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After Nearly 55 Years, Caravan Book Store is Still Bringing Goods to Downtown

By Ed Fuentes
Published: Tuesday, May 04, 2010, at 10:41AM
books Ed Fuentes

DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES — |VIDEO| Step into Caravan Book Store and you will find books from floor to ceiling, many with beautifully crafted spines. The small shop, tucked into the Pacific Center on Grand, just around the corner from the Central Library, is just as it has been since 1954.

Off in the back corner, behind yet another stack of books, shop owner Leonard Bernstein will often be seen sitting at his worn wooden desk. At the sound of the door's bell, he peeks around to offer a hello to those who wander in.

That desk is where he's been stationed for decades, watching Downtown change outside the front window. You wonder if Downtown's recent changes surprise him? "It did at first," he says, recalling the first few times he would be near the door stacking books on a bottom shelf only to look up see a curious dog watching him work. "I would follow the leash and the young dog owners would be there. I'd invite them in. It's refreshing."

Bernstein remembers working in the store as a child with his father, Morris, in a 1950's Downtown where 6th street was 'Book Row,' and the neighborhood was full of offices for shipping agencies, railroads and airlines.

Morris Bernstein opened the shop in 1954. "He wanted to make a place that was in the tradition of old west caravans that brought goods into the city from far and wide," Bernstein explains, recalling his father's decision to name the store after the early suppliers of culture and goods.

Book Row has long disappeared, for a while replaced by chains. Borders Express at Macy's Plaza and B. Dalton at the L.A. Mall closed in the last two years, but Bernstein is glad to see new book stores open Downtown. "I welcome the other independent bookstores," he says. "There's room for more of them. A community of bookstores is better than one. . . or none."

The antiquarian bookstore itself is far from being a romantic final chapter to a part of Downtown city once lined with speciality shops. "This is my world here, where I feel comfortable," Bernstein says. "I plan to stay."

Caravan Book Store / 550 S. Grand Ave /

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Guest 1

Guest on May 04, 2010, at 11:28AM – #1

I adore this bookstore and Mr. Bernstein could not be a nicer character. Great job on the video featurette as well Ed.


Eric Wang on May 04, 2010, at 01:19PM – #2

I first shopped in this bookstore in 1995, the first time I lived in downtown, and already "way" back for me. It was a wonder to walk through then, as it is now.


Guest 2

Guest on May 04, 2010, at 05:31PM – #3

Simply one of the best LA "Must Do" book(store) adventures. The entire world slows down when you enter, turn your cell phone off and wander, you are in the 1920s zone. Wonderful!

Howie on the Hill


Guest 3

Guest on May 04, 2010, at 06:10PM – #4

I don't want my comment to be deleted, but it might. I want to say first that I love this bookstore. Now I'm going to say something not so nice. I NEVER get the warm fuzzies from the shopkeeper running the store. Twice since living here he's been terse, verging on rude, with me and friends for coming in because we come within minutes of closing. So, I'm sorry to say that this "I'd invite them in. It's refreshing" line is bulldookie. If you have money to buy the fascinating volumes in this bookstore --maybe he'll be nicer to you. My hunch is that if you don't look like a buyer, but you're just into the history you're probably going to get a cold nerdy shoulder, but maybe I just caught him on his bad days.

I do hope they stay forever though.


Guest 4

Guest on May 04, 2010, at 06:23PM – #5

@ Guest # 4.

Couldn't agree more! I went in one day looking for a very particular first-edition for an anniversary gift and the proprietor treated me rudely. I'm amazed he's still in business, and I'm sorry to say this is one "downtown institution" that can't go away fast enough for me!


User_32

jdiggity on May 04, 2010, at 09:13PM – #6

I couldn't agree less with some of the posters. My experience--the one time I went in--was positive. Trolls, please confine your trolling at destroying local businesses to yelp.


Kevin Lynn on May 05, 2010, at 06:07AM – #7

It is alive and it is a wonderful place. Several of Leonard's books now grace my shelves and I can only hope that his steadfastness will culminate in other book and special interest stores following.

I've always held the view that one should stand behind what they say and write. I suppose that is why I take a dim view of someone being able to log on as guest and make anonymous comments. Just my two cents.


Guest 5

Guest on May 05, 2010, at 06:28AM – #8

I am sorry that the commenters above had a bad experience. I also think that it is absolutely legitimate for them to post candidly about their experience. I don't think the comment section is a rubber stamp for only those who agree -- this was an article, not a pr piece, or at least that's how I thought journalism worked.

For years, I have always found Mr. Bernstein funny and gracious, and the store itself is a wonderful place to lose yourself in the wilds of history. I recommend trying again, if this sort of highly endangered business interests you. Good luck!


User_32

on May 05, 2010, at 08:30AM – #9

I need to check this place out...I've lived just around the corner for over a year and still haven't been there. Seems like it's always closed when I walk by!


Thomas Koiso on May 05, 2010, at 02:57PM – #10

I think this is the best bookstore in all of So. Cal. and if you make a effort to get to know Mr. Bernstein, he is going to treat you like a son. His selection in books is 2nd to none.


Guest 3

Guest on May 06, 2010, at 01:49PM – #11

I'm guest number 4. Just wanted to respond to jdiggity and Kevin Lynn. First, I wanted to say that what I said can't possibly be considered "trolling." For one thing I expressly said I "love this bookstore" and I also conceded that I may have just caught the proprietor on a bad day. Second, as for "taking a dim view of someone being able to log on as a guest and make anonymous comments" that's certainly an ok thing to say, but let me point out a few things. It seems to me that nobody ever gets riled up anonymity when someone posts gushing, lovely comments (see Guest #1). The point of commenting is to express viewpoints and embrace a colloquy among those people of a common, albeit sometimes temporary, interest in the subject matter at hand. Anonymity is a foundational cornerstone of the internet--to decry its existence is, in my opinion, naive. The unintended consequence of the massive networking of information we've created is that the beauty of anonymity is being displaced by the tyranny of too much information about a person. I should be able to read a comment, like Kevin Lynn's, without being able to simultaneously access his facebook account, or prejudicing my interpretation of his views by reading of his hatred of NATO or love of yoga (He is a terrific writer btw). As for myself, I often do stand by what I say and write, but unfortunately, unlike some people, I just don't care to make my name so damn googleable. It could also have been I was just too lazy to make an account. In this case in particular, anonymity is powerful. It allows me to express my point of view and go back to Caravan to be proven wrong without fear that the owner will somehow recognize and hate me for my candid opinion. Have you ever wondered why you don't have to write your name on some surveys or on suggestions in a suggestion box? It turns out people are more honest when they don't have to think about consequences sometimes. Maybe that's what we needed here. Some bloody honesty.

Quick story. There used to be a restaurant called Lime Cafe in downtown. Angelenic did a blog article on it. Everyone absolutely loved this place. I for one did not. I just didn't get it. It looked to me that people were justifying the restaurants existence merely because it was in their neighborhood and they were going to love it unconditionally with all of their local sticktoitiveness. I expressed my views (CommenteeMcGee) and affirmation from others followed. The manager quickly stepped up and responded to our comments and apologized and offered a free second try. Unfortunately, the establishment closed, but the point of the story remains. I wouldn't have made my comments otherwise, but because I was able to make my voice heard anonymously, it had an impact on the way the manager conducted his business and I think both sides were better off. As for Caravan, maybe the shopkeeper will let me or someone else linger a little longer or be just that much nicer knowing that someone, once upon a time, noticed his gruff sigh on his off day and decided that they didn't much care for his shop when they read a smashing review of it on a local blog.


User_32

Downtownie on May 06, 2010, at 02:01PM – #12

I too have been in a few times, as I love the history of old things, especially old books, and have not had a positive experience. I felt like a child being watched so she doesn't break things rather than someone who will pay for and adore an old treasure I find. For this reason I have not been back even though it's blocks from my home. On the other hand, at Mystery Pier Books (all collectible first editions), the owner was warm and gracious and I ended up walking out with a first edition Sirens of Titan. I wish the owner would be a little nicer. Maybe like Guest #4 said, they will see this article and think about the effects of their attitudes on the people that come in.


Guest 6

Guest on May 07, 2010, at 11:52PM – #13

I am a bit of a cranky old bastard myself, which makes it worse for the same when I encounter them.

However, I have dealt with book shoppe owners the nation over—for a few decades—and have come to understand and appreciate their ability to portend a person of general interest (which is all too common) and the rare buyer. (Anyone who has dealt with Fred at Strand, or Jackie at the defunt Acres of Books, knows what I mean.) Leonard's shoppe is one that is sought by those who seek rare California history titles. Trade editions of the latest Stephen King are easily found elsewhere.

I do not mean to speak on behalf of Caravan Books, but I imagine that those browsing for the latest thriller are easily divined and quickly regarded, whereas those who seek a specific title will be welcomed owing to their obviously keen interest. All things considered, I do not mean to dismiss those who may have been upset after their experiences at Caravan. However, how many of those wandering out of FedEx, Starbucks or Famima are looking for a first edition of a nearly non-existent dj version of Morrow Mayo's 1933 title, "Los Angeles"?



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