Pete & Freddy’s Pages Aplenty - Mentone, IN

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. 

Here's an example.  It included three books and is suitable for middle grade/YA readers. 

With Pete, also known as Madelyne, the fine owner at Pete & Freddy's Pages Aplenty.  Thanks for a great visit. 

The Press - Valparaiso, IN

The Press, Valparaiso, IN

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You’ve probably heard the expression, “don’t put the cart ahead of the horse,” or a variation of that.  Well, that’s how they rolled when owner Dia and husband John decided to open a bookstore in Valparaiso.  Dia knew that she didn’t want to open a bookstore without a coffee shop.  Enter son Ben M., a student at Valparaiso University.  While there, he became interested in roasting coffee beans and did so in his dorm room with an old popcorn popper.  This endeavor became so popular that it outgrew the dorm room.  Fast forward to today and Dia had the coffee shop part easily solved by Ben, his friends, and his expertise.  In this case, the cart before the horse worked perfectly.  Judging by the crowd on this weekday morning, the coffee, the bookstore, and the coffee shop are very popular.  Well done, Dia.

The Press is now one-year old but before opening they had to do major interior renovations that took about four months.  Their work paid off and the results are a beautiful and comfy space.  Located in the heart of downtown Valpo, the foot traffic is excellent and it helps that the store is surrounded by many restaurants and successful businesses.  In addition to a strong core of regulars (if you’re a regular, make sure you ask about the loyalty program), they also see many customers from the Valpo University community, some who are here because of Ben’s coffee enterprise while he was a student there.  

The store offers all new books and an excellent variety of sidelines.  Of course, the stickers are hot but they also offer a good line of store merch, greeting cards, puzzles, and adult coloring books to name just a few.  If you can’t visit the store in person you always have the option of purchasing online.  In their short year of operation they already have multiple book clubs, host a story time, and hold events.  My favorite event that they hold every Thursday-Saturday is a wine tasting time.  A popular local winery provides the wine and you can sip and browse.  As Dia said, this is great for people who might have a 30-minute wait for their table at a nearby restaurant.  

Again, readers, these bookstore visits cannot be duplicated with an online click and submit.  When you visit The Press and meet Dia along with bookseller Amber I can guarantee an experience that will have you coming back to visit over and over.  Coffee, books, wine, and best of all terrific people.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.  

JUST FINISHED:  Under The Henfluence, Tove Danovich.  The author’s heartwarming story of leaving Brooklyn for Oregon and the beginning of her adventure of raising backyard chickens.  Chickens have received a bum rap over the centuries and Tove sets the record straight about chickens, the myths, the facts, and the disturbing conditions with corporate chicken facilities.  For chicken enthusiasts, a must-read.  For the rest of us, informative and inspirational.  I enjoyed it.    

CURRENTLY READING:  Neighbors and Other Stories, Diane Oliver.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Parable Of The Talents, Octavia E. Butler.  Hell's Princess, Harold Schechter.   

 

My prediction is that when the weather turns nice this outdoor seat area will be packed. 

Storefront with maximum window space for lots of natural light on the inside. 

 

Looking straight through the store from the front entrance. 

 

Unique table display of books and some sidelines inside the front entrance and in the cafe seating area. 

 

Alongside the right wall just after entering. 

 

Customer-friendly display with adult coloring books and books with stickers to name a few. 

 

A wall of books just inside the entrance.  It's not a swimming pool but I would dive right in anyway!

 

We've all done this. 

Overview of the cafe seating area in the front of the store. 

 

Display of popular releases. 

 

Head to this counter to order your coffee drink. 

 

The bad news is that you've missed the April events.  The good news is that there will be more in May. 

 

Show-off your beverages in these uber cool merch containers made by a local artist.

 

If you know someone who likes stickers, here is a book of stickers you use to create your own art. 

 

The store recognizes and partners with the local library.  Nice. 

 

I love the store merch. 

 

Taylor Swift items have been popular.  I think this would be popular at any bookstore. 

 

More than just coffee at this bookstore cafe.  Yes please. 

 

A portion of the bookshelves on the rear left wall. 

 

Should I just get cases of this book and hand out as needed??

 

A few of the greeting cards available. 

 

An overview of the children's area. 

 

I can confirm that they have bathrooms AND are creatively labeled. 

 

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

 

A few of the books of local and regional interest. 

The perfect comfy seat for you, your book, and your coffee. 

...or stretch out here if you dare. 

I've always felt the silent book club is a great event for those indies who are able to offer it. 

This is a cool artistic representation of Ben and his friends in his dorm room, the birthplace of the coffee business that is enjoyed by many at The Press. 

With Dia, the fine co-owner at The Press.  Thanks for a great visit.