Final chapter for Jay’s Book Stall

Jay Dantry has been the subject of six newspaper profiles, an art exhibition at The Mattress… Jay Dantry has been the subject of six newspaper profiles, an art exhibition at The Mattress Factory and a documentary film all in the last 10 years.

But if you ask him, the fame is a product of his associations with others of greater celebrity, in particular a certain “Captain Underpants.”

Dantry, who has owned and operated the almost aggressively beloved Jay’s Book Stall in Oakland, announced in February that he will be closing the shop June 1, after nearly 53 years of business.

When he does, he’ll leave some immaculately polished shoes to fill.

Like an owner who eventually starts to look like his pet, Dantry and the walls of his shop reflect the same combination of quirk and academia that’s the basis of their charm.

Over the years the walls of the Book Stall have accumulated photo after photo of Dantry standing alongside famous authors, looking ever trim and crisp in a navy blazer and dark-rimmed, bookish glasses, but always with a touch of whimsy from one of his trademark neckties.

There’s a tie with whale print, another with polka dots, others will bold stripes and even one that looks like a cat.

The picture-covered walls have their own eccentricity. The shop’s back left corner has a cabbage patch doll seated next to a Grecian bust atop a speaker playing an instrumental version of “You Can’t Take That Away (From Me).”

Moving over to the shelves, the trend continues with the collection of Isaac Asimov Sci-Fi’s sharing shelf space with “What to Do