25 Detroit area bookstores to support on Independent Bookstore Day and beyond


You know when Netflix brazenly asks you “are you still watching?” while binging the award-winning Jason Bateman drama Ozark? Well, show Netflix who's boss by turning off your respective streaming device and give your blue light-damaged retinas a massage by peeping this list and locating one or more Detroit area bookstores to throw money at and, in turn, score some new books intended for reading and not elegant White Claw coasters. While these small, mighty, and resilient independent bookstores are worth supporting and celebrating 365, there is a special day on which to really show them some love. Every year, on the last Saturday in April, national Independent Bookstore Day rolls around and is an ideal opportunity to give back to these shops that keep our brains fed and hearts curious. Not all of these shops, some of which are specialty spots, may be open for in-person shopping, but take a dive into their websites and Facebook pages for ways to special order titles or arrange for curbside pickup. Twitter is temporary, books are forever.

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Book Beat
26010 Greenfield, Oak Park; 248-968-1190; thebookbeat.com
This Oak Park shop, which is owned and operated by Destroy All Monsters' Cary Loren,  has become a must-visit spot for local authors as they frequently host appearances, signings, and events. Book Beat offers a wide selection of new and used books for all curiosities. 
Photo via Book Beat/Facebook

Book Beat

26010 Greenfield, Oak Park; 248-968-1190; thebookbeat.com
This Oak Park shop, which is owned and operated by Destroy All Monsters' Cary Loren, has become a must-visit spot for local authors as they frequently host appearances, signings, and events. Book Beat offers a wide selection of new and used books for all curiosities.

Photo via Book Beat/Facebook
Book Suey
10345 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck; 313-398-2017; https://www.booksuey.com
Hamtramck’s cooperatively owned and managed bookstore quickly became a community necessity. Book Suey offers books that are able to bring people together through contemplation, conversation, and a sense of community. They have limited hours and frequent events, so check with them before heading over.
Photo via Book Suey/Facebook

Book Suey

10345 Joseph Campau, Hamtramck; 313-398-2017; https://www.booksuey.com
Hamtramck’s cooperatively owned and managed bookstore quickly became a community necessity. Book Suey offers books that are able to bring people together through contemplation, conversation, and a sense of community. They have limited hours and frequent events, so check with them before heading over.

Photo via Book Suey/Facebook
Bookbound
1729 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-369-4345; bookboundbookstore.com
Touted as “Ann Arbor's independent community bookstore,” Bookbound offers a thoughtfully curated and eclectic collection that may or may not have been selected by Shop Dog, Bookbound's faithful bark, er, book lover and yes, that is the pupper's name. 
Photo via Bookbound/Facebook

Bookbound

1729 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor; 734-369-4345; bookboundbookstore.com
Touted as “Ann Arbor's independent community bookstore,” Bookbound offers a thoughtfully curated and eclectic collection that may or may not have been selected by Shop Dog, Bookbound's faithful bark, er, book lover and yes, that is the pupper's name.

Photo via Bookbound/Facebook
Books Connection
31208 Five Mile Rd., Livonia; 734-524-1163; thebooksconnection.com
Books Connection has been serving Livonia for more than 30 years, with some help from their popular dog employee, Darby. The store’s selection spans mystery, romance, science fiction, self-help, comics, and history. 
Photo via Books Connection/Facebook

Books Connection

31208 Five Mile Rd., Livonia; 734-524-1163; thebooksconnection.com
Books Connection has been serving Livonia for more than 30 years, with some help from their popular dog employee, Darby. The store’s selection spans mystery, romance, science fiction, self-help, comics, and history.

Photo via Books Connection/Facebook
Browns Family Books
27309 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-773-7370; facebook.com/brownsfamilybookstore
Located in a strip mall in St. Clair Shores, Brown's is the sort of place you'd pass right by unless someone told you it was worth a stop which is what we're doing right now.  Step inside the shop and you'll find stacks on stacks of books packed nice and tight for your browsing pleasure. With helpful store owners and that great "old book smell," Brown's Family Bookstore is well-stocked with both old and new books for every bookworm.
Photo via Browns Family Books/Facebook

Browns Family Books

27309 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores; 586-773-7370; facebook.com/brownsfamilybookstore
Located in a strip mall in St. Clair Shores, Brown's is the sort of place you'd pass right by unless someone told you it was worth a stop which is what we're doing right now. Step inside the shop and you'll find stacks on stacks of books packed nice and tight for your browsing pleasure. With helpful store owners and that great "old book smell," Brown's Family Bookstore is well-stocked with both old and new books for every bookworm.

Photo via Browns Family Books/Facebook
Curious Book Shop
307 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing; 517-332-0112 curiousbooks.com
Speaking of curiosity, East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop offers a varied wall-to-wall collection that spans new paperbacks to rare antiquarian titles. Though there’s a bit of everything for every bibliophile, they specialize in vintage science fiction, fantasy, Michigan history, and sports, as well as vintage comics and magazines. They also have a thoughtful children’s corner for the little reader in your life. 
Photo via Curious Book Shop/Facebook

Curious Book Shop

307 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing; 517-332-0112 curiousbooks.com
Speaking of curiosity, East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop offers a varied wall-to-wall collection that spans new paperbacks to rare antiquarian titles. Though there’s a bit of everything for every bibliophile, they specialize in vintage science fiction, fantasy, Michigan history, and sports, as well as vintage comics and magazines. They also have a thoughtful children’s corner for the little reader in your life.

Photo via Curious Book Shop/Facebook
Dawn Treader Bookstore 
514 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-995-1008; dantreaderbooks.com
Started from the basement in 1970 now Dawn Treader bookstore is here. And by here, we mean a beloved Ann Arbor-area used rare, collectible, and contemporary books and various ephemera with more than 70,000 titles. 
Photo via  Dawn Treader Bookshop/Facebook

Dawn Treader Bookstore

514 E. Liberty St., Ann Arbor; 734-995-1008; dantreaderbooks.com
Started from the basement in 1970 now Dawn Treader bookstore is here. And by here, we mean a beloved Ann Arbor-area used rare, collectible, and contemporary books and various ephemera with more than 70,000 titles.

Photo via Dawn Treader Bookshop/Facebook
Detroit Book City
24361 Greenfield Rd., Ste. 305, Southfield; 248-993-3844; detroitbookcity.com 
Specializing in new and gently used books that explore the African American experience, Detroit Book City offers a wide selection of locally authored titles, plus rare and out of print books by Black writers. They also offer other media, like CDs and DVDs, as well as African body oils, soaps, and games.br>
Photo via Detroit Book City/Facebook

Detroit Book City

24361 Greenfield Rd., Ste. 305, Southfield; 248-993-3844; detroitbookcity.com
Specializing in new and gently used books that explore the African American experience, Detroit Book City offers a wide selection of locally authored titles, plus rare and out of print books by Black writers. They also offer other media, like CDs and DVDs, as well as African body oils, soaps, and games.br>
Photo via Detroit Book City/Facebook
John K. King Rare & Used  Books
901 W Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-961-0622; johnkingbooksdetroit.com
Billed as Michigan's largest used and rare bookstore — and one of the largest in the world — John King is a book collector’s wildest dream with more than 1,000,000 books in stock, including, like, an entire warehouse of rare, signed, and first editions. 
Photo via John K. King’s Rare and Used Books/Facebook

John K. King Rare & Used Books

901 W Lafayette Blvd., Detroit; 313-961-0622; johnkingbooksdetroit.com
Billed as Michigan's largest used and rare bookstore — and one of the largest in the world — John King is a book collector’s wildest dream with more than 1,000,000 books in stock, including, like, an entire warehouse of rare, signed, and first editions.

Photo via John K. King’s Rare and Used Books/Facebook
John K. King Books North
22524 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-548-9050; johnkkingsbooksdetroit.com
That's right, John K. King Books has a baby brother in Ferndale. The book giant's satellite location offers used books in just about every category with new stock arriving every day. Need to make some cash or swap your literary stash? They buy books for cash or store credit which can also be used at the big store in Detroit. 
Photo via John King Books North/Facebook

John K. King Books North

22524 Woodward Ave., Ferndale; 248-548-9050; johnkkingsbooksdetroit.com
That's right, John K. King Books has a baby brother in Ferndale. The book giant's satellite location offers used books in just about every category with new stock arriving every day. Need to make some cash or swap your literary stash? They buy books for cash or store credit which can also be used at the big store in Detroit.

Photo via John King Books North/Facebook