The Indie Bob Spot: Pete & Freddy’s Pages Aplenty

Pete & Freddy's Pages Aplenty, Mentone, IN

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Pete & Freddy’s Pages Aplenty is exactly the kind of bookstore and success story that needs to be heard. In Mentone, IN, a town of approximately 1000, this indie has endured and succeeded for about 15 years. There are so many towns much larger that have absolutely nothing. I haven’t been to many communities smaller than Mentone that can support a bookstore, let alone one that could sustain for 15 years. And the good news here is that the business has shown increased growth over the last several years. The reason? It starts with the owner Madelyne A. (known as Pete to her friends) the sole employee and custodian of a 50,000 book inventory, 50 books for every Mentone reader!

Originally, the name of the bookstore included Freddy, Pete’s sister. But now it’s just Pete and the store’s growth and achievement is all because of her. A large, one-level that includes a spacious side room warehouse. The store offers a combination of new and used books along with multiple sidelines. Pete has all the books on an inventory so she knows exactly what’s in the store. New to the store is the option to purchase books online, something that I hope will grow in time. Pete acquires her used books, as she told me, anywhere and everywhere. Garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores, and anywhere she travels she’s on the look out. Unlike other used book stores, very few come from customers. As I’ve learned EVERYWHERE, the stickers are selling very well but you’ll also find greeting cards, earrings, puzzles, candles, teas and much more. For this indie, sidelines definitely sell better during the holiday season.

So where do the customers come from? Not too many from Mentone but the store enjoys visits from many who live in nearby Rochester and other close towns, the surrounding Amish communities, and out-of-towners during the busy tourist season.

With Pete’s upbeat personality and years of experience, I'm not surprised by the store’s success in this small town. Her hard work over the years is paying dividends and more people need to hear her story and the story of this remarkable and lasting bookstore. Go to an indie and buy a book. Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED: Neighbors and Other Stories, Diane Oliver. The story here is not only the collection of excellent short stories but the author’s life, tragically cut short in 1966 at the age of 22 in a motorcycle accident. She had just completed her MFA at the Iowa Writer’s Workshop and was awarded her degree posthumously. To think someone of her young age wrote these stories is incredible and one can only wonder what heights she would’ve reached in a promising career. As a young Black woman, these stories are a reflection of her times in the 1950s and 60s, surviving Jim Crow and racism at every turn. These are works of fiction but are probably snippets of her life and what she observed. I thought this book was excellent.

CURRENTLY READING: Carrie, Stephen King.

RECENTLY PURCHASED: There's Always This Year, Hanif Abdurraqib.

Many visit Mentone in recognition of its renown as an egg capital. I visit in recognition of its excellent independent bookstore.

Beautiful storefront with ample display window space.

You're almost there...

Looking into the store from the front entrance.

Looking to the right from the front entrance.

Looking to the left from the front entrance. That door you see on the right in this picture leads to a very large warehouse storage room.

Attractive table display in the main room.

Display of unique books and sidelines.

You'll find a variety of sideline items here but I like this display simply for the furniture piece that is used.

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

This is the middle room as you head through the store toward the back.

This is a colorful AND comfy looking chair.

A nice section of gardening books for the spring season.

In other words, the bathroom.

Check out this beauty. If you enlarge the photo, you'll notice a floor filled with pennys. A bathroom worthy of George Costanza.

Don't miss this long narrow side room filled with books.

Wide variety of single-serving teas at the checkout counter.

I love all the unique store fixtures I see in so many bookstores. This stack of books makes the perfect lamp.

Time to buy a book.

Just below the checkout counter you can make your impulse buy of several stickers.

A multitude of unique earrings. If you see them here and you like them, get them! They'll be hard to find elsewhere.


Yes, they have unicorn poop!

View looking into the back room of the store.

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

The long main book aisle in the back room.

A wonderful living room area in the back room.

Make sure you take a look at the beautiful artwork of a local artist displayed in the back and available for purchase.

Partial overview of the back room.

What a great idea.

This is like the "blind date with a book" promotion found in many bookstores. The difference here is the beautiful wrapping paper used and a little more description.