{{Short description|Bookstore in Ojai, California}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}{{Infobox company | name = Bart's Books | logo = Company logo of Bart's Books.png | logo_alt = Two thin, black lines sandwich the words "Bart's Books". The "B" spans across both words. | image = Bart's books.JPG | image_alt = A front view of the bookstore. Bookshelves are in front of the building's walls. | image_caption = Street view | former_name = Bart's Outdoor Bookstore<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" /> | founded = 1964 | founder = Richard Bartindale | hq_location_city = Ojai, California | owner = David and Andrea Grant<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" /> | website = {{URL|https://bartsbooksojai.com/}} }}thumb|right|A sign with instructions for paying for books after hours.
'''Bart's Books''' is a bookstore in Ojai, California.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Stewart |first1=Rachel |title=The untold story of California’s most iconic outdoor bookshop |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2023-07-27/barts-books-outdoor-bookstore-ojai-history |access-date=24 April 2025 |publisher=The Los Angeles Times |date=27 July 2023}}</ref> It was founded by '''Richard Bartindale''' in 1964. In the outdoor section, shelves of books face the street, and patrons are asked to drop coins into the door's coin box to pay for any books they take whenever the store is closed.
Bart's Books has been featured in the 2010 movie ''Easy A'' and novels.
== Description == The outdoors section is surrounded by plants and bookshelves facing the street.<ref name="LATimes_Stewart">{{Cite news |last=Stewart |first=Rachel Schnalzer |date=July 27, 2023 |title=The untold story of California's most iconic outdoor bookshop |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2023-07-27/barts-books-outdoor-bookstore-ojai-history |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824204904/https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2023-07-27/barts-books-outdoor-bookstore-ojai-history |archive-date=August 24, 2023 |access-date=January 22, 2024 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> There are over 100,000 used books, which are categorized depending on the room the books are in.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hillinger |first=Charles |date=1990-12-16 |title=The Honor System Works All Night Long at Bart's Books: Ojai: Real estate agents cite the store as an example of the city's small-town style. They say it helps sell houses. |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-16-me-9405-story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230825084140/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-16-me-9405-story.html |archive-date=August 25, 2023 |access-date=2017-11-23 |work=Los Angeles Times |url-status=live |issn=0458-3035}}</ref> When the store is closed, customers can pay for books shelved outside via a coin box.<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Randall |first=Laura |date=October 16, 2005 |title=Ojai, Calif.: The Anti-L.A. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/14/AR2005101400834.html |access-date=January 22, 2024 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> There was a 300 year old oak tree that grew inside of the bookstore; it was removed due to it falling into the street.<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" />
== History == Born in Oxford, Indiana, in 1917,<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" /> Richard Bartindale was a World War II navigator for the United States Navy Reserve.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pzxVAAAAYAAJ |title=Army, Navy, Air Force Journal & Register |publisher=Army and Navy Journal, Incorporated |year=1945 |volume=83 |page=230 |chapter=China-Formosa Navy Airline |access-date=January 22, 2024}}</ref> After the war, Bartindale traveled across Europe; in Paris, he was inspired by the "open-air" style of bouquinistes.<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" /> Having worked at bookshops across California, he founded Bart's Books in 1964.<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" /> In the late 1960s, Bartindale and his family left Ojai, California, to travel to Oxford; ownership shifted to Gary Schlichter, a former landscaper, when he purchased the bookstore.<ref name="LATimes_Stewart" />
== In popular culture == Bart's Books appears at the start of Carl Hyndman's novel ''Bookstore on the Seine''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hyndman |first=Carl |date=August 11, 2022 |title=Bart's Books is center stage in mystery-thriller novel |url=https://www.ojaivalleynews.com/culture/bart-s-books-is-center-stage-in-mystery-thriller-novel/article_ea7f2dbc-19f3-11ed-b80c-df80d42887e8.html |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=Ojai Valley News}}</ref> The store was featured in ''Easy A'', a 2010 American teen comedy movie.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hollywood Backlot: ''Easy A'' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-easy-a-hollywood-backlot-pictures-photogallery.html |access-date=January 21, 2024 |website=Los Angeles Times |pages=4, 13, 17, 18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Palladino |first=D.J. |date=September 23, 2010 |title=''Easy A'' |url=https://www.independent.com/2010/09/23/easy-a/ |access-date=January 21, 2024 |work=Santa Barbara Independent}}</ref>
== References == <references />
==External links== *{{Official website|https://bartsbooksojai.com/}} *[https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/06/travel/california-s-tranquil-ojai-valley.html?pagewanted=2 "California's Tranquil Ojai Valley"], November 6, 1988, ''New York Times''
Category:1964 establishments in California Category:Buildings and structures in Ventura County, California Category:Companies based in Ventura County, California Category:Independent bookstores in California Category:Ojai, California Category:Retail buildings in California Category:Tourist attractions in Ventura County, California Category:Bookstores established in the 20th century {{coord|34.4486|-119.2497|type:landmark_region:US-CA|display=title}}