Last Updated: April 2026
Quick Answer
Bart's Books, located at 302 W Matilija Street in Ojai, California, is one of the most beloved bookstores in the world — an outdoor used bookstore that has been operating since 1964, with over 100,000 titles spread across shaded courtyard shelves, covered stacks, and a famous exterior wall where books sell on the honor system around the clock. Admission is free. Books on the exterior shelves are typically priced at $1 or less. It's one of those rare places that feels exactly as good as people say it does.
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Address | 302 W Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023 |
| Hours | Daily ~9:30am–6:00pm (seasonal variation) |
| Cost | Free to browse; exterior wall $1 or less |
| Best For | Book lovers, slow mornings, solo travel |
| Dogs | Welcome on leash |
| Parking | Street parking on Matilija St |
What Makes Bart's Books Special
Bart's Books was founded in 1964 by Richard Bartinsdale, an Ojai resident who began stacking his personal book collection on the sidewalk outside his home for neighbors to buy. The operation grew, moved, and eventually settled into the property at 302 W Matilija — a former private courtyard that now functions as one of the most atmospheric retail spaces in California.
What sets it apart isn't just the scale (though 100,000+ titles across multiple rooms and outdoor stacks is genuinely impressive). It's the setting: wandering through Bart's Books feels like exploring someone's very well-read backyard. Bookshelves line every wall, climb above head height under wooden pergolas, and spill into covered rooms that open onto the courtyard. On a clear Ojai day, you browse in open air under a blue sky.
The honor-system exterior wall is a Bart's Books institution. Shelves on the outside of the building — visible and accessible from the sidewalk 24 hours a day — hold books typically priced at $1 or less. When the store is closed, customers are trusted to drop their coins or bills in the coin box/slot in the door. It's been operating this way for decades. It works.
Bart's Books has been cited by the American Booksellers Association and featured in national press as one of the great American independent bookstores. Locals and tourists treat it as an essential Ojai stop, not an optional one.
How to Navigate the Store
First-timers are often surprised by the layout. Bart's Books is not a single room with shelves — it's more like a compound. Here's how to orient yourself:
- The exterior wall (visible from the street) is your first encounter. These are the cheapest and most casually curated books — worth a quick scan, especially if you collect vintage paperbacks or want a beach read for a dollar.
- The main courtyard is the heart of the store. Shelves extend in every direction, organized loosely by category. Fiction runs along the south wall. Non-fiction and regional titles fill the center stacks. Art, photography, and oversized books have their own section near the back.
- The interior rooms are where the more collectible and carefully priced books live — older hardcovers, California history, first editions, and specialty subjects. The rooms are small and dim in a good way, like finding a library inside a garden shed.
- The back area tends to hold overflow, and miscellaneous finds. It rewards slow browsing.
Staff are knowledgeable and low-key. If you're looking for something specific, ask — the organizational system makes sense once explained but can be cryptic on your own.
What to Look For
- California and local history: This is a genuine strength at Bart's Books. The regional section carries out-of-print titles on Ventura County, the Chumash, the Los Padres National Forest, and California natural history that you won't find elsewhere without effort.
- Hiking, nature, and outdoor books: Reflecting Ojai's character, look for old Sierra Club guides, natural history field guides, and trail literature.
- Fiction and literary novels: These fill the largest section. The turnover is high, so regular visitors find it worth checking back monthly. Prices are fair — most paperbacks run $2–$6, hardcovers $4–$12.
- The $1 bins and exterior wall: Best for casual readers, beach reads, and anyone who enjoys the treasure-hunt quality of used book shopping.
- Art and photography books: The large-format shelf holds some real finds, often priced well below their original retail value.
Insider Tips
- Go on a weekday morning. Ojai weekends fill up, especially in spring and fall. On a Tuesday or Wednesday morning, you might have the courtyard nearly to yourself — which is the ideal way to experience it. Grab a coffee from nearby Love Social Cafe or Ojai Coffee Roasters (Bart's does not sell coffee inside!) and settle in.
- Check the wall bins first, then go inside. The exterior shelves cycle quickly. Regulars check the street-facing wall first before heading in, because the turnover there is higher and the prices are lower.
- Pair it with breakfast downtown. Ojai has several great breakfast spots within a 5-to-10-minute walk from Bart's. Head over to The Dutchess for incredible baked goods, or grab a classic diner breakfast at Bonnie Lu's. The combination — breakfast, then a slow bookstore browse — is the definitive slow-morning Ojai experience.
- The after-hours honor system is real. If you arrive when the store is closed and there are books you want from the exterior wall, find the coin slot/box by the door. Leave your cash. It's been working on trust since the 1960s and there's something genuinely nice about participating in that.
FAQs
Q: Is Bart's Books still open?
Yes. As of 2026, Bart's Books is open daily at 302 W Matilija St in Ojai. Hours generally run from 9:30am until 6:00pm, though they can vary slightly by season.
Q: What are Bart's Books' hours?
Typically 9:30am to 6:00pm, daily. The exterior wall is accessible around the clock, 365 days a year.
Q: Can you sell books to Bart's Books?
Yes, Bart's Books buys used books for store credit or cash, though their selection criteria vary and they may not purchase everything offered. Call ahead or bring a manageable collection — they don't take large lots without prior arrangement.
Q: Is it cash only?
No. Bart's Books accepts both cash and cards for interior purchases. The exterior honor-system wall is cash only (coins or small bills in the slot).