I stopped by East West Bookshop last week to check out one of the largest crystal selections in all of northern California. If you haven’t seen the new display case full of museum quality gemstones, you need to stop by. It’s full of some of the largest crystals you will likely ever see. These massive stones would be gorgeous as focal art pieces in Silicon Valley offices or your home.
The store manager, David G, has been at the store for the last year and business is better than ever. David has been part of Ananda (that’s the spiritual community that manages the store) for over 35 years.
When I think about downtown Mountain View businesses, and what the vibe of our city is, I think of East West Bookshop. I’ve been a customer for decades, and I’ll never forget the day I was shopping there and I looked up to see that the customer next to me was Dr. Andrew Weil. I was a little star-struck, and in excellent company.
The store is a destination for anyone seeking spiritual education or resources, or just beauty and fun. As soon as you walk in the door, you can feel that it’s different. It’s calming and welcoming. David told me that he’s proud that his staff has a broad variety of skills, everything from tarot reading to Eastern spirituality, to crystals and their healing properties. And the customers that are attracted to a store like this are also focused on a kinder, gentler, more inclusive community. It’s quite magical.
Whatever you’re into or interested in, East West has you covered, everything from yoga and meditation supplies, candles, books, music, clothing, jewelry, incense, crystals and even more candles. I met Alex, the gift buyer and asked him to point out something that was particularly popular over the holiday season. And now I know that the Boom Bowl Sound Amplifier is Mountain View’s most wanted item.
The event space in the back of the store is where much the evening action takes place. Definitely grab one of the event catalogs at the front desk, or go online to see everything. East West Bookshop does an outstanding job at hosting some of the most fascinating events in the Bay Area, most of which are free.
Come as you are and stay as long as you want. That’s the feeling I get when I’m there. Leave your troubles at the door, go sit by the fountain and relax for a few minutes, or even a few hours. Really, what other business sends out this message to their customers, to stay as long as they want? No one. I absolutely love this peaceful little refuge in the heart of our chaotic city.
