Most Community-Centered Bookstores in Detroit
There are a lot of non-chain bookstores in the metro Detroit area that offer community events, such as book signings and reading groups. Read below to find out the best of these in the area.
Nicola's Books
Westgate Shopping Center
2513 Jackson Ave.
Ann Arbor, MI 48103
(734) 662-0600
www.nicolasbooks.com
Nicola's Books is located near the University of Michigan's campus, in the Westgate Shopping Center off of Jackson Avenue. The bookshop often hosts author events and signings, and every Saturday at 11 a.m., it hosts a Storytime geared towards children ages seven and under. If you have a book club, you can register with Nicola's Books to receive 15 percent off your club's monthly selection and 10 percent off any other books purchased. Nicola's is one of the best indie stores in the Ann Arbor area, and often features authors who graduated from UM's Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) program, as well.
The Next Chapter Bookstore and Bistro
141 E. Main St.
Northville, MI 48167
(248) 465-0010
www.readnextchapterbooks.com
The Next Chapter is in downtown Northville, and boasts a cute bistro and coffee shop in addition to its books. If you don't find the book you are looking for, the staff will order it for you for no extra cost. The shop hosts "Smooth Jazz on Sundays" as well as Girls Night Out, including their famous crepes and merchandise discounts, as well as live music. Next Chapter also occasionally hosts author readings and signings.
The Books Connection
19043 Middlebelt Road
Livonia, MI 48152
(248) 471-4742
www.thebooksconnection.com
The Books Connection is known for its friendly service and collection of new and used books, and will even help you pick out what books might strike your fancy. The store offers a book club as well as a knitting club each month, and the book club meets the last Tuesday of each month at 6: p.m. In the past, the club has discussed such books as "The Lace Reader" (Brunonia Barry) and "The Bean Trees: (Barbara Kingsolver). Books Connection is also known for its fun gifts, from Michigan Mints to puzzles to bookmarks.
Related: Best Indie Bookshops Around Detroit
Crazy Wisdom Bookstore & Tea Room
114 S. Main St.
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 665-2757
www.crazywisdom.net
Crazy Wisdom was established "on the equinox" in March 1982, and recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. The shop is located in downtown Ann Arbor, right on Main Street, and has two floors with a place to drink tea on the second floor. Every Friday and Saturday night, the bookstore hosts live music, from acoustic to Indian classical to country - it varies each week. Crazy Wisdom also hosts events such as the Witches' Tea ($3.25, which covers a pot of tea with free refills), Tea with the Fairies (where children are encouraged to dress up), and tarot readings, which cost $1 per minute. Visitors can also partake in book salons, which feature conversations between authors and readers.
Source Booksellers
4240 Cass Ave., Suite 105
Detroit, MI 48201
(313) 832-1155
www.sourcebooksdetroit.com
Source Booksellers is your place to go for nonfiction books in Detroit. It's located in Midtown, and its books fall into four main categories: history and culture, health and well-being, books by and about women, and the metaphysical and spiritual. Source's store events in the past have included belly dancing, numerology readings, mind/body/spirit classes (including yoga and tai chi), and wellness workshops.
Related: Best Cookbooks Pertaining to Detroit
Liz Parker is a freelance writer and a University of Michigan graduate with a degree in Creative Writing and Literature. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.
