By Stacy Perman

Business Lessons to Note

Before it closed in June 2008, Berkeley (Calif.)-based bookseller Cody's Books had become a cultural institution with an international following. One of the first stores to sell quality paperbacks, computerize its inventory, and offer in-store author events, Cody's treated bookselling as a calling, not just a vocation. While industry trends changed the buying and reading habits of consumers dramatically, decimating independent bookstores across the country, Cody's continued to stock huge backlists and employ knowledgeable staffs before it finally shut its doors. Flip through this slide show to follow the rise and fall of Cody's during its 52-year history.