The Cottage Book Shop - Glen Arbor, MI

The Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor, MI

 (Like The Indie Bob Spot on Facebook and follow The Indie Bob Spot on X)

I’ve been wanting to visit The Cottage Book Shop in Glen Arbor because of the many beautiful pictures I’ve seen of the rustic log cabin structure, especially the ones when it is covered in snow.  Winter weather limited my opportunities to make it here so it was now or wait six more months.  Jenny P. is the 4th owner of this iconic bookstore that just recently celebrated its 40th year in business.  And unless you’re local or a tourist, you need to hear about this indie deserving of national attention located on the Michigan Upper Peninsula on Lake Michigan and right on the door step of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.

For me, the most unique thing about this bookstore is it structure and exterior presence, a cabin or cottage.  The cottage was just that and was moved from its lakeside location to its current place in downtown Glen Arbor.  The magic begins when you enter this historic cottage with its equally beautiful interior and experience a space filled with mostly new books and a wide assortment of sidelines.  The books of local and regional interest are outstanding and if you’re a tourist in the area this is a must visit.  The sidelines range from greeting cards and stickers to puzzles and wacky bookstore socks.  They do have a few used books (go to the back room) and offer store credit in exchange for the books they accept.  If you can’t visit in-person or are a seasonal tourist who wants to support Cottage Books while you’re away, consider ordering online off their website.  And if you’re a regular local or seasonal regular, be sure to participate in the customer incentive program.  

The population of Glen Arbor is listed at approximately 282.  A normal town of this size could never support a bookstore with that figure.  But this number varies WIDELY due to the popular tourism during the summer season.  They enjoy local regulars and seasonal regulars which is the perfect recipe for a VERY successful long-running bookstore.  Tourists can enjoy a bookstore with popular releases, bestsellers, and many regional guides and books.  Locals can enjoy a bookstore that has a partnership with the local schools, offers book clubs and events, and customer incentives.  

Thinking about your next vacation?  Move Glen Arbor, MI to the top of your list and enjoy all the beauty and activities of a wonderful region AND a 5-star bookstore to go with it.  

                                                                                ACT II

SCENE 1:  Indie Bob didn’t get to meet owner Jenny when he visited the bookstore but had a great time meeting booksellers Amy and Kirstin.  Regulars will undoubtedly tell you that they are the best.  They were swamped with customers and UPS deliveries.  Tensions were high and the stress was PALPABLE (just humor me people).  Would Indie Bob get to meet Jenny? Would the UPS boxes get unpacked.? 🤷🏻‍♂️ He went to lunch.  

SCENE 2:  The UPS boxes were unpacked, the books of the month were readied for mailing (The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife), and Amy and Kirsten were happily engaged with pleasant customers.  Best of all, Indie Bob met Jenny and husband Greg, topping of his 642nd bookstore visit.

FINALE:  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  The Secret of Secrets, Dan Brown.  Two words:  thought provoking.  Katherine Solomon is a noetic scientist who is on the verge of publishing a book about the study of consciousness, including out-of-body experiences, near death experiences, and the experience of death and reality.  Bad actors from other countries are familiar with this research and will do anything to weaponize it which creates madness and chaos for Katherine, Professor Robert Langdon, and the CIA.  The scary thing about this book is that the author states at the beginning that all experiments, technologies, scientific results, and organizations in this book of fiction are factual.  Disturbing.  I love Dan Brown though and highly recommend this book.    

CURRENTLY READING:  The Frozen River, Ariel Lawhon.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Sleeping Bear Dunes Day, Sue Boucher.  

One of the most attractive, unique, and memorable bookstore exteriors I've seen throughout my many visits.  Beautiful.  

The weather in the fall is so impressive in this region and the bookstore takes advantage with touches like these.  

Looking to the left from the front entrance.  Notice the ceiling timbers.  

Looking to the right from the front entrance.  

Spinner of postcards to catch the eye of the tourists just inside the door.  

Along the front wall of the cottage.  

Just a few of the books of local history inside the front entrance.  

Check out the bookshelves crafted out of a canoe.  The bookstore totally maintains the theme of this incredible region.  

Halloween-themed children's books inside the front entrance.  

Relevant books for the region.  

Overview of the front room.  

The perfect place to try out a book.  

The store offers a plethora of maps, guides, and park information.  

View looking into the remainder of the store from the smaller front room.  

There are many Manitou Music Festival posters available for purchase.  

Display of recent releases.  

Excellent display of staff recommendations.  

Overview of the larger main room.  

  Overview of the children's room.  

Table display in the middle of the main room.  

You can find some of the sassiest socks in bookstores.  

The store has a wide variety of sidelines.  

Assortment of buttons.  Find one to fit your personality.  

A few of the unique stickers.  

When in the area, always checkout the bookstore events.  

So much to choose from.  

Great assortment of puzzles in the back room.  

Overview looking from the back toward the front entrance.  

Kids will love this place AND grandparents who vacation here can find lots of gift ideas.  

I always love being at a bookstore when UPS comes in with the new books.  This was the first of SEVERAL carts that came in on the day of my visit.  

You never know some of the cute little oddities you'll see in an independent bookstore.  

The front porch is the perfect place in nice weather to plop down and enjoy a book.  

With Jenny, the fine owner at The Cottage Book Shop.  Thanks for a great visit.