About Us

Long before Berj Bookstore was established, Avedis DerSahakian (Berj’s Father) bought a printing house in Aleppo, Syria, established by poet-painter Puzant Topalian, who moved to Paris, France in 1930.

He called the print shop DerSahakian Press, which ran until 1949 when he moved his family along with his business to Beirut, Lebanon. The new location was in downtown Beirut, on Capucins Street and operated until 1975 when the civil war erupted and the establishment was completely destroyed. At the end of the same year, his son Berj who was fond of literature and books decided to start a new venture, Berj Bookstore. The store was located in the heart of the Armenian Community of Beirut, Bourj Hammoud.

In 1987, due to the massive influx of Armenians to the United States from the Middle East, Iran and Armenia, a second branch of the bookstore was established in Hollywood, California. Two years later, the establishment was moved to Glendale, California, 10 miles north of Hollywood. Glendale was becoming a growing center for Armenian culture with churches, schools, youth centers and Armenian-owned small businesses thus the perfect location for Berj Bookstore. Since then the establishment has remained on Central Avenue in Glendale, across from Saint Mary’s Armenian Apostolic Church.

Now we are online and excited to offer one of the largest collections of Armenian cultural books, gifts, music and paraphernalia. We also specialize in invitations for all occasions, both in Armenian and English.