Twinflower Books - Center City, MN

Twinflower Books, Center City, MN

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Readers, have you been waiting for just the right inspiration to open your very own bookstore?  I think I can share with you a VERY easy way to do this and all it requires for you to pull it off is a closet.  That's right.  If you have a closet, you can begin your bookstore journey like owners Dan and Mary at Twinflower Books in Center City, MN.  This was their humble beginning in 2021 as a pop-up business and they stored their inventory in a closet-sized space.  This pop-up inventory is still available to customers today in addition to the brick and mortar store that has been open for 5 months.  As a pop-up, Twinflower Books can be found at farmer's markets, the Karl Oskar festival, vendor shows, and other various outdoor locations and events in this Chisago Lakes area.  The brick and mortar store is still working to attract customers and half the battle is just getting the word out that the area has an independent bookstore.  If you're reading this, now you know!

After a career in industrial painting, Dan decided he wanted to write and own a bookstore and Mary joined him in the journey to his dream.  Twinflower Books is named after a Swedish flower, an acknowledgement of the area's immigrants and culture.  You'll find many new books in the store that are Swedish related in addition to recent releases and popular bestsellers.  The store does an especially good job of promoting, supporting, and offering books by Minnesota authors.  In fact, if you're a Minnesota author with a book you want to publish, Twinflower Books offers a publishing service.  They have an excellent open store space that provides plenty of room for their events.  As for sidelines, many items offered have been created by local artists.  Greeting cards and earth watches are certainly unique to this store.  Unusally curious to me are the micro puzzles of 150 pieces that are packaged in test tube shaped containers.

Summers should be big for this store with lots of tourists.  But, to you readers in Center City, Lindstrom, and Chisago, pay these wonderful people a visit in this new bookstore.  You'll enjoy a great bookstore and have a terrific time talking books with Dan and Mary.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Whalebone Theater, Joanna Quinn.  New release, historical fiction that takes place from the early 1920s to after the end of WWII.  The story follows the lives of three children who grow up together at Chilcomb Manor on the coast of England.  Their childhood is spent engaging their imaginations and having little contact with absent parents.  But as WWII begins, main character and headstrong Cristabel and cousin Digsby forge their own paths and work for the British underground in the war effort.  I enjoyed this one and recommend it. 

CURRENTLY READING:  Virgil Wander, Leif Enger. 

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Let Flowers Be Flowers, Daniel Rehm.  The Emmigrants, Vilhelm Moberg. 

 

Remember readers, don't judge a book by its cover.  Inside this unassuming storefront are many wonderful books that will take you on your next adventure. 

Looking into the bookstore from the front entrance. 

As the subtitle suggests, fika is the art of the Swedish coffee break.  A relevant book for this region's heritage. 

Kids can sit at this table and create their own bookmarks with stickers, glitter, and markers.  A great bookstore activity and idea. 

Directly to the left from the entrance is a portion of the children's area. 

How do we get through Minnesota winters if we don't have books?  Jigsaw puzzles of course!

An antique oven is one of the most unique book displays I've seen. 

Book display for kids and adults and also some sidelines. 

Use your imagination to realize this beautiful view from the bookstore and visualize a clear scenic lake, with soft breezes on a summer day. 

I'm not sure I've seen these.  Micro puzzles, 150 piece puzzles packaged in a large test tube.

The greeting cards here are fantastic, one-of-a-kind created by local artists. 

Another interesting sideline representative of this area, an earth watch. 

A very common icon of Swedish culture. 

Shelf displays of recent releases. 

Dan and Mary are strong advocates for local authors.  This display shows some of those books. 

Wait?  Didn't Dan Brown write The Da Vinci Code?  Yes, he did.  He also wrote The Da Fishi Code.  But this is a different Dan Brown.  Clever, very clever. 

I'm fascinated by what little I've read about this author and his historical fiction based on real life so I bought one of his books. 

Overview of the store looking from the back toward the front entrance.  This is an excellent space that is used for events. 

With Mary on the left and Dan in the middle, the two fine owners at Twinflower Books.  Thanks for a great visit.