections—new releases and staff picks are displayed on large tables up front. In addition, you’ll find a robust assortment of books on religion, philosophy, and poetry. (Damon is also an ordained Zen priest.) In 2018, Damon was diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disease and the bookstore faltered financially; luckily, the community rose up around him, raising $75,000 in a Go Fund Me campaign to save (and renovate) their beloved neighborhood bookstore.