A little chat with Patrick Marks of The Green Arcade

October 19, 4:24 PMEast Bay Literary ExaminerTony R. Rodriguez

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Patrick Marks is an intellect of many things. From pressing social rights issues to counter-culture movements to literary pioneers, Marks stands humbly as a scholar who is truly a well-rounded human being. Because of his astute capacity for books, Marks is proudly the proprietor of The Green Arcade, a first-rate bookstore located on Market Street in San Francisco that just celebrated its one year of business. At The Green Arcade, readers and writers alike will find themselves deep in a charming and eclectic collection of cutting edge books hand-selected by Marks. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to pick a bit of his literary mind. Here’s what we discussed:

So what’s the history behind your store’s name?

PM:   The Green Arcade? Green for the environment and sustainability, with broad application to both these terms.  The environment from climate change to life on Market Street here in San Francisco, California. From the built environment (green building and urban studies) to natural history and ecology. Sustainability in terms of sustainable practices whether in economics, politics or food production, to sustaining culture (in all it appearances) and values that will deliver a better world to future generations. (We have some great kid’s books!) And then “Arcade?”  On one hand, a nod towards Walter Benjamin and his Arcade Project, where the 19th century structure, like in Paris and Milan, represented both mercantilism, trade and exchange (sometimes in its basest consumerist form) and a place of escape and contemplation away from the bustling, maddening pace of the city right outside its doors. Also, an arcade as a place of entertainment and fun, like a pin-ball or video arcade.

PATRICK MARKS of THE GREEN ARCADE 

Congrats on the recent one year anniversary.  Any interesting bookstore plans for year two?

PM:   Thanks for the congrats on the one year anniversary.  I hope to continue hosting many events, with an emphasis on the main focus of the store — sustainability and environment, as well as cultivating interesting writers of all kinds, from historians and activists, to poets and visionaries. If all goes well, I have some more square footage in the rear of the store that I could make into a “literary annex” where I would represent literature important to worldwide human culture and also works new and old that tend to be ignored by the mainstream. (If you know some angels with do-re-mi?...)

Looking around your store, I came across these Barack Obama votive candles? And as a Catholic Christian, I immediately became fascinated. Tell me about them.

PM:   Ah-ha! Sold two yesterday.  Would love to have one with Obama holding the Nobel Prize.  Some local artists (one of South American descent) produced the candle and it was the big hit last year, as I opened The Green Arcade during election time.  It is actually Barack Obama’s face on Saint Martin de Porres’ image. As you most likely know, Saint Martin de Porres was from Peru, was half African and aided and gave hope to the poor. His feast day is November 3rd, the day before Obama was elected.

Your store has a well-considered layout of book sections, including sections ranging from street art to the Beat Generation to Political Commentary. What are a few sections that probably generate a lot of business for The Green Arcade?

PM:   The best sections are food, including farming, self-sustainability and cookbooks and the California section, which includes some California literature as well as local and environmental histories. The Green Building section brings in a lot of people, and goes beyond the practical into ideas about sustaining cities and community.

What types of people shop at your store?

PM:   Our customers are wide ranging, from neighbors to tourists, and many people interesting in Green issues. I offer to special order titles on any subject, so I get a lot of return special order customers. The store gets praise from customers for having put together a very pre-selected range of titles from different disciplines so that most everywhere one looks, one finds something interesting.  I also sell some nice locally produced items, like bags and notebooks made from recycled billboards, and that brings in customers not necessarily interested in books.

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Patrick Marks is the man, which by default automatically makes his bookstore the ideal place to shop for the next life-changing book you’ll read. Stop on by The Green Arcade in San Francisco. Take your time walking around the store. Open a few books. Read a few pages. Absorb the striking art hanging from the walls. And if time permits, chat it up with Patrick Marks and let the literary sparks of greater knowledge fly.

The Green Arcade

1680 Market Street @ Gough
San Francisco, CA 94102

415.431.6800

Copyright © 2009, Tony R. Rodriguez, Examiner.com