A Change of Hobbit, the dream-child of Sherry Gottlieb, opened as an unadvertised, 12-by-15-foot book closet above a coin laundry in Westwood Village in 1972, and closed in 1991 as probably “the largest and oldest science fiction bookshop in the world“—chased out of town by soaring rent and the big book chains. Seen in the postcard above is Hobbit’s second location (there were four in all) on Westwood Boulevard. Gottlieb, the Sylvia Beach of speculative fiction, tells her extraordinary story here.
Years ago I lived in Westwood, and at least once a week I would walk to the Domino’s Pizza on Westwood Blvd., order a small pepperoni, and walk across the street to browse the stacks at Border’s until I was ready to pick up the pizza. The “stacks” were decidedly neat and corporate, but it was the only book store within walking distance, and I am and always will be a book (front cover, back cover, printed paper in between) hound. That Domino’s Pizza (below) sits at the exact same address as A Change of Hobbit as seen in the postcard. I had no idea until I saw the photo.
Now all the bookstores are gone, and some people in high places seriously believe in an eyeless, mindless beast named post-literacy. Have a nice day.
(Postcard image via Jordan Smith/Flickr)
2 Warps to Neptune 
As a kid in the 1970’s, my family and I were on a vacation road trip from Tennessee to California and saw this bookshop. I was a 11 or so year old girl who loved sci fi. I begged my family to let me go inside, which they did. They bought me a couple of books. I remember as a kid thinking that that was the best bookstore I’ve ever been in. I’ve always read a lot in my entire life, and this bookstore dedicated to science fiction to me was like going to Disneyland. I took a photo of the outside of it, but it didn’t look like the postcard above. If I could find my old photos, I should post it.
Great story, Carol! I wish I had had the chance to visit this place. I’d love to see your pictures, if you can find them!