One of my favorite past times is going to a bookstore with no expectations, browsing all the racks, and falling in love with a new book. To be very honest, I go to a bookstore at least once a week and come home with a few new reads. We all have our vices and mine is reading.
I am so bookstore shopping obsessed that I have a fantasy about meeting my future husband in one. It would be like in the movies where both of us are browsing through the books on opposite sides of the same bookshelf. We then both grab a book that just so happens to be in the very same spot just on different sides and we lock eyes through the now vacant area. We laugh and smile. Somehow we get to talking about books and the rest is history.
Ahh wouldn't that be nice.
Anyways, as I was saying, I go to bookstores a lot and because of this I have my favorite ones. Some of the stores are well known and some are just whole in the walls, but I love each of them the same.
So I thought I would share my favorite places to shop for books so you too can perhaps have a bookstore romance, or just find a few good reads!
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Photo credit: Zenith Bookstore Facebook page |
Located at: 318 N Central Ave, Duluth, MN 55807
Zenith Bookstore is locally owned and is right in the heart of West Duluth. They offer a huge selection of gently used and new books as well as cards, journals, and bookish gifts. The inside of the store gives off such a cozy vibe with comfortable chairs to sit in. Before COVID-19, the bookstore held many author and community events, which they plan to resume once things are safe to do so.
Chester Creek Books & Antiques
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Photo credit: Chester Creek Books & Antiques Facebook page |
Located at: 1333 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55805
Chester Creak Books & Antiques is housed in a gorgeous old church and has over 20,000 used and rare books. As soon as you walk in you will feel transported to booktopia because of the endless bookshelves. The maze like layout will definitely get you lost once or twice, but trust me you won't mind. I recommend going when you at least have an hour because you won't ever want to leave!
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Photo credit: Black Letter Books Facebook page |
Located at: 102 Main St. S, Stillwater, MN 55082
Black Letter Books carries a wide selection of literature, poetry, classic children's books, fiction, history, and non-fiction. Their collection has fine bindings and first editions which means their prices vary from $1 to several thousands of dollars. The store is located in the historic downtown Stillwater area, which makes for the best environment to shop in.
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Photo credit: Gabriel's Bookstore Facebook page |
Located at: 4915 E Superior St, Duluth, MN 55804
Gabriel's Used Bookstore is run by a volunteer organization and specializes in old and used books, CDs, DVDs, and vinyl records. The store is in the Lakeside/Lester Park neighborhood of Duluth and is right next to the lake walk.
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Photo credit: Lake County Booksellers Facebook page |
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Photo credit: hpb.com |
Located at: 2982 White Bear Ave N, Maplewood, MN 55019
Half Price Books is my number one go to bookstore whenever I am in the mood to shop. I love their huge selection of genres and the employees are always super kind and willing to help. I go to the Maplewood location the most, but I do recommend really any location in Minnesota!
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Photo credit: Scout & Morgan Facebook page |
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Photo credit: Cherry Street Books Facebook page |
Located at: 503 Broadway St, Alexandria, MN 56038
Cherry Street Books has an amazing range of books from fiction to non-fiction and everything in-between. They also have different book related gifts to make your shopping trip a great time!
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Photo credit: Next Chapter Booksellers Facebook page |
Located at: 38 Snelling Ave S, St. Paul, MN 55105
Once known as Common Good Books, Next Chapter Booksellers is the largest independent bookstore in Saint Paul, MN. This lovely store is most known for giving great book recommendations, putting on upbeat author events, and having a large range of new and bestselling titles.
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Photo credit: The Irreverent Bookworm Facebook page |
Located at: 5163 Bloomington Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55417
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