The Book Deal - Madison, WI

The Book Deal,  Madison, WI

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Follow the arrows. 

This was way more than a bookstore experience, it was an adventure.  Set your GPS, dear readers, to lead you to this hidden gem and that is just the beginning of your adventure.  When you arrive trust the arrows and follow them through the maze of long and short hallways until finally, your trek is rewarded when you turn left into the front room of The Book Deal.  But the adventure isn't over yet.  As I browsed through the four smallish rooms after the front room I started to become concerned.  Where was the fiction?  Historical fiction?  What about children's?  Then the co-owner Josh D. said, do you want to go across the hall and see the rest?  Ahh!  The adventure bloomed into the technicolor portion of "The Wizard of Oz."  Or the deep end of the water after the kiddie pool.  No worries, reader, this place will have EVERY genre covered and then some.  

The Book Deal began selling books online years ago with brothers Rick and Jim J.  Fast forward to this month and the brick and mortar is celebrating its 5th birthday with owners Rick, Jim, and Josh.  The store stocks all used books along with some collectible editions.  Customers often donate their books but they can receive store credit if they choose.  They also offer a customer incentive program where you can become a VIB (Very Important Booklover) and earn 10 pages for every $1 spent and then cash your pages in for free books.  I love this!  Other than stickers, this indie is mostly about the books.  Remember, if you can't visit in-person you can always support this indie by purchasing online through bookshop.org.

I must tell you that these observations about the store have an expiration date.  Over the next few months, The Book Deal will begin a new chapter moving to their own building, one they will own.  A more visible location and much closer to the vibrant and large University of Wisconsin campus.  In my opinion, this wonderful indie will become even better and I expect its customer base to explode.  So before you visit, make sure you check the address.  Congratulations to The Book Deal and don't miss this one no matter where its located.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  Fathers, Sons, and the Holy Ghosts of Baseball, Tommy Murray.  A story about small town life, the Catholic church, and the local high school baseball team and their three senior citizen coaches.  Year after year, Cottage Park is one of the best baseball teams in the state but they continue to chase the dream of winning a state championship.  Its the same dream for their elderly coaches who are determined to do it in their final season or die trying. 

CURRENTLY READING:  West With Giraffes, Lynda Rutledge. 

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Ramage, Dudley Pope. 

 

Surely you'll find something among 30,000+ books!

Long hallways and turns. 

Keep going. 

Not a trap, a maze!

Almost there. 

ENTER!

Looking into the store from the main entrance, after the hallways!

If you're a regular, be sure to take advantage of this. 

Beautiful wall mural just opposite the checkout counter. 

Take notice, especially notice that the first 5 children's books are free.  Fantastic promotion. 

View looking into the science fiction and fantasy room. 

Overview of the vintage and modern classics room. 

A very hip chair in the vintage and modern classics room. 

Overview of the room containing young adult, graphic novels, and comic books. 

Comic book fans will love this room. 

Overview of room that contains mysteries and thrillers. 

Popular mysteries displayed in the mystery room. 

What?  There's more? 

Venture across the hall and this is the first thing you'll see. 

Of course they have banned books!

Looking for the old stuff?  Here you go. 

I love the table display in this room. 

Just a few of the collectible editions offered.  Check out the big boys on the bottom shelf. 

One of the multiple rooms across the hall from the main room. 

View looking into the nonfiction room. 

Another display of collectible editions.

Overview of the children's room. 

Chairs for little readers. 

Large room of fiction. 

Another overview of the large fiction room. 

Follow the arrow back to the main room.

Always check out the stickers. 

Can't decide on the perfect book for a gift?  Here's your answer. 

With Josh on the left, one of the fine co-owners at The Book Deal.  Thanks for a great visit. 

Lake City Books - Madison, WI

Lake City Books, Madison, WI

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Owner Molly F. Shared with me the two words that I absolutely loved hearing and I only wish I'd hear it on every bookstore visit.  Lake City Books has only been open a little over a month, a true baby.  When I asked her how things are going, without hesitating she offered two words, "wildly successful."  What a joy to hear this from a newbie and I really think this indie will have success for years to come and a positive impact on this city and community.

Of course, it must be stated that this bookstore comes with some advantages that may not be available to others.  It has a perfect location just off the square and one block from the state capital, a very busy and vibrant area.  Madison is also home to the University of Wisconsin and the bookstore is very close to campus.  Additionally, Lake City is the only bookstore downtown since A Room Of One's Own, another indie has relocated from its downtown location.  The downtown area is thick with housing, providing Lake City with many nearby customers.  And finally I'm happy to say that the store has a very reasonable lease which is a BIG DEAL for any indie.

This bookstore offers new and used books all shelved together.  And let me tell you, the used books I saw look good as new.  Look for the yellow dots on the spines for the used ones.  Molly is particular about the books she accepts from customers but offers store credit for the ones she takes.  Any books she can't use are donated to local organizations.  Can't make it to the store in person?  Place your order on the store website and you might even have the book the same day.  The store has a variety of sidelines and the popular ones so far are the journals, Tarot cards, and the rubber ducks to name a few.

With all these advantages for a successful bookstore launch the one that stands out above all else is Molly herself.  She has a background that meant she wasn't going into this blindly.  Originally from Madison, she majored in business and finance, gained experience leading teams of 20 in Epic Systems, a healthcare software company that really advanced her tech skills, and finally work experience in bookstores.  This is the kind of "internship" that's now paying dividends for her and everyone in Madison.  Congratulations Molly.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Reckoning, John Grisham.  Grisham is a palate cleanser for me and I haven't read any of his that I didn't like.  His books always hold my interest.  This one is about a WWII vet who unexpectedly and without reason, murders the small town's beloved Methodist minister.  The minister leaves behind a wife and three small children and even though Army veteran Pete Banning is a small town hero, nobody can understand why he committed this crime.  This story also spends a good deal of time reliving his army service in the Philippines and the Bataan Death March.  Very readable.  

Assume The Worst, Carl Hiaasen, Roz Chast.  Very short book you can read over your two cups of morning coffee.  Humorous look at graduation and the speeches you'll never hear.  The Roz Chast illustrations alone make this book worth it. 

CURRENTLY READING: Fathers, Sons, and the Holy Ghosts of Baseball, Tommy Murray.  

 

Look for this sign which will help identify the store. 

This is the very unassuming store exterior and all of the lower level windows belong to the bookstore.  Rest assured, when you enter the store the interior is nothing like the "cover of the book." 

You're steps away from magic. 

This bookstore sells new and used books. 

View looking into the store from the entrance. 

Looking over to the left from the store entrance.  Very neat. 

Go to the right side of the store and start browsing. 

Attractive table display near the front of the store. 

Display of non-fiction. 

Table display of used best sellers.  The used books here are like new.  

This author is a bookstore owner in Wigtown, Scotland and he has written several books about his experiences.  They're all hilarious and I highly recommend them.  Happy to see this one displayed in the store. 

I always enjoy books about books. 

A few of the greeting cards available.

Display of new releases. 

 A few of the sidelines available. 

Two very comfy seats to sample a book. 

Your guide for finding used books.  They're shelved together with new. 

A good assortment of gift ideas. 

Closer look at the back half of the store and heading into the children's area. 

A long wall of books. 

This store has much to offer children of all ages.   

Lots of book ideas for kids. 

Wacky bookstore socks found here. 

Come on!  They're only $2.  Pick one up for bath time! 

Some of my recent bookstore visits have indicated Tarot cards are selling well. 

With Molly, the fine owner at Lake City Books.  Thanks for a great visit.