Wiseblood Booksellers, etc - Kansas City, MO

Wise Blood Booksellers etc, Kansas City, MO

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Ok readers, let's test your TV show trivia knowledge.  Quick, name the spin-off to the TV show "All In The Family?"  How about "The Andy Griffin Show?"  "The Mary Tyler Moore Show?"  Easy, right?  (answers at end)  Now, can you name the spin-off for Mills Record Company in Kansas City?  If you said Wiseblood Booksellers etc you can take a bow and probably congratulate yourself on being a regular customer.  Co-owners Judy M. and Dylan P. were (and still are) involved with both stores that are separate businesses.  They saw a need in this vibrant Westport neighborhood for an independent bookstore and decided to fill the void.  As far as I can tell, it was an excellent decision in an area that is thick with lots of retail that was only missing one thing.  A bookstore.  And now that decision is looking even better as a high rise apartment complex is being built nearby.

I've never seen an ugly baby and I've never seen an ugly new bookstore.  This baby is just two months old and the interior is absolutely beautiful.  I can tell a lot of time and planning went into it.  The lighting, logo design, painting, shelves, genre signs are all outstanding and since my pictures won't do it justice you'll have to visit and see for yourself.  The store offers new and used books and everything is shelved together.  For the customers who bring books in they'll receive store credit or cash.  In its short existence, they've already held well-attended author events and offer a couple of book clubs.  They also display locally created art work and will rotate this exhibit featuring different artists.  This is so indie and I love it!  In addition to the books, Wiseblood offers some unique sidelines like jigsaw puzzles, journals, "out-of-print" book t-shirts, and mugs and totes to name a few.

You would think with its great location that the lease might be a challenge, but I'm happy to say that it's reasonable.  And in the store's short two months, I'm also happy to report that Dylan told me, so far so good.

The future looks bright and their decisions have been spot-on.  Heck, one of their best decisions was their soft opening on Black Friday, launching just in time for the holiday season.  Nicely done Judy and Dylan.

If you're in the Westport neighborhood, consider this your notice.  Stop in to Wiseblood Booksellers, get comfy on one of the couches, and sample a few books in its warm atmosphere.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.  

(TRIVIA ANSWERS: "The Jeffersons" was one of many spin-offs of "All In The Family."  "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." was a spin-off of "The Andy Griffin Show."  "Rhoda" was the first of several "Mary Tyler Moore" spin-offs.) 

JUST FINISHED:  A Bookshop In Berlin, Françoise Frenkel.  

CURRENTLY READING:  The Lager Queen Of Minnesota, J. Ryan Stradal.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  The Monk Of Mocha, Dan Eggers.  Diary Of A Madman And Other Stories, Nikolai Gogol.

An attractive front window display.  

View looking into the store from the front entrance.  

This is a double display.  This view is the display facing into the store but you can also see it as a display through the front window.  

This store and others offer the "out-of-print" book t-shirts.  Here at Wiseblood you can find "out-of-print" stocking caps.  Ideal for booksellers in the midwest and the east.  

Table display of assorted sidelines.  

Jigsaw puzzles sell well at many indies.  

A great place to sit near the front entrance and sample a few books.  

A few of the books available of local and regional interest.  

A few of the new used books.  

I love these bookends.  

A nice sitting space for your group.  

Not many bookstores have a comment box but they they do here at Wiseblood.  I like this idea.  

Pair a book with a vinyl record album.  

Get that book and album and score a tote.  A great incentive!  

Wonderful display of new and used books.  

Find an "out-of-print" t-shirt to go with the "out-of-print" stocking cap.  

A portion of the children's items available.  

A long wall of books displayed with attractive signage and shelving.  

Follow the leader and sample a book.  

Always consider this.  

Great assortment of journals and notebooks.  

An impressive logo offset by symmetrical lamp lighting.  

The store plans to feature artwork by local artists on a rotating basis.  

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

Get a Mills Record t-shirt, the origins of Wiseblood.  

With Dylan on the right, the fine co-owner at Wiseblood Booksellers, etc.  Thanks for a great visit.