Adobe Books Information

Known affectionately as The Living Room of the Mission, Adobe Books and Arts Cooperative, Inc. ("Adobe Books" or "Adobe") was founded in 1989 by Andrew McKinley at 3166 16th Street. The store became a bohemian nexus for a large and rotating cast of artists, musicians, writers, readers, thinkers, and whoever was looking for an old comfortable couch and a place to feel welcome. With an open heart and open door, Adobe Books has played host over the years to an innumerable number of memorable afternoons and evenings. In 2001, the former back storage room was transformed into a dedicated gallery space, becoming the Adobe Books Backroom Gallery. This vision was led by Amanda Eicher, with the help of many people along the way. The gallery has lent its humble walls to hundreds of artists, providing an alternative space where artists can make momentous decisions in their practice and experiment freely in the company of their peers. Adobe Books is one of the institutions associated with the rise of the Mission School . Artists and collectives such as Chris Johanson, CTRL + SHFT, KEEPEYES, Kirk Maxson, Alicia McCarthy, Sean McFarland, Barry McGee, MCXT, Ruby Neri, Kyle Ranson, Christine Shields, Cate White, Yoshi Yubai and many, many others have displayed their artwork. Musicians including singer-guitarist Devendra Banhart played regularly in the shop, as did harpist Joanna Newsom, Sonny Smith, Thee Oh Sees, and countless more. Internationally and locally recognized authors such as San Francisco's own Rebecca Solnit, Tamsin Smith, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Michael Bernard Loggins and Diamond Dave Whitaker have been regular customers, collaborators, and hosts of literary events. In 2004, Adobe made national news when the artist Chris Cobb organized the shop's 20,000 volume inventory by color in a piece titled There is Nothing Wrong in This Whole Wide World . In 2012 the beloved 16th Street shop faced an untenable rent hike and a changing neighborhood. A group of Adobe supporters came together and formed a cooperative business ...