Bobzbay Books - Bloomington, IL

 

Bobzbay Books, Bloomingrton, IL

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Bobzbay Books is going on 17 years of successful business with an excellent location in downtown Bloomington, IL.  Liz A. is the second owner of the business but has been with it since its beginnings as a DVD, music, and comic bookstore.  She transitioned the store when she took ownership some 10 years ago and now the store offers a full line of new and used  books neatly arranged in a long, one-level space.  Although the used books aren’t on a data base, Liz has a pretty good idea what she has on the shelves.  You can find the used books shelved right beside the new ones throughout the store.  Customers who bring books in for trade can receive store credit in return.  The store’s longevity has resulted in a strong core of regulars as well as customer traffic from the local colleges, Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan.  Bottom line?  I was happy to hear from Liz that things are going well.  

In addition to an excellent inventory of books, Bobzbay offers a nice assortment of sidelines.  Greeting cards, puzzles, bookstore candles, and so much more.  But as with so many other indies, when I asked Liz what was hot, without hesitation she said the stickers.  They also offer an open mic night for poetry, a nice event to bring people into the store.

During the course of my bookstore journey, I’ve been to many that have a theme for their store.  I’ve been to indies where the theme is penguins, cats, mythical creatures, whales, birds, and just about anything else you can imagine.  But the unique theme at Bobzbay Books is one I don’t remember seeing anywhere else, robots.  All sizes, shapes, and colors displayed everywhere.  Anyone with small children might enjoy coming here and thinking of it as a robot museum.  Hats off to the original owner. 

Owner Liz along with booksellers Carrie and Sydney were fantastic to meet and talk to about the store and books.  But I don’t need to tell you regulars something you already know.  If you’re new to the area, be sure to visit downtown Bloomington and the terrific bookstore you can discover there.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir. 

JUST FINISHED:  Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah, Charles King.  This book is more of a look at the politics and culture in Europe from 1650-1750.  Much of this book has nothing to do with Handel and The Messiah.  Skip ahead to pages 180-190 or so and you can read more about Handel and The Messiah.  I think music majors who studied much of this will be disappointed.  

Family of Spies, Christine Kuehn.  The author discovers a family history hidden for decades about her grandfather's family living in 1930s Germany, devoted to the Nazis, and suddenly forced to flea.  They end up in Hawaii and accumulate massive wealth as spies for Japan before Pearl Harbor.  Remarkable, unbelievable, and gripping, narrative non-fiction at its best.  Highly recommended.  

CURRENTLY READING:  Operation Napoleon, Arnaldur Indridason.

RECENTLY PURCHASED;  Code Dependent, Madhumita Murgia.

 

Beautiful storefront in the heart of downtown Bloomington.  

 Sidewalk boards are a super way to inform your customers and bring attention to the store location.  

Bring in your used books during the trade-in hours and receive store credit in return.  

View looking into the store from the front entrance.  The store is divided into three distinct and open rooms.  

 

A great community service and excellent tool to fact check others who are uninformed.  

Something to help you at the next protest rally.  

Help assemble the puzzle in the front of the store and immediately to the left.  

Looking directly to the left from the front entrance you'll see a nice assortment of greeting cards.  

Head down the right side of the store and browse this wall of books.  

Display of recently arrived books just inside the front door.  

Display of some of the new releases.  Be sure to check out the unique caps shown on top of the display, perfect for any booklover.  

Near the checkout counter you'll find an assortment of stickers, all of which have been very popular.  

You've heard of the "blind date with a book" promotions.  This is the same thing with a different name, "surprise books", offered at a great price.  A fun way to buy a book.  

Relevant books in the center of the front main room.  

Now this is what I call a budget buster!  They'll also on occasion set up tables with free books outside the store.  Way to go Bobzbay!

Bring your child to this display case and see every robot imaginable.  

So many bookstores place large print books on bottom shelves making them difficult for senior citizens to access.  These are on a top shelf but easily reachable.  

Just inside the middle room you'll find the staff picks.  

Various sidelines including a few of the bookstore candles offered.  

I would encourage all regulars to inquire about this.  

This large portrait is behind the checkout counter but nobody seems to know who it is.  If you can help, you may be entitled to a reward from the store.  

Looking into the middle room of the store.  

A great place to browse in the middle room.  

More "surprise books" in the middle room.  

Be sure to ask about the 2026 Book Bingo.  

More robots!

View looking into the children's area and third room of the store.  

Overview of the children's area.  

View looking from the children's area straight through to the front entrance.  

Overview of the middle room looking toward the front of the store.  

Thank you Bobzbay mascot for a great visit.  

The Rogue Bookshop - Beloit, WI

The Rogue Bookshop, Beloit, WI

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If you’re a regular visitor to this terrific new independent bookstore in Beloit, WI, there is nothing I can tell you that you don’t already know.  You already know that it’s a home run for the town and for the business community.  You also know that owner Jamie A. is the perfect fit for bookstore ownership.  Friendly, courteous, very knowledgeable, and conversant about books for you to consider.  Best of all, this bookstore now fills a void that was missing for a town of approximately 36,000.  Everything clicked for Jamie with this adventure including the perfect location downtown and a reasonable rent.  So you regulars might be asking, yes, so what’s left?  What’s left is that you need to help spread the word about this new bookstore since it’s only five months old.  Your friends and neighbors need to discover the same wonderful experience that you have when you visit The Rogue.  

The Rogue Bookshop offers new books, with some used in a bright, well-lit, gorgeous one-level space.  For customers who bring their books in they can receive store credit in return or donate them.  And The Rogue knows exactly what used books they have since they’re on their data base.  Keep in mind though that the store is very particular about the used books they accept.  If you want to purchase a book but can’t visit in person because you’re buried in snow they offer online purchasing through their website.  This part of the business is showing positive growth as people discover it.  The sidelines are numerous and if you need last minute gift ideas or stocking stuffers, this is your place.  Lots of stickers, store merch, bookstore candles, puzzles, quirky socks, greeting cards, and much more.

Already, the store is very active with events including the store book club (their last meeting had over 30 people.  Join the fun and tell everyone about your latest book), author events, and a yoga class right in the store.  

Ok regulars, you know what to do.  Spread the store and share your enthusiasm with a relative or a friend.  This place and its owner are 5-star all the way.  Congratulations Jamie.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  Precipice, Robert Harris.  This is the same author who wrote the book, Conclave, that went on to become the popular movie of the same name.  This work of fiction has MANY threads of truth about Great Britain shortly before its entry into WWI.  Prime Minister Asquith was involved in an affair with Venetia Stanley, 30 years his junior, and includes the many letters exchanged between the two.  Were the Prime Minister's decisions for Great Britain's entry into the war compromised by this distraction?  The characters in this book were all real and I enjoyed looking them up as I read.  Recommended.

CURRENTLY READING: Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah, Charles King.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Theo of Golden, Allen Levi.  

Another view of the storefront.  

The entire front of the store is a display window, great for natural light.  

View looking into the store from the front entrance.  

Attractive display immediately to the right after entering.  

This unique and creative wall is on the right side in the front of the store.  I've seen lots of book art but this display is especially impressive.  

The perfect seasonal touch.  

Overview of the left side of the store.  

Table display of popular and recent releases.  

Some of these popular used books might already be gone by the time you see this.

Useful shopping information.  

  

The long wall of books on the left side of the store.  

The books on this creative display were practical and useful.  

Books of local and regional authors.  Wisconsin has many good authors that I've discovered and enjoy reading.  

The popular "blind date with a book" promotion found in many bookstores with very attractive wrapping.  

Very often true.  

Ok, I've been told that Beloit had a bad reputation many years ago so now these slogans can be found everywhere.  I can say that in my short time in Beloit, it was fantastic.  Everyone I met was wonderful and I enjoyed several different businesses where everyone was equally kind and courteous.  It makes me want to visit again. Way to go Beloit!

The stickers are hot and these are just a few that are offered.  

Take time to browse the staff picks.  

If you see it in a bookstore and you like it,  GET IT!  Like these bookstore candles.  

Proceeding to the back of the store.  

Assorted greeting cards can be found as you head into the back room.  

Much of the back room is devoted to the children.  This is the left side of that room.  

Available at the checkout counter.  

The right side of the children's room.  

You'll also find some adult UK editions in the back room.  

Another angle of the children's area.  

This is a really cool, somewhat hidden, reading corner for kids.  A comfy little nook in the children's area with a really impressive mural you should check out, painted by Jamie's brother.  

 

View looking from the back of the store toward the front entrance.  

I'm positive there are Taylor Swift fans in Beloit.  Send them here.  

With Jamie, the fine owner at The Rogue Bookshop.  Thanks for a great visit.