Annapurna

"Perfect Lil shop on Telegraph. Seems like it's been there forever, etched into the history of hippies, college kids, deadheads, beatniks and street vendors."

"Annapurna is part of my history in Berkeley. Al, the owner, is a gentleman and pioneer in the alternative retail industry who stood against the conservative political forces that worked to shut businesses like his down. His employees over the years have been some of the most amazing individuals and in many cases were some of my closest friends. The Berkeley that once was has been dying for years now, as I get older I struggle to move on and accept that this is how change works, and that there are generations of people who are coming through Berkeley and redefining the spirit of this town. That there are experiences and memories that will be created for them that will be just as significant as are mine, but the ideas and social trajectory are in an entirely different direction, the collective conscience of the intellectuals who founded this place and all of the political, social, spiritual, and creative movements they subsequently spawned over the last hundred and some-odd years are almost completely gone. The one last place on Telegraph avenue that represented all of that to me was Annapurna, and I don't know how I'm going to resolve this within myself. But I will, because time doesn't wait for people who stop and look backwards. Thank you, Al, for providing me with an anchor point in this community, a place that gave me a landmark in the context of my developing identity as a young adult, a certainty of belonging to the counterculture and people and history of this place. It will always be a part of my life I hold sacred. Thank you Steve, Elizabeth, Kim, Siobhan, Bopha, Amber, Pater, Ilysea, and everyone else whose names I have forgotten. I miss every single one of you."

"This place is a little treasure! One of the only original places left on Telegraph. It's a wonderful little store with something for everyone. I've been going there since the 80's after high school with my friends and about 30 some years later it is still fun to go in there and find a little treasure to buy. The staff are always very friendly and the owner is so pleasant, welcoming, and fun to talk to. He is so interesting and knowledgeable, you'll enjoy having a conversations with him. It's definitely one of the must go to places for me when I visit Telegraph!"

"Annapurna is and has always been the best specialty shop in Berkeley, maybe the whole East Bay. My friends and I have been shopping here since the 80's and it's always worth it for the great selection, fair prices and excellent and friendly help. Don't bother with those punks up the street who think they're all that, when this is the place! Say AH-nnapurna!"

"I have been frequenting Annapurna for over 30 years. I now travel from Vallejo to fulfill my Head Shop needs. This shop has paraphernalia styles that span many decades, the old school to the newest designs at fair prices. Did I mention the fair prices??? Customer service is off the charts wonderful; very experienced and pleasant to talk with. Always a cool experience."