Issues
Categories: Bookstores, Newspapers & Magazines, Music & DVD's [Edit]
Neighborhood: North Oakland20 Glen Ave
(between Panama Ct & Piedmont Ave)
Oakland, CA 94611 (510) 652-5700
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 8:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.
Sun 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. - Price Range: $
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
134 reviews
Neighborhood: UC Campus Area
"This place is like my boyfriend's Church - and I have to admit, I really dig it too. While I'm not quite as obsessive about music as he is,…" read more »
92 Reviews for Issues
82 cents for a 50 cent newspaper? I'm all for supporting my local merchants but I would go broke with these rates. I'll stick to the machines.
I admit it: I've got issues. But so do they.
Although located in a less-than-prime spot in the Piedmont Avenue neighborhood, in a sunken leasehold no less, they do have somewhat of a magnetic presence. And always something worth dropping some $ for with every visit.
My favorite bit about this place is the fact that they carry a plethora of offbeat and unconventional reading material for a good chance-purchase every time. Every visit I've made to the shop has been one in that "What realm of strangeness and foreign experience am I in the mood for today?". My quiet, obsessive minutes perusing the magazine racks has not once been interrupted by the shop staff -- and always complemented by some seriously arresting music that makes me feel like I should dress way more hip than I do to be in there.
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Great little place to find some obscure magazines. When they were out of the current issue of one of my favorites, they referred me to another place that had still on the shelves. They sell some cute greeting cards too. Friendly person behind the counter.
I'm not one to really rate places after one visit. However, I find that a particularly favorable or non-favorable experience is worthy of a few words.
I just so happened to look inside this place (from the sidewalk) on the way back to my car after having grabbed a coffee from Peete's. I decided to go in because I love magazines. Plus, I've been looking for a magazine shop that carries Sportswear International; one of my fav's. How surprised was I to actually see that they carry it!
The woman who works there, who's name escapes me at the moment, was freindly and very helpful. She seemed to be just a pleasant person in general.
In addition, I have a deep appreciation for concepts. I say this to say that I really dig the name, "Issues"...I get it, and I like it!
And besides the name, besides the pleasant sales associate and besides Sportswear Int., they have a really good, diverse magazine selection. I've been looking for a new magazine home and I found one today...and by pure accident, no less. Good stuff!
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Was referred to this place by Pegasus Books because I was looking for a particular magazine (Italian Vougue July 08). Called and was offered to add my name to a waiting list. Yes! Went for the first time last week to pick up my mag and see what else was available. Great lil spot. The people were very friendly. They don't follow you in circles and nag you to death. They had a great selection of magazines, even picked up one or two I had never heard of. And all that without the leftover green tea frapucchino rotting in the corner or the loud kiddies yelling in your ear like other places. I will be back.
Thank you for not obscuring my favorite magazine behind the more popular girls of the women's magazine world. You can buy boobie magazines in the airport but for a feminist journal of cultural critique (okay, which happens to be called "Bitch" and occasionally has vibrator ads on the back cover) Barnes and Noble would force me to go hunting. Also thank you for my dad's birthday gift (a book of redneck wisdom, including things HE ACTUALLY SAYS TO ME, like "Hallie I'm so hungry, I could eat the asshole out a skunk," except for that time when he'd been under anesthesia and told me he could "eat the asshole out of a snook...no a snack, a skoonk, skunk!"). Also again, thank you for having really nice and friendly staff who don't make fun of you if you do choose to buy a People along with your Bitch. You know, because they understand it's just for research purposes.
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this place is so cool.
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what a perfect shopping experience. i wish i could bottle it and sell it...in a shop exactly like this one.
talk about impulse buy. i snatched up 5 obscure magazines and a charming "stag taxidermy" necklace in about 4 minutes flat. the reads on offer at issues are a pleasant mix of mainstream staples and random journals dissecting your most favorite subjects. hey, there are other people in the world that like to read about meat? why, yes! and write about it, too. in a rag called "meatpaper."
i think what shoots this place up into the stratosphere of excellence is the service. a friendly yet not overbearing "hi, good morning! welcome" when i walk in the door (she was ringing someone up and stopped mid-convo, too!) followed by a "let me know if i can take any of those necklaces out for you. aren't they great!?" and then a "is this your first time in the store? i don't recognize you! welcome, let me know if you ever need anything, give us a call" etc. etc. helpful helpful nice nice etc.
and then i walk outside with my neon green bag, grinning and gleaming and glowing. and then a pang of guilt and self-loathing washes over me when i realize that i should be using my BA in journalism to write for cool obscure magazines like the ones sold at issues.
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my favorite.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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01/21/2008
So once upon a time I lived and went to school in Santa Rosa.
In Santa Rosa we had a store (still… Read more »
Everything you want and nothing you don't . The mompop shop experience.
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Everything you could want from a magazine shop and more things you didn't know you wanted. Take a walk down the side street next time you grab a coffee at Peet's. Friendly folks and great stuff!
Where else can you find Atomic Ranch, Sling Shot and a Corporate Whore button under one roof? How rad is that?
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best magazine shop in Oakland. don't forget to try their 33 1/3 books about music, I've purchased three and they've all been fantastic. Any store that has my car mag imported from the UK is A#1 in my book. I bought a t-shirt there too. they are too cool. i love their store, truly.
This couple is amazing. They play and work really hard to get you the coolest things to read and look at and wear.
They went above and beyond to help my homie and i find a book.
AWESOME!!!!
Now I know where I can go to pick up my trashy UK gossip mags when I'm missing life in Ol' Blighty. **thumbs up**
Cool-ass little shop around the corner from the posh Piedmont grocery! Drop by and peruse their HUGE magazine selection (including some back copies of out of print zines) and have a chat with the staff. They sell Erica Weiner jewelry as well as countless other interesting odds and ends, enough to keep a girlfriend busy while her boyfriend ooohs and aaahs over the cabinet of experimental CD's, and boxes of obscure records, lovingly acquired by the owner, an experimental/noise musician himself I believe.
I bought a Slingshot planner here, as well as several calendars as gifts for friends. This shop has a great feeling and when you walk in you know you just want it to be around forever.
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A while back,i was checking out Max Schaaf's chopper blog and he mentioned that a friend of his had opened a magazine shop off Piedmont Ave.About a week ago,i stopped by to check it out...WOW!!.I was really impressed by the place right when i walked in the door.There was some cool tunes being played,a art installation involving crows in the middle of the room,and ton's of magazines i have never seen before.There is also a couple of crates of records(you know,those black vinyl things your grandparents talked about...)with some real gem's in there.Best of all,they had Dice magazine(also picked up some back issues..rad).....DeLauer's who?
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Not long ago, while green thumbing through Issues' gardening section of the racks, I overheard a pleasant transaction between the co-owners and two sweatshirted guys visiting from Santa Cruz. They had self-published magazines with them. After some loose but interested conversation about the cover, the printing, the photography and the publication's culture of readers, Noella and Joe gave them a home at the counter. The magazines, that is, not the guys! (No, I'd like to think that the little bundle of cash they received in exchange for their goods bought them a full tank of gas for the drive back home, plus dinner and probably breakfast the next morning at The Silver Spur, or perhaps Linda's Seabreeze Cafe.)
Issues is one of the most dynamic operations to open in Oakland in 2007 and it's run by an equally dynamic duo. I could fault them for not having everything (Glimmer Train) but I'd rather compliment them for carrying, oh, I don't know, 50, 75, 100 publications not featured on any other periodicals rack in the East Bay. I'd also like to compliment them for not hiding behind the counter, "buried" in their own product, but rather eagerly stepping out and pointing me toward a couple literary journals I hadn't heard of. No doubt they've done the same for many other patrons. I walked away with a purchased copy of one of Joe's recommendations last visit. As for Glimmer Train, they added it to their next order. Tell them what you aren't finding and they'll do their best to bring it in for you.
From The Journal of Life Sciences to The Journal of Irreproducible Results; from the quarterly mystery magazine, The Strand, to the bimonthly Highlander, for the Scottish American readership; from Herb Quarterly to Donna Hay Magazine -- and don't miss the newspaper rack, the several bins of records and the small but notable selection of books. Even that book you've been seeking on the Norwegian black metal scene is hiding in there.
I remember when a customer (that would be me) once got distracted by conversation, and put her wallet away, as if she'd paid, and the OWNER (that would be Joe) apologized, adding with minor self-deprecation, "Sorry, I'm not a very good businessman".
But you are, Joe...the best kind!
That publication that the Santa Cruz guys dropped off, by the way? Full of gorgeous, intimate, black and white photographs of motor mechanics at work. I love the arousal of new interest. Well, okay, I just love arousal.
Make a special trip for this store or shop here before your movie starts at The Piedmont Theater.
Gift certificates are available.
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I hope I don't sound pretentious or lazy (although I am both), but this place is sumptuous (but not in the sense of extremely costly).
Here is the high bar.
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All the Vogues your little heart desires: Italian, French, Australian. And the girls who work there are so sweet. Yes, I would like a sparkly sticker on my receipt, thank you very much.
Only one complaint. I wish their bags said ISSUES on them in big letters. You know, so I can advertise that I'm carrying around a crap load of them.
This place is great. Great selection and friendly folks. I mean, really. .... anywhere i can get new issues of Razorcake AND British Vogue is totally fine by me!
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Where else will you find the cover of Glamour magazine rubbing shoulders with the cover of Girls & Corpses? Nowhere, I'll bet.
Yep, you can get everything from the banal to the completely obscure right here. Not just magazines, either. There are plenty of other little distractions to keep you nosing around here for a good while. The shop itself is very cozy, too. An inviting combination of funky art and literature.
A great way to spend time on a rainy Sunday, which is exactly what I did.
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Yay for Issues!
Great selection
Great owners
Best dang magazine store in Oakland! Everything from local zines, to the New Yorker, to fag rags, to Vogue from a country you never knew published a version of Vogue. The music they play and the art on the walls elevate it to almost-gallery status. Stop in the next time you are on Piedmont Avenue...they are just a few storefronts down from Peet's, on Glen Avenue.
Issues is TEN stars. not five.
I honestly don't know what I would do without Noella and Joe ordering my weirdo magazines for me. Arabian Horse Digest? Grafik? Thank god I can write off my purchases, because i usually put a minor dent in my wallet every time i go in.
trust me, they pretty much have every type of magazine. They also have local zines, books, crazy noise records, art, tshirts....And if you need recommendations, they are full of them:
"I need something not too literary, but maybe arty...and maybe with nature in it?
And it's REALLY fun if you go in not having a clue what you want. youll be in there for hours. Remember that cigar store that used to have magazines, the one by Park Grill? Remember how that dude would tell you to buy if you were caught reading? Issues is the opposite of that guy.
Please support them!!! None of us ever, ever want Issues to go away.
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Issues is a tiny bungalow packed full to the brim with every kind of magazine, newspaper, or periodical you could ever hope to find, whether mainstream or esoteric; local or international. The people who run it aren't just friendly; they actually treat you like a friend. They have a smattering of non-magazine items that are unique and intriguing. I can't wait to go back!
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Issues is one of the best new businesses that has opened in my old hood.
Which is great- just great- since I don't live there anymore.
But it's probably for the better, because if I did I would probably spend half my paycheck there, stocking up on the latest issues of my favorite domestic and British home decor mags, zines and comics by local Oakland kids, vintage books and other goodies like melamine plates from Pop Ink.
'Long Live Issues', indeed!
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So much hospitality and charm at this place, LOVE it. They play Desmond Dekker. They compliment my band t-shirts. They love Bitch magazine (I used to work for them, so of course I love that!). They invite you to stay awhile, chill, mingle over wine & cheese at their parties. Sweet, genuine, excellent service, tons of periodicals, and a great shop for the neighborhood. Check this cozy dive out.
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For me, the idea of heaven involves records. Lots and lots of records. Bins stuffed with with both old and new LPs in no particular order, vinyl sleeves in place and full album art on display, for general perusal and endless enjoyment of any and all kinds of music. There'd be turntables and headphones and speakers and good company in which to enjoy them all.
Issues for me is therefore like a little slice of heaven. I stopped in here after noticing the increasing Yelp hype and was doing some general observing of the incredible magazine collection when I noticed the record bins. Only about half a dozen or so, but full of hidden gems - a random but great little mish mosh of records, both used and new, covering a wide spectrum of genres. I walked out with LPs from the New York Dolls and Yaz, based on recommendation from the incredibly nice guy (owner?) working there.
Of course, if you're strictly music shopping, then stores like Amoeba are your best bet, but when you're in the mood for a more mixed media experience, then Issues is the place.
By the way, my idea of heaven also involves dozens of Britt Daniel lookalikes massaging my feet, but that's a whole different topic altogether.
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Best magazine shop in the Bay with the nicest employees ever. It's a treat to come to this store and I'm lucky I live so close. They also have books, art, planners, t-shirts, music, zines, etc.
I would give more stars if I could..........loves it!
Having Issues 5 doors away from home is a dream... Noella and Joe have made this a neighborhood staple in just a few months. The selection is huge and very eclectic. I've discovered a place that caters to even stranger tastes than mine! Thanks for being here and doing this!
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I couldn't be happier to live down the street from Issues! Each trip inside makes me wish I had more discretionary income to spend on magazines. To curb the urge, I've started buying unique magazines as birthday gifts. It's also really fun to browse through their diverse selection.
And of course I agree with all the other reviewers- the owners are both incredibly charming and helpful.
Yay Issues!
great selection
nice people
open later than you'd expect
they have fashion magazines from all around the world, comparable to fog city news on market.
you can sit around for a couple hours and read there if you want and peet's is right next door.
piedmont has been hungry for a place like this.
A jewel for reading. Support this business and buy four magazines a week. They have everything, including records, pins and t-shirts.
fight with your dollars and support businesses that take risks.
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When we lived in this neighborhood, this same spot housed one of the weirdest collections of junk I could have imagined...a virtual rabbit warren of lacy kids' communion dresses, ceramic & porcelain sculptures, and very fussy old-lady stuff. Wow! What a great change!! Congratulations to the owners for completely altering the storefront & making this terrific magazine mecca!
Upon entering today, I detected the lilting melody of some Jamaican Rock Steady... so, of course, a conversation ensued. Imagine my delight when said owner waxed as poetic as my thoughts. on this particular form of music...this sealed the deal! I pledge my unending loyalty to anyone who can converse intelligently on early Jamaican music and mention some of the greatest singers ever...who, I might add, are often neglected or relegated to compilations... Ken Boothe, Cornell Campbell, and Jackie Mittoo, and of course, the late great Slim Smith....once again, I am in my own personal reverie...and am supposed to be discussing the magazines in this shop. They are outstanding! Anything, everything, organized, categorized, glossy, indie, you name it! I cannot speak highly enough about Issues. Go, enjoy, read, listen to some music, chat up the owner. He is a really good guy and the shop is fantastic! No disappointment here!
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Five stars because the workers are so friendly and the selection is amazing. I love their jewelery--handcuff necklaces and record earrings! My boyfriend seriously considered piercing his ear so that he could wear the record earring. Plus, I LOVE their pins!!!
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It looks like it's good from the street but that's as far as I got last Friday when I tried to stop by after work. The parking in the neighborhood is TERRIBLE. I finally gave up after about 20 minutes of driving around looking for a spot.
I'll try again soon and update my review. I'm desperately in need of a good magazine shop now that Tower Records is gone.
Update (upgraded to 4 stars from my previous grade of 2): I found my way back on a Saturday afternoon, and found parking no problem. The shop is a very good neighborhood shop, but a tad small for a magazine shop, you really have to dig through the shelves to see the mags(but maybe you like that). They do have a good selection, but not awesome (I only walked out of there with one mag - possibly a first for me). If they had a bigger space, maybe they could fit some more mags in.
They also carry some books, this is a good location to find McSweeney's stuff, and t-shirts, and other random items (Vinyl records - one crate?).
For a little hole in the wall, it's got lots of cools stuff besides a wonderful array of mags. What I also like is that they highlight the local mags as well. You can get lost in this store with the various knick-knacks, and let me tell you it is dog friendly!!!!!! What more can I say. More. OK...the people there are nice and helpful and I was able to find some mags that I needed for research. No not porn.
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