Over the years, Monterey's Old Capitol Books has been not only a new and used bookstore, but also a community center featuring poetry readings, philosophy reading groups, live music, experimental art performances, non-profit meetings, and more. During these extremely difficult times, store owners Ali and Stephanie are thinking of innovative ways to try to keep the business afloat, but they need your help.
If you're able, please consider supporting Old Capitol Books by donating to the Old Capitol Books GoFundMe Campaign, purchasing a gift certificate, buying a Quarantine Care Package, or liberating a book from their shelves via the online catalog.
GoFundMe Campaign
100% of the money raised will go into protecting the bookstore, including paying the staff so that they don't have to be worried about their job prospects in the future. Please help protect one of California's only black owned bookstores!
Purchase a Gift Certificate
Old Capitol Books gift certificates will help meet immediate financial needs. When the doors reopen after the shelter-in-place order, you can enjoy browsing through the shelves and selecting the books you like best.
Quarantine Care Packages
Bring wonderful books into your life! For the duration of the quarantine, Old Capitol Books is offering Book Care Packages. Each care package shipped includes a book (or books) personally selected by our experienced booksellers based on your preferences plus a unique gift.
Browse Old Capitol Books' Online Catalog
Old Capitol Books has a select number of rare, used, or out-of-print titles available for purchase on AbeBooks.com.
About Old Capitol Books and Its Owners, Ali & Stephanie
In early 2017, when then owner, Matthew Sundt, announced to his staff that he wanted to sell, we (Ali Elfaki and Stephanie Spoto) knew that we had to do what we could to keep the bookstore open. To us, this bookstore represents something much more than a mere job – it is a real passion.
Ali Elfaki is a Sudanese immigrant who grew up here on the peninsula, and has been working at Old Capitol Books since 2014. He's worked to develop the bookstore into a literary and artistic fixture in the community.
Stephanie Spoto, a lecturer at CSUMB teaching literature, feminist history, and writing, has worked at Old Capitol Books since its opening in 2012.
With the help of our families, bookstore staff, and friends, we were able to pool enough money to purchase of the business. We first bonded over our love of books and literature, and many of our early days together were spent right here in the bookstore, so this place means a lot to us.
