Kepler's timeline Kepler's timeline (May 04, 2005)

1950s

** May 1955: Roy Kepler, a founding staff member of Berkeley's KPFA radio station, opens a paperback bookstore at 959 El Camino Real next to the Guild Theater in Menlo Park. ** 1956: In response to national attention on nuclear missiles, Kepler's posts signs in windows: "The Peninsula's largest anti-missile bookstore." ** 1956-57: Roy and Patricia Kepler refuse to pay portion of taxes devoted to military spending. ** September, 1959: Kepler's moves one block south to 825 El Camino Real.
1960s

** 1960: Roy Kepler arrested at Lawrence Livermore Radiation Laboratory for protesting nuclear weapons. ** 1964: A second Kepler's Books opens in Los Altos. ** 1965: Roy Kepler joins the Institute for the Study of Non-Violence, founded by Ira Sandperl, Joan Baez and Holly Chenery. ** 1967: Roy Kepler, Ira Sandperl and Joan Baez arrested for attempting to shut down the Oakland Induction Center as part of "Stop the Draft Week." ** 1968: Arson attempt on the Los Altos store; 10 days later a bomb shattered the store's front windows. ** 1969: Arsonists struck the Menlo Park store and inflicted several thousand dollars worth of damage. **1960s: Jerry Garcia and several members of the Grateful Dead used to hang out and jam at Kepler's.
1970s

** 1972: Ralph Kohn, who served in the same World War II Conscientious Objector camp as Roy Kepler, takes over as store manager and continued until 1982. ** February, 1972: U.S. Rep. Paul McCloskey signs books in the adjacent parking lot after Kepler's was closed by police due to a bomb threat. ** 1974: Kepler's expands into adjoining auto body shop, bringing store area from 5,000 to 8,000 square feet. ** 1976: First of Kepler's "Taco Parties," which continue for 22 years.
1980s

** 1980: Kepler's moves into new Victoria Lane Shopping Center, with carpets. ** 1980: Los Altos store sold. ** 1983: Clark Kepler takes over management of store. ** 1984: Victoria Lane store expands to 5,200 square feet. ** February//March, 1989: Salman Rushdie's novel, "The Satanic Verses," condemned by Ayatollah Khomeini; Kepler's holds evening of protest. ** September 1, 1989: Kepler's opens in 10,000 square feet of the new Menlo Center complex at 1010 El Camino Real, adjacent to Cafe Borrone. ** 1980s: Large chain stores begin posing a threat to local independent bookstores; and Kepler's establishes events featuring authors.
1990s

** January 1994: Roy Kepler dies. Congresswoman Anna Eshoo presents tribute in House of Representatives. ** May 1994: Clark Kepler named Bookseller of the Year by "Publisher's Weekly." ** 1995: Kepler's begins its annual anniversary give-back program, "It's for Kids," benefiting local libraries; hosts Menlo Park Library Day, benefiting Belle Haven Library. ** 1997: Kepler's Web site -- keplers.com -- is launched, with searchable database and staff recommendations. ** 1998: Kepler's joins 25 other bookstores suing Borders and Barnes & Noble; they claim the chains make illegal deals with publishers. Kepler's wins $60,000 of the $4.7 million settlement. ** 1999: Kepler's begins same-day delivery for online and telephone orders of more than $50. Kepler's joins Peninsula Community Foundation in an early literacy program to donate books to schools.
2000s

** January 2001: Kepler's hosts President Jimmy Carter; 1,600 people attend the signing. ** January 2003: Kepler's throws a launch party for "Harry Potter and the order of the Phoenix"; more than 2,000 Potter fans come. ** October 2003: In one month, Kepler's hosts Madeleine Albright, Al Franken, Molly Ivins and Barbara Bush.

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