Nicola's Books - Ann Arbor, MI

Nicola's Books - Ann Arbor, MI

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Finally, there is hope for all my engineering friends!  Every book, bookstore, indie owner, has its story. Every story I hear on my journey is unique and almost always interesting.  Nicola's Books is no different.  There is actually a Nicola here at Nicola's Books and I was lucky to meet her this day because the store is soon changing ownership.  She has been here for almost 20 years but will begin a new chapter in her life.  Her chapter as a bookstore owner is coming to an end but what was the chapter BEFORE that?  Why, chemical engineering of course.  Doesn't every engineer trace that kind of career path?  She left chemical engineering to own and run a bookstore and I'm sure that her community and staff are so very glad that she made that decision.

Nicola's Books is a one level bookstore located in a strip mall area in Ann Arbor.  This indie has lots of parking and it's all free, a welcomed perk compared to some of my indie visits.  This store has a great inventory of books; 1/3 children's, 1/3 fiction, and 1/3 all other genres.  But if you can't find a book you have lots of other options.  Lots of gift items, jewelry, games, boxed card sets, greeting cards, tons of magazines, and tons of cool stuff for kids.  You WILL find something here.  Heck, I even bought a trick golf ball to amuse and annoy my friends.  The customer base here is almost entirely local and Nicola is engaged deeply in this community.  Lots of author events in the store as well as many children's events and activities.  When the kids enter, all they have to do is follow the blue foot prints back to their area or the story time area.

I enjoyed talking to Nicola and Fiona, a staffer, this day.  I think Nicola probably spent more time with me than she was comfortable with because, after all, she has a bookstore to run.  And you can tell she's very good at it, extremely knowledgeable, very energetic, and pretty much all business here.  Everything you want in a successful indie owner.  As for Fiona, good grief, she gave me even more indie bookstores to visit and add to my journey.  Both of these people were wonderful to talk to during my visit.  There's also Max who wasn't working this day.  Max is a dog that comes in occasionally and patrols the lower shelves here at Nicola's.

A couple of Nicola's book recommendations to me were about UM football.  I did my undergrad at the University of Iowa so just couldn't pull the trigger on the UM football stuff.  If you're a UM fan, you'll have lots of great choices.  No worries though, she gave me other great recommendations that will be added to the unread pile.  She'll do the same for you when you visit.  The new owners are book people so this strong indie isn't going anywhere.  And it will be easy to find because it will still be called Nicola's Books.  Don't miss a chance to visit this great independent bookstore.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING:  The Martian, Andy Weir.  It needs to kick in for me or I'll be aborting the mission.

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  A Discovery Of Witches, Deborah Harkness.  Book 1 of a trilogy.  I'm curious about this one.  Sheep In A Jeep, Nancy Shaw. A short, well-illustrated kids book written by the author who wrote the essay about Nicola's for My Bookstore.  A great book to read to your pre-schooler.

View to the right of the store after entering.  Conscientious readers may recognize the celebrity on the right sprinting to the books.  Yes, that's my mom.  

Not the sign I wanted to see when I visited here.  Never fear, Nicola assures me the store will be in good hands with the new owners.  Best of luck to them and continued success!  

Fantastic collection of stuffed animals.  

Lots of greeting cards to choose from.  

You'll find me here with my book.  Wake me when I need to get back on the tour bus.  

A variety of book bags, some of the sidelines here.  

Suggested readings from UM professors with the MFA program.  Always like seeing displays like this.  

Yes, I did say tons of magazines.  Here are some of them.  

A great inventory of books.  

Get out of the aisles and park yourself here for awhile.  

Tell your kids to follow the footprints.  It will lead them to their area.  

A great area for author events in the rear of the store.  

A fireplace in an indie in Michigan.  Look for me here during the winter months. 

This would be the view the author would have at a reading.  This is looking towards the front of the store.  He/She is standing with the fireplace directly behind.  

Yours truly with Nicola, the fine (former) owner of Nicola's Books.  

Saturn Booksellers - Gaylord, MI

Saturn Booksellers - Gaylord, MI

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When you go on a journey of independent bookstores, there are certain areas you can go to and expect to visit a few stores in one day or half a day.  For example, places like NYC, Chicago, LA, the Pacific Northwest, are just a few areas where you can go and visit a few bookstores in a day.  But you don't expect to go to the far northern reaches of Michigan and all its gorgeous wilderness and find TWO fantastic independent bookstores within approximately 40 minutes of each other.  And both are featured indies in My Bookstore, by Ron Rice.  Incredible!  And according to Jill M., the owner at Saturn Books, there are many more in this part of the country.  You heard about McLean & Eakin in Petoskey, now you're going to hear about Saturn Books in Gaylord.

As I mentioned, both of these indies are featured in My Bookstore and they both proudly display the book.  The first thing you see when you enter Saturn Books is the Coffee Cabin.  A great café and very creative use of space.  It's literally a cabin built right in the middle of this bookstore.  Originally, it was the children's section which would've been very cool but the children's section outgrew the cabin quickly and now has a great space in the back of the store.  The cabin is surrounded by a great inventory.  Lots of sidelines here, including some touristy type things.  No used books in this indie but lots of new ones and a great display of staff picks.  The customer base here is both locals and tourists.  When the locals leave for the winter they can continue to patronize their favorite bookstore by ordering online and receiving their order for one low shipping price no matter how much they order.  There is a 2nd floor here but it is used only for author events in the store.  During the summer months there are numerous author events each week.  During the winter months, not so much.  Northern Michigan + winter months = a recipe for cancelled events.

I was very happy on this visit to meet and visit with Jill M., the owner.  Like so many of my visits on this journey, she was terrific to talk to me about her store, the business, and a lot of books for me to consider for my unread pile.  It was also great to talk to Maggie, one of the staffers, who not only can give you some great book recommendations but can also whip up a mean skinny vanilla latte in the Coffee Cabin.  But I can tell you that you won't go wrong meeting any of the super people here at Saturn Books.

So don't go to the hinterlands of Michigan to visit only one bookstore when there are two so close together.  And as for Saturn Books, it's OUT OF THIS WORLD!  Get it?  SATURN Books?  Out of this world!  Move along IndieBob, move along (I totally saw some of you roll your eyes).  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Book Of Unknown Americans, Cristina Henríquez.  Outstanding.  5 Stars.  Highly recommended.  You will have a whole new understanding and empathy of the challenges of Latino immigrants.

CURRENTLY READING:  The Martian, Andy Weir.  I have "high" hopes.

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Kindness Of Stangers, Katrina Kittle.

Great outdoor sign.

Sit outside and try out a book.  Except in the winter.  

The log cabin inside the store.  The Coffee Cabin.  

Great sale on some of the sideline.  

Sit in this comfy chair and at least pretend to be reading!

Lots of great books to choose from.  

More of the sidelines organized outside of the Coffee Cabin. 

I love this chair in the children's section.  

Play some chess in the store while sipping your latte.  

More books organized outside of the Coffee Cabin.  

Jill M., the fine owner at Saturn Books.  

Crane Stationery is one of the good sellers at many indies.  

Jill M., on the left and Maggie on the right.  You guys are the best!  Thanks for a wonderful visit!  

Part of the great children's area.  

Another great seller at this indie.  Works with hot or cold beverages.  

A great section of staff picks at the front of the store.  

A great customer incentive.  If I lived in Gaylord I'd be all over that Saturn Saver Card.  

McLean & Eakin Bookseller - Petoskey, MI

McLean & Eakin Booksellers - Petoskey, MI

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Readers, I have good news and bad news about McLean & Eakin Booksellers in Petoskey, Michigan.  The bad news is that unless you live in Northern Michigan you're a heck of a long way from McLean & Eakin.  And that long way includes two-lane roads with a lot of slow drivers.  The good news?  Well, you can buy some fresh cherries at a produce stand along the way to help you endure the trip.  But the best news of all is when you get to McLean & Eakin in Petoskey.  Your long painful drive will melt away the minute you walk through the doors of this very vibrant and energetic independent in Northern Michigan.

I visited here on a Monday morning and all independents should be humming the way I found this one.  Locals, tourists, moms, kids, you name it.  Local school kids get 10% off their order of books that are on their school's reading list, a great idea.  They have a wonderful children's section on the main level and it was busy as well.  This indie has lots of sidelines on the main and lower level, many of these items of the touristy variety that would cater to that clientele.  Kirstyn, the staffer I spoke to this day, mentioned that business is great here and well supported by locals and tourists alike.  Even though many locals will spend winters in Florida or Arizona, these people continue to support McLean & Eakin with a very user-friendly online ordering system via the website.  They've also embraced the ereader market and their Kobo sales here are outstanding, one of of the best in the nation for their market.

On the lower level, you'll find more sidelines, more books, magazines, and vinyl, which is continuing to grow in sales at many indies.  The store is very active with author visits and they can be held on the lower level or main level depending on circumstances.  Only new books are sold at this independent but there doesn't' seem to be any need to start a book buy-back program.

I didn't get to meet the owners on this visit, Matt and Jessilynn, but you can tell that they put a lot of time and thought into how to do things here.  This approach is reflected in the wonderful staff members here who I did get to visit with, Kirstyn, Stephanie, and Angelo.  They were swamped this day but they were great to talk to and told me lots of things about the store.

This is a proud store, an award winning store, featured in My Bookstore, by Ron Rice, the guidebook for my journey.  As I checked out there it was, proudly displayed and brought to the attention of all the customers.  So endure the road trip, the slow drivers, and then arrive in Petoskey where you will enjoy a visit to a fantastic independent bookstore.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING:  The Book Of Unknown Americans, Cristina Henríquez.  Really liking it.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: ...and recently finished.  The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, Gabrielle Zevin.  Story of an independent bookstore owner.  Not everyone will like this one.  But I loved it.

Great window display.  

Main level, this is what I saw when I entered.  I blame the fuzziness on the long drive to get here!

Great staff picks and a bench to sit down and take your time.  

All things Michigan in this area.  

Follow the sign for more books, not that I needed the encouragement!

A fantastic children's section on the main level.  

If your daughter doesn't need a book you can at least pick up a princess outfit.  

The guidebook for my journey displayed very prominently at the check-out counter.  

One of several awards for this fine independent bookstore.  

Great selection of greeting cards.  

You can get serious about trying a book with chairs like these.  

Lots of great inventory downstairs.  

Lots of magazines to choose from.  

View from the rear of the store looking towards the front.  

Stephanie on the left and Kirstyn.  Thanks for a great visit!

Stephanie, Kirstyn, and yours truly.