The Best Bookshops in Michigan

Independent bookshops in Michigan have survived everything the last two decades threw at them — big box retail, e-commerce, the pandemic — and the ones still standing have survived for a reason. These are the shops that have built communities around books and stayed relevant by being something Amazon cannot be.

Rare Bird Brewpub — Traverse City

The combination of a craft brewery and a working used and rare book inventory sounds like a concept pitch rather than a real place. In practice, on Lake Ave in Traverse City, it works completely. Bookshelves line the walls between the bar and tables, the books are available to buy, and the beer is good enough that people come for both. One of the most original spaces in Michigan.

Read the full Rare Bird Brewpub spotlight

Schuler Books — Grand Rapids and Okemos

One of the last large-format independent bookshops in Michigan, Schuler has managed to stay independent and relevant in markets where that is genuinely difficult. The Grand Rapids location has a cafe inside and hosts regular author events. If you miss what a great independent bookshop feels like, Schuler is the reminder.

Book Bug — Kalamazoo

A children’s bookshop in Kalamazoo that has built one of the most loyal customer communities of any independent retailer in West Michigan. The selection is excellent and the staff knowledge is the kind you only find in shops where the people who work there actually read. An institution in a city that has a strong independent retail culture.

Literati Bookstore — Ann Arbor

Opened in 2013 in downtown Ann Arbor, Literati has become one of the stronger independent bookshops in Michigan in a relatively short time. The curation is thoughtful, the author events are well-attended, and the shop has a physical presence in the city that extends beyond just selling books.