Bobzbay Books - Bloomington, IL

 

Bobzbay Books, Bloomingrton, IL

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Bobzbay Books is going on 17 years of successful business with an excellent location in downtown Bloomington, IL.  Liz A. is the second owner of the business but has been with it since its beginnings as a DVD, music, and comic bookstore.  She transitioned the store when she took ownership some 10 years ago and now the store offers a full line of new and used  books neatly arranged in a long, one-level space.  Although the used books aren’t on a data base, Liz has a pretty good idea what she has on the shelves.  You can find the used books shelved right beside the new ones throughout the store.  Customers who bring books in for trade can receive store credit in return.  The store’s longevity has resulted in a strong core of regulars as well as customer traffic from the local colleges, Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan.  Bottom line?  I was happy to hear from Liz that things are going well.  

In addition to an excellent inventory of books, Bobzbay offers a nice assortment of sidelines.  Greeting cards, puzzles, bookstore candles, and so much more.  But as with so many other indies, when I asked Liz what was hot, without hesitation she said the stickers.  They also offer an open mic night for poetry, a nice event to bring people into the store.

During the course of my bookstore journey, I’ve been to many that have a theme for their store.  I’ve been to indies where the theme is penguins, cats, mythical creatures, whales, birds, and just about anything else you can imagine.  But the unique theme at Bobzbay Books is one I don’t remember seeing anywhere else, robots.  All sizes, shapes, and colors displayed everywhere.  Anyone with small children might enjoy coming here and thinking of it as a robot museum.  Hats off to the original owner. 

Owner Liz along with booksellers Carrie and Sydney were fantastic to meet and talk to about the store and books.  But I don’t need to tell you regulars something you already know.  If you’re new to the area, be sure to visit downtown Bloomington and the terrific bookstore you can discover there.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir. 

JUST FINISHED:  Every Valley: The Desperate Lives and Troubled Times That Made Handel's Messiah, Charles King.  This book is more of a look at the politics and culture in Europe from 1650-1750.  Much of this book has nothing to do with Handel and The Messiah.  Skip ahead to pages 180-190 or so and you can read more about Handel and The Messiah.  I think music majors who studied much of this will be disappointed.  

Family of Spies, Christine Kuehn.  The author discovers a family history hidden for decades about her grandfather's family living in 1930s Germany, devoted to the Nazis, and suddenly forced to flea.  They end up in Hawaii and accumulate massive wealth as spies for Japan before Pearl Harbor.  Remarkable, unbelievable, and gripping, narrative non-fiction at its best.  Highly recommended.  

CURRENTLY READING:  Operation Napoleon, Arnaldur Indridason.

RECENTLY PURCHASED;  Code Dependent, Madhumita Murgia.

 

Beautiful storefront in the heart of downtown Bloomington.  

 Sidewalk boards are a super way to inform your customers and bring attention to the store location.  

Bring in your used books during the trade-in hours and receive store credit in return.  

View looking into the store from the front entrance.  The store is divided into three distinct and open rooms.  

 

A great community service and excellent tool to fact check others who are uninformed.  

Something to help you at the next protest rally.  

Help assemble the puzzle in the front of the store and immediately to the left.  

Looking directly to the left from the front entrance you'll see a nice assortment of greeting cards.  

Head down the right side of the store and browse this wall of books.  

Display of recently arrived books just inside the front door.  

Display of some of the new releases.  Be sure to check out the unique caps shown on top of the display, perfect for any booklover.  

Near the checkout counter you'll find an assortment of stickers, all of which have been very popular.  

You've heard of the "blind date with a book" promotions.  This is the same thing with a different name, "surprise books", offered at a great price.  A fun way to buy a book.  

Relevant books in the center of the front main room.  

Now this is what I call a budget buster!  They'll also on occasion set up tables with free books outside the store.  Way to go Bobzbay!

Bring your child to this display case and see every robot imaginable.  

So many bookstores place large print books on bottom shelves making them difficult for senior citizens to access.  These are on a top shelf but easily reachable.  

Just inside the middle room you'll find the staff picks.  

Various sidelines including a few of the bookstore candles offered.  

I would encourage all regulars to inquire about this.  

This large portrait is behind the checkout counter but nobody seems to know who it is.  If you can help, you may be entitled to a reward from the store.  

Looking into the middle room of the store.  

A great place to browse in the middle room.  

More "surprise books" in the middle room.  

Be sure to ask about the 2026 Book Bingo.  

More robots!

View looking into the children's area and third room of the store.  

Overview of the children's area.  

View looking from the children's area straight through to the front entrance.  

Overview of the middle room looking toward the front of the store.  

Thank you Bobzbay mascot for a great visit.  

The Empire Bookshop - Kewanee, IL

The Empire Bookshop, Kewanee, IL

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What came first, the chicken or the egg?  The same can be said for adjacent bookstores and coffee shops since it is such a natural partnership.  This is the question in Kewanee, did the bookstore come first or the coffee shop?  These two spaces are beautiful twins, but Coco’s coffee shop came first, a few years ago during the pandemic.  In the meantime, co-owner Nicole C. had been interested in opening a bookstore so she and her husband finally took the plunge and opened The Empire Bookshop, almost three months ago, the equally attractive twin of Coco’s.  Nicole’s hope was for the bookstore to complement the coffee shop in an arrangement that would allow customers to enjoy both businesses.  Mission accomplished!  Both businesses have their own exterior entrances but are easily accessible from the inside.  And despite the 1897 origin of the building, the interiors of both spaces look very modern.  Well done Nicole and John.

The Empire Bookshop offers new and used books in a gorgeous setting that has an abundance of natural light with their expansive floor to ceiling windows, enhancing the store’s beauty.  You’ll find all new books and some used books that are shelved separately in the back of the store.  Customers can donate their books or receive store credit for what they bring in.  You always have the option of ordering online through bookshop.org if you can’t visit in person.  I really like that Nicole has the used books on a data base so she knows exactly what’s in the store.  I thought the sidelines were numerous and varied including book page holders, unique mugs and socks, candles, stickers, and reading glasses to name a few.  I thought the sidelines offered for children were outstanding and Nicole confirmed that they are selling very well. 

Nicole and John have done a good job of retaining the building’s history as well as giving the space a makeover.  This history includes the store’s name, The Empire Bookshop, named after The Empire Tap Room that was in the space decades ago.  

If you’re in the Kewanee region, it’s time you discover this new bookstore just across the street from Good's Furniture.  Buy a book and then go next door to Coco’s for a coffee and a pastry.  Or vice-versa.  Either way, it’s a win-win.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  Nobody's Girl, Virginia Roberts Giuffre.  The deeply disturbing and ultimately heart-breaking memoir of the author's experience under the control of Jeffrey Epstein.  This document should be exhibit A for any trial persecuting the rich and powerful who abused 100s of Epstein's victims.  A difficult read but reinforces the truth and pursuit for justice.  This should be required reading for every politician even though some of them don't or can't read.  Highly recommended.  

CURRENTLY READING:  In God We Trust; All Others Pay Cash, Jean Shepherd.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Summer Island, Kristin Hannah.  

 

One of the fun things in Kewanee is that they have murals on many of the downtown buildings.  This one is on the side of bookstore.  

Right next to the bookstore is this very nice coffee shop.  You can enter here on the outside or you can enter from inside the bookstore.  

One of the large display windows.  

View looking into the bookstore from the front entrance.  Notice the entrance halfway back on the left between the bookshelves to enter the coffee shop.  

Attractive display just inside the front door.  

Here you go, grandparents.  Find a gift here for one of the grandkids.  

This unique display is for the "blind date with a book" promotion in the front of the store.  

I've noticed recently that indies who offer the "blind date with a book" promotion have really upped their game with creative wrapping and descriptions like this one.  Excellent work!

A display with holiday ideas.  

Go to the left side of the store and begin your browsing here.  

Display of new arrivals on the left wall.  

The natural lighting in this store is outstanding, enhancing the beauty and comfort of this nice seating area.  

As if the natural lighting isn't enough, you can't miss this gorgeous lighting fixture in the center of the store.  Also notice the historic ceiling pattern.  

A few of the greeting cards offered.  

A few of the stickers available.  

If you know someone who isn't a reader, get them a pair of unique socks.  Often, you'll only see these at independent bookstores.  

The sidelines for kids are excellent.  This is halfway back and on the right.  

Of course they have bookstore themed candles.  

The is ready for your holiday shopping experience with a variety of fine gift ideas.  

All aboard.  

I always enjoy seeing the staff picks.  

Overview of the children's area.  

Two perfect chairs to sample a book.  

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

After you buy your books, enter through here and begin your coffee break.  

From inside the bookstore looking to the left and the exterior entrance of Coco's Coffee Shop.  

Beautiful counter and pastry case inside the coffee shop.  

With Nicole, the fine co-owner at The Empire Bookshop.  Thanks for a great visit.