The following is a press release from the Petaluma, Calif.-based Eames Institute announcing the acquisition of William Stout Architectural Books in San Francisco.
The Eames Institute, a new 501(c)(3) public charity, announces the acquisition of William Stout Architectural Books, a beloved retail destination at 804 Montgomery Street in San Francisco's historic Jackson Square neighborhood. A critical resource for architects and designers since 1974, the bookstore has been operated to date by its namesake founder, William Stout—an architect by training who subsequently followed his passion for publications, book collecting, and teaching.
In 2021, after decades at the helm, Stout began to contemplate his retirement and shuttering the store. Over the course of the past year, a series of discussions with the Eames Institute led to the decision to pass it into new hands, and, as of October 1, 2022, the Eames Institute took ownership of this remarkable establishment.
“The stars seem to be aligned in 2022, and I am so excited about this new chapter for Stout. We’ve all decided to keep the direction of the shop intact for the future, which I feel is a tribute to all parties involved and a real boon for the design community as a whole,” shared William Stout regarding the acquisition. “The Eames Institute's shared passion for design makes it a logical fit for the shop. It is with pleasure that I hand over the operation of the shop and am excited to continue to be involved as a consultant to the Eames Institute. I want to thank everyone for being supportive of the shop over its 48 years of existence.”
With an unrivaled inventory that encompasses the best new publications in architecture, urban planning, landscape architecture, as well as graphic, industrial, interior, and product design—and including thousands of rare out-of-print titles—William Stout Architectural Books is a landmark for designers, bibliophiles, and browsers alike. Under the Institute’s management, the store will continue to operate at its current location as well as online at StoutBooks.com. On an emeritus basis, William Stout will continue to contribute his decades of experience and knowledge to the store as a consultant. The shop’s knowledgeable staff will stay in place during the transition.
The acquisition is made possible thanks to the ongoing support of the Institute’s principal patron, designer and entrepreneur Joe Gebbia, who frequented the shop as a young designer when first living in San Francisco. “William Stout is a true testament to the importance of design, and his store is a complete treasure,” shares Joe Gebbia. “The legacies of Ray and Charles Eames and William Stout go hand in hand as some of the most cherished and influential people in the design community here in California, and it’s an honor to meld these two together through the Eames Institute.”
For the Eames Institute, the acquisition of William Stout Architectural Books aligns with the nonprofit's mission of preserving and sharing established design legacies—and making them accessible for future generations. The Institute’s primary holdings include both the Eames Collection, a vast majority of contents from the original Eames Office at 901 Washington in Venice, California, and the Eames Ranch, a prototype for regenerative agriculture, water conservation, and land stewardship, located in Petaluma, California. Originally designed by famed Sea Ranch architect William Turnbull in 1992 for Lucia Eames, daughter of Charles Eames, the Ranch is currently undergoing a significant renovation and landscape redevelopment. In the interim, William Stout Architectural Books’ San Francisco location will provide a place for people to interact with, and learn more about, the mission, and activities of the Eames Institute.
