By Audrey Jonas

Green Apple Books on Clement Street has been a cornerstone of the Richmond District since 1967. Known for its expansive rare book collection and homey atmosphere, the two-story building features eclectic themed rooms adorned with handwritten signs on the doorways and shelves.

“Since Green Apple has been open for about 240,000 hours over the last 59 years, anything that can happen in the world has happened within our walls, from engagements to heart attacks, people falling in love or down the stairs,” said co-owner Pete Mulvihill, who bought the store with two other long-time employees in 1999. “The neighborhood has evolved, too, and we rely heavily on our neighboring independent business to keep Clement Street vital, diverse and lively.”

In 2014, a second location of the store opened in the Sunset District, giving way to new opportunities for the owners. Called Green Apple Books on the Park, it is the primary space for literary events and hosts more than 100 authors a year. Their book readings span a wide range of genres, from poetry to historical fiction.

On April 25, they hosted an author karaoke night which raised money for Books Not Bans, a locally-based organization which distributes queer and banned books to areas affected by book bans.

Green Apple Books on the Park is a more compact version of its original counterpart, but its history is similarly rich. Le Video, one of San Francisco’s most beloved video stores, was its predecessor and moved upstairs to make room for the bookstore before closing in 2015. In November 2025, the upstairs mezzanine was re-purposed as a literary co-working space called the Backstory Above. Writers in the San Francisco community are invited to sign up for a membership and gain access to a peaceful environment crafted to fit their needs, whether solo or collaborative.

In May, an exciting lineup of authors can be expected. Some will even be having discussions with other guests, creating an engaging dialogue about their work.

On Monday, May 4, Christian John Wikane will discuss his recent publication “A Night at the Disco” with Director of Cultural Programs at the San Francisco LGBT Center Timothy “T.K.” Hampton. The book is a celebration of the music that defined the 1970s and its revolutionary effects on culture.

Sexologist Myisha Battle will be speaking about her “shame-free guide,” “Sexual Pleasure for Dummies,” with Justin Hall on Tuesday, May 12. This candid conversation will feature information about all types of sexual fulfillment.

On Thursday, May 14, memoir-lovers can expect a new favorite in Tracy Clark-Flory’s “My Mother’s Daughter: Finding Myself in My Family’s Fractured Past.” The tale explores themes of healing and womanhood, while also uncovering bigger truths about patriarchal dynamics and the harm of shame. She will be in conversation with essayist Savala Nolan.

Acclaimed novelist and professor Wesley Brown will be visiting on Wednesday, May 20 to talk about “Looking for Frank Wills.” The novel is a fictionalized account of the real Frank Wills, who was a security guard in Washington D.C. and played a pivotal role in the unraveling of the Watergate scandal in 1972. Brown expands on one of the most infamous political scandals in history while giving voice to life in Black America, a part of the story that has long been stifled.

Kar Johnson, the event coordinator at the Sunset location, has been at Green Apple since 2017, and attributes much of his identity to the store and the community it inhabits.

“We are so lucky to live in a place people care about,” Johnson said. “We are so lucky to have people who want to patronize us, who believe that books and bookstores matter. They buoyed us during the shock of the 2016 election, through the early years of the pandemic and in the years since.”

In planning events they tend to prioritize local authors above all else, so as to support San Francisco, the Richmond and the Sunset’s literary communities. Though most of Green Apple’s scheduling surrounds poetry and literary fiction, they also highlight memoirs, nature writing, Bay Area history and more.

“I love to celebrate work in translation, books by trans and queer people, books by women of color, debuts by authors over 40,” Johnson said of his priorities when coordinating events for the month.

The bookstore also raises money and donates to a range of causes, especially those involving education and literacy. In the age of Amazon and home deliveries, the sense of authenticity and connection that independent businesses offer can feel difficult to find. But many return to Green Apple again and again for this very reason.

“We offer community, a gathering place outside of home and work,” Mulvihill said. “We facilitate discovery. Amazon is good at search but terrible to browse. Getting lost in Green Apple’s stacks and/or finding that life-changing book is an authentic experience.”

The co-owner also mentioned instant gratification.

“Need a gift for a partner or a book for a plane trip? We’ll hand it right over, and it won’t get stolen from your doorstep.”

Green Apple Books is located at 506 Clement St., and Green Apple Books on the Park is located at 1231 Ninth Ave. Both locations are open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Learn more and see the full events calendar at greenapplebooks.com.