Three Bells Books - Mason City, IA

Three Bells Books, Mason City, IA

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The main claim to fame in this Norman Rockwell-esque Iowa town is as the home of Meredith Wilson, renowned composer most recognized for The Music Man.  But man, this new independent bookstore might give Meredith Wilson a run for his money for a Mason City destination (well, maybe a nudge up to 2nd place?!).  I cannot believe everything going on and in place in its short approximately 11 months in business.  Best of all, it brings a new indie to Iowa which is slowly seeing some growth in bookstores opening.  

Co-owners Molly and Jake have done a bang-up job in less than a year in business.  Beginning with the very European looking storefront to the sleek and clean interior organized and arranged mostly by Molly.  Outstanding!  The store offers all new books along with a few used that customers either donate or receive store credit.  If you can’t visit the store consider supporting them by ordering your book on the store website.  While you're browsing you can enjoy a soda, glass of wine, or heck, a Fat Hill Scottish Ale.  They have a great relationship with Fat Hill Brewing because Molly and Jake co-own that as well.  The two stores are so closely related that the lines often blur between the two with events and book clubs.  They have so many book clubs that store manager and bookseller Julie was having trouble naming them all.  At least eight with the store and one with Fat Hill, all in less than a year.  Three Bells also offers other events including author signings and a story time for kids on Sunday afternoons.  As Julie told me, that’s a typically slow time and is a great way to bring people into the store.  The best sidelines recently have been mugs and small literary soaps but they offer much more including greeting cards, puzzles, bookmarks, and candy to name just a few. 

I’m always intrigued by uncommon bookstore names so I was naturally curious about Three Bells.  If you're a fan of the Brontë sisters you might figure it out.  They used the last name of Bell as a pseudonym to publish a one-volume book of poems.  And of course there were three Brontë sisters inspiring Molly to the very creative bookstore name, Three Bells Books.

The store will celebrate its one year anniversary in December yet many in the area are unaware of its presence.  Hey regulars, spread the word.  This place is a must-see and after you’ve browsed the books, go through the back of the store and enjoy another wonderful small business, Simply Nourished.  Enjoy a 5-star experience that you’ll want to repeat over and over.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

CURRENTLY READING:  Devil In The White City, Erik Larson. 

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Miracle of The Music Man, Mark Cabaniss.  

I love discovering creative displays of art in the communities I visit.  This one is mere steps from the bookstore. 

I thought the storefront had a very European vibe. 

View looking into the store from the front entrance. 

An absolutely wonderful seating area immediately to the left after entering. 

The first bookshelves to the left after entering. 

You'll need a tote bag for all the books you get. 

Relevant candles for the holiday season. 

Attractive table display to the right after entering. 

 A few of the puzzles and cookbooks available. 

Overview of the refreshment area in the middle of the store. 

Beautiful signage.  Notice the menu on the left and the events on the right. 

Assorted and unique bookmarks at the refreshment counter. 

Go to the middle of the store and take a right into another room of the bookstore...

...where you'll find used books at a great price. 

Staff pick display in the used book room. 

A few of the greeting cards offered. 

I had a Hammond chocolate bar at a previous bookstore and I can highly recommend you get one. 

If you're in the Mason City area and enjoy reading, I encourage you to join one of the book clubs Three Bells offers.  They have book clubs for a variety of interests. 

Right side of the store toward the back. 

Left side of the store toward the back.  Behind these shelves you'll find the children's area. 

The approaching holidays means you can pick up gift cards for friends and family. 

Unique and wacky socks offered in bookstores can seldom be found anywhere else.  If you see it and you like it, GET IT. 

All indies support banned books. 

Variety of Candy Club candies. 

Hey local authors, Blue Bells wants to hear from you. 

Another gorgeous and comfy seating area in the back of the store. 

Above the comfy seating area you'll see some super artistic renditions, all featuring readers. 

Looking into the children's area. 

Another different angle of the children's area. 

Go through the back of the store and patronize another local business.  I didn't get to see much of this so I hope to visit again someday and spend more time. 

With Julie, the fine store manager at Three Bells Books.  Thanks for a great visit. 

True Leaves Bookshop - Princeton, IL

True Leaves Bookshop, Princeton, IL

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At long last, Princeton, IL (population 8000) can finally boast to be the home of an independent bookstore.  It was my good fortune to visit near the anniversary of their first year in business.  And I was thrilled to hear that they’ve had a very successful first year.  Husband/wife owners Matthew and Angela A. OWN the store and Matthew told me he is very pleased with the results so far.  His explanations are similar to what make all bookstores successful.  An outstanding community that is fully behind True Leaves and an excellent cooperative and supportive relationship with the chamber of commerce.  Way to go Princeton!

My favorite thing here is the building itself, a former library.  It’s not a Carnegie Library but it is from that era, 1912.  When you walk in it is unmistakably a library but now reincarnated as a bookstore.  It has a wonderful location that makes it easily accessible for a lot of foot traffic. Just off downtown Main St, across from the court house and the picturesque city park.  It’s on the edge of a residential area where the 10-year old me could safely ride my bike to the bookstore.  

True Leaves offers new and used books that are all shelved together along with a healthy variety of sidelines.  Customers can receive store credit in return for the books they bring in.  The nice thing about the used books is that they have them on a data base so they know exactly what’s in the store.  True Leaves is well-curated with all genres but the romance books have been especially popular with all ages.  Sidelines include greeting cards, journals, teas and coffee, and book scarves to name a few but the stickers and art supplies are selling best.  In fact, the store may expand the art supplies they’re offering to include even more.  In their short year of existence, they’re already active with events providing the many local authors in the region an outlet for their work.  

I don’t have to tell the regular customers the importance of this bookstore in the community.  I think the next step for True Leaves is to generate partnerships with the local schools.  The significance of buy local, shop local can’t be overstated.  Hopefully, the school officials will invest in the community and patronize this outstanding local business as well.  

If you’re traveling east or west on Interstate 80, Princeton has its own exit and is an EASY place to reach.  Whether you make it a destination or a travel break, visit this terrific bookstore in the heartland and enjoy the historical building and the friendly and knowledgeable owners who work there.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.  

JUST FINISHED:  What She Left Behind, Ellen Marie Wiseman.  So unsettling and troubling I had to set it aside.  Dual storyline of two characters, Izzy and Clara.  Clara’s timeline is in the 1920s and she is the daughter of rich parents, including a cold and heartless father.  To teach his 18-year old daughter a lesson, he sends her to an insane asylum for refusing to marry the immoral son of a rich friend.  Her true love is someone deemed unfit by her father and she discovers she is pregnant while in the asylum.  The birth, the horrid conditions, and the forcible removal of her baby were too much for me.

CURRENTLY READING:  Devil In The White City, Erik Larson.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Wild Robot, Peter Brown. 

 

This was a welcomed assist.  A sign on the main street pointing out the direction I needed to go.  A helpful nudge for visiting customers. 

I love this building  Originally, a Carnegie-era library built in 1912 and now home to a new bookstore. 

Entryway into a historical building that began its life as a library. 

Beautiful glass case on the right in the entryway. 

View to the left just inside the store. 

Looking to the right just inside the store.

Unique stickers and bookmarks. 

Another angle and overview of the left side of the store.  Beautiful.  Even though it is a bookstore it has really retained the historical feel of the library. 

Classic editions available. 

Do you remember these old heat radiators in schools, churches, libraries and other buildings?  I love it. 

The beautiful living room reading area on the left side of the store. 

Variety of art supplies and journals. 

A few of the greeting cards offered. 

Left side of the store looking toward the back of the room. 

Illinois bookstores often have excellent Lincoln sections like this one. 

For the avid reader and literature fan in your family, literary book scarves. 

Behind the front counter, this is a glimpse of the children's area. 

A long aisle of books and sidelines on the right side of the store.

I haven't seen The Montana Farmacy teas on any of my visits.  I don't know what the tea is like but I love the decorative and artistic bottles. 

An overview of the right side of the store, front to back. 

A cross section view of the front of the store. 

Where else could you get your own True Leaves Bookshop mug but HERE?!

The perfect little chair for a little reader. 

Another angle and overview of the children's area. 

Always consider a gift card for your purchase. 

With Matthew on the right, the fine co-owner at True Leaves Bookshop.  Thanks for a great visit.