Prairie Pages Bookstore - Sun Prairie, WI

Prairie Pages Bookstore, Sun Prairie, WI

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If you know anyone who might be planning a move to Sun Prairie, WI, boy do I have the perfect place for them.  Prairie Pages is located in a beautiful, modern, multi-use building on the edge of downtown Sun Prairie.  You can get a great place to live in a luxury apartment above a bookstore.  And a coffee shop.  And an ice cream parlor.  A living location like this would be a dream for many people.  Best of all, you can enjoy a beautiful and attractive bookstore below your apartment and easily become a daily visitor with easy access like this.

And if you’re a daily visitor, you should absolutely take advantage of the store loyalty program that many regulars are already in.  I wish all indies would offer a program like this.  This is just one of the several successful features of Prairie Pages, only in its 8 months of existence.  Its perfect location is also a benefit for the many customers who also visit the town’s weekly farmer’s market.  This one-level store is very neatly organized with an inventory offering all new books and many unique sidelines.  Typical sidelines include stickers, greeting cards, and store merch.  I thought the art work offered here by local artists was especially strong including everything from canvas paintings, candles, and wall-hangings to pottery, journals, and bookmarks to name just a few.  In the store’s brief existence, they already have hosted author events and story time for kids.  They also have a store book club.  When you visit here, take time to enjoy the remarkable wall mural running the length of the store on the right side.  Outstanding.  But if you can’t visit in person, don’t forget you can always order a book from Prairie Pages online.  

I’ve learned on this journey of bookstore visits that people come to their ownership from a wide-range of occupations besides bookstores.  I’m not sure I’ve been to a bookstore where the husband/wife owners were an NFL player and an occupational therapist.  But that’s the case here with James and Erin D. (I didn’t get to meet James and Erin but I know they’re super people since they’re graduates from the University of Iowa).  Even though I didn’t get to meet either on this day, I thoroughly enjoyed meeting MacKenzie, the very knowledgeable and kind bookseller on duty.  Booksellers like MacKenzie are one of the reasons to enjoy a bookstore experience like the one you’ll have at Prairie Pages.  Congratulations to you all.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir. 

JUST FINISHED:  Miss Muriel and Other Stories, Ann Petry.  One of the best African-American female authors of the early to mid-20th century.  Collection of short stories that are a reflection of her life and times in a racist country.  Recommended.  If you want to read something other than short stories by this author, get a copy of The Street, my favorite book of hers. Highly recommended.  

CURRENTLY READING:  Up In The Old Hotel, Joseph Mitchell.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau, Kristin Harmel.  

What a dream this would be living above a bookstore...

... and a coffee shop..

...and an ice cream parlor.  

 

 

Amen Prairie Pages.  

View looking into the bookstore from the front entrance.  At the back of this space you can see a doorway that enters a hallway and runs behind the coffee shop, ice cream parlor, and the bookstore.  Perfect for exploring all these businesses without going outside.  

View looking to the right from the front entrance.  Check out that mural on the wall, a remarkable work by the artist who created this.  

Just inside the entrance, a table display of various sidelines and books. 

This is an example of the unique works of art you'll find in the store.  If you see something here and you like it, GET IT!  You rarely find it elsewhere.  

Attractive table display, front and center.  

All of the artwork available for purchase has been created by talented local artists.  

Probably my favorite place in the store, located near the front of the store.  

 

Uniquely crafted pottery and bookmarks.  

Interesting.  

Head over to the right side of the store and let the browsing begin.  

One of the many bookshelf aisles.  

If I'm not in the front of the store, I just might be stretched out here.  

Variety of bookstore socks.  

Incredible wall hanging created by a local artist.  

You'll only find Prairie Pages merch at Prairie Pages.  

This is the display of books offered as the "blind date with a book" promotion.  I can't believe how far this idea has evolved.  The wrapping and packaging just gets better and better.  Great job MacKenzie.  

The detail and neatness of this blind date book is excellent.  

Another super example of attractive blind date book wrapping.  When I first started seeing these promotions, books were wrapped in plain brown paper.  Now I see everything.  Booksellers are a creative breed.  

Freedom to read banned books.  

Beautiful aquarium leading into the children's area.  

Overview of the children's area in the back of the store.  

Some great places to share a book with a little reader.  

Brilliant work of art in the children's area.  

Table display for children readers.  

Overview of the store looking from the back toward the front entrance.  What an attractive space.  

Just a few of the greeting cards available.  

Bookstore candles created locally.  

I'm so impressed by people who can create works of art out of old books.  Beautiful.  

Did you know that Prairie Pages has a book club?  You should join them and meet other like-minded spirits and enjoy books like this one.  

With MacKenzie, one of the fine booksellers you'll meet at Prairie Pages Bookstore.  Thanks for a great visit.  

Chester Creek Books - Duluth, MN

Chester Creek Books, Duluth, MN

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Used book stores are a completely different animal from new books bookstores.  Within that species of used book stores you’ll find a wide range of different models which for me makes them all enjoyable to visit.  But Chester Creek Books is a COMPLETELY different animal altogether, in a very appealing way.  This place is more like a museum that offers not only used books, but countless antiques, oddities, and art work making it a destination for anyone with various interests.  Even the historical building itself, originally a church built in 1948, is a fascinating structure to see.  The bookstore has been a solid presence in Duluth for over 20 years and current owner Tina W. has been here for about a year.  Its new signage helps to give it a visible presence located on the edge of downtown and on the very busy Superior St. through town.  Surprisingly, Tina shared with me that even though the business has been around 20+ years, she estimated that 7 out of 10 local visitors on weekends didn’t know about this bookstore.  Good gawd Duluth come on!  What do you say Tina?  “Chester Creek Bookstore, tell your friends!”

Plan to visit here when you can take your time and not be hurried.  You’ll be able to browse 40,000 - 100,000 books depending on which estimate you believe and you’ll see something different on every visit.  All genres are represented but the nature and animal books are especially good.  Enjoy exploring the many nooks and aisles throughout the sanctuary, similar to a maze.  Go to the church basement which is much larger than I thought and visit a room filled with children’s vintage books among other things.  Book collectors should definitely plan to visit here but if they can’t, you’ll find many of the collectible editions available online.  Tina acquires her inventory from estate collections and the local library book sales but also receives books from customers who donate theirs to the store.  Or they can receive store credit or cash in return for the books they bring in.  Sometimes customers bring books in and simply leave them in the entryway.  Looking for something vintage besides books?  Visit The Rainbow Room upstairs in the choir loft and you’ll find clothes and jewelry that many of us discarded long ago but are now in demand.  

I continue to encourage all readers to visit any indie and enjoy a terrific bookstore experience.  This is that place!  Book lovers and antique hunters will love discovering this fascinating store and when they do, it won’t be their last visit.  Congratulations Tina.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  My Ántonia, Willa Cather.  Prominent American female author in the mid-20th Century who writes fiction based on her experiences growing up in a pioneer family in Nebraska during the last 1800s.  The story follows Jim Burden and Antonia Shimerda as children arriving in the Nebraska countryside and follows their adventures through life.  Excellent depiction of hard pioneer life in the late 19th century.  Recommended.   

CURRENTLY READING:  Miss Muriel and Other Stories, Ann Petry.  

 

 

This is the store entrance located behind the building.  There is also a small parking lot here.  

I just love this bookstore building, an old church built in 1948.  Beautiful.  Go behind the church to find the store entrance.  

Just inside the store entrance, consider supporting a community program with a purchase from this cart.  

I love this view looking into the store and what was once the sanctuary of a house of worship.  

New arrivals can be found throughout the store.  

Entering into the store and looking around to the left and up toward the altar.  

Example of some of the antiques available, these can be found on the altar.  

The sanctuary of the church/store is fun to explore with aisles like this, much like a maze.  

Cross view of the store just below the altar.  

Some of the children's books offered near the altar.  Many more can be found throughout the store, especially in the basement.  

The store has lots of vintage piano sheet music.  

Overview of the store looking from the altar toward the back and the choir loft upstairs, The Rainbow Room.  

If you know any Henry Clay fans or scholars, send them here.  

Guarding one of the bookshelves.  

Several of the book nooks feature comfortable seating.  You might find me here if I were close enough to be a regular.  

Harry Potter fans are covered.  

Another comfy place to sample a book.  

Something of interest for Alexander Hamilton fans.  

Many collectors will be interested in these drawers, found near the original church entrance.  

This would be your view if you were entering the front door of the church.  

Yes, there's more than the main floor.  

Looking into the basement after going down the steps and turning to the left.  

Enter the basement and turning right, an entire hallway of books to browse.  

If you know a beginning golfer, here are some clubs.  

A very cool and regional representation bookshelf in the basement.  

 

This room in the basement is packed with collectibles, mostly children related.  

Display of collectibles in the basement children's room.  

Yes, you'll need this.  

Looking at the entryway at the top of the stairs into The Rainbow Room.  

Some of the vintage jewelry offered in The Rainbow Room.  

Overview of The Rainbow Room, formerly the choir loft located upstairs.  

Looking down upon the bookstore that's now occupying the church sanctuary.  

If you're a regular, you should sign up for this.  

With Tina, the fine owner at Chester Creek Books.  Thanks for a great visit.