Bookbroker's & Kramer's Cafe - Traverse City, MI

Bookbroker's & Kramer's Cafe, Traverse City, MI

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Dan M., the owner of Bookbroker's, has been a regular follower of this blog and my journey for the last couple of years.  Traverse City is a great bookstore town, one of the best in the country, and I've previously visited Horizon Books and Brilliant Books here.  He's gently reminded me ever since that I missed one on my visit here.  So Bookbroker's has been on my radar all this time and Dan has patiently been waiting.  The wait is over Dan, you've made the blog!

Within the last year, Dan and Ian K., found themselves in a difficult situation in Logan's Square.  These two businesses, with two different spaces, decided to combine forces continuing as two different businesses now sharing one space at the Grand Traverse Mall.  The results have been fantastic.  They've been in this mall for six months and everything is going great.  Things are going so well, they may more than double their size by acquiring the empty space next to the store.  I love hearing news like this when I visit bookstores!

The store offers mostly used books with a few new.  The size of the store is on the small side but they have five different storage spaces to hold much of their inventory.  The sidelines here are almost all exclusively produced by local artisans.  Soaps, candles, cards, book art, and a variety of art work.  They have a large assortment of collectibles and book collectors have found their way here.  These are available online as well.  Thanks partly to the Traverse City Internation Cherry Festival, this store has become a destination for not only people around the country but people around the world.

Dan's background is in education but it really helps that part of this teaching included marketing and finance.  I'd say the store is in good shape with those talents.  Best of all, he takes community advocacy seriously by providing books free of charge for many charities.  Habitat For Humanity, local hospitals, and schools are only a FRACTION of the many organizations he provides for.  As Dan says, it's all about doing the right thing.  Well said.

Dan has been in business for about 30 years.  If you haven't met him and his bookstore yet, get with it.  A great guy in a wonderful store and you'll enjoy both when you visit.  Congrats Dan and Ian on the move.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Winter Soldier, Daniel Mason.  WWI historical fiction about a young Polish man in med school when war breaks out and he's deployed as a doctor to a field hospital on the eastern front.  He learns battlefield surgery on the horrors of war wounded soldiers and is greatly helped by a nurse nun who was running the hospital when he arrives.  Part mystery, part war story, part war romance, and more.  I thoroughly enjoyed this book.  Recommended.  

CURRENTLY READING:  Crossing To Safety, Wallace Stegner.

When you're done shopping at Bookbroker's bring your books here and have a seat just outside the store.  You're going to need it.  

View looking into the store from the front entrance.  

I didn't look through this book but if visiting Bookbroker's isn't in here, then you'll have 101 things to do in Traverse City before you die.

Check out some of the new stuff in the store near the front entrance.  

A good assortment of the fiction on the right side of the store.  Remember, they have much more inventory available than is displayed.  If you don't see something you're looking for, just ask.  

A few of the sidelines available include great smelling candles, made locally.  

Find out what the bookclubs are reading.  

There are several nice lighthouses available.  Lighthouses are a big thing in Michigan, especially near the lake.  The ones in the store are small things.  

Locally crafted jewelry.  

A partial view of the children's section.  

If you're a Hardy Boys fan, they may have the one book you're missing.  

A few of the games available.  

I thought these soaps were very cool.  Unique names and shapes.  

The children's offerings here were fantastic.  

Many signed editions and collectibles available.  

Something for everyone at Kramer's Cafe.  

Head to the back of Bookbroker's and you'll be at Kramer's Cafe.  

This is the very large space next to Bookbroker's that they're hopeful of obtaining and expanding their space.  

This is how Bookbroker's looks from outer space.  Work with me here, people.  

If you have a Spiderman fan at your house, plan a visit here.  And many more comic books besides this.  

Overview of the store looking from the back and Kramer's Cafe toward the front entrance.  

With Ian on the left and Dan on the right, the two fine owners of Bookbrokers & Kramer's Cafe.  Thanks for a great visit.