Favorite Wisconsin Bookstores!

Does anyone have a favorite Wisconsin bookstore (or any store where you like the book selection) they want to share?

Aside from my local B&N (where I spend an insane amount of time), I have a fondness for two stores on Washington Island (off of Door Co.). Books Up the Road is great for independently published books on Island history and carries a number of works by local authors. They are celebrating 25 years in business, which is pretty good for an independent shop. Island Time Books is newer and has an amazing variety of works in a variety of subject areas - something that is tough for smaller spaces.

I think my favorite is Bibliomaniacs Bookshop in Delavan (used bookshop - http://www.abebooks.com/home/BIBLIOMANIACSWI/) Beautiful old storefront, distinctive character, selection of books that suits my particular tastes, rare book room, resident cats... It's wonderful! Whenever we are over at our family cabin, we stop in.

Madison still has an amazing collection/assortment of bookshops... However, my favorites have all shut down in recent years.

In Madison, my favorite was Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative on W. Gilman St. between University and State. (I lived right across the street from it, so convenient.) A Room of One's Own has a nice coffeeshop inside. UBS (University Book Store) was also good in a pinch.

I'm living in Eau Claire now; anyone have any recommendations?

Conkey's bookstore in Appleton is tops. Not only did they once hire me, but for an independant, it's really large and has an insane collection and the staff is fairly knowledgable...

Here in Milwaukee we're lucky to have a small chain of independent booksellers-- Harry W. Schwartz. Browsing their fiction collection is great-- they clearly think long and hard about which books to carry on the shelf.

The best part is that they went online recently (schwartzbooks.com), and while the site isn't all that pretty-- I can search for a book, buy it online, and then pick it up at the nearest store. So nice when I'm in a hurry. Its like buying online without the guilt of the large online bookstores.

And for used, no one in the state can beat the selection of Downtown Books. You'd better be prepared to do some digging-- but I've turned up some impressive finds on several occasions.

Madison used to have far more good bookstores. The Rainbow Co-Op is nice if you're into the social sciences... A Room of One's Own has a great collection as well. The used bookshops are all but gone. Paul's Books remains near campus on State Street-- though I'm sure its not because they make tons of cash. I was there recently after having been living in Milwaukee for quite some time, and the store was EXACTLY the same as I remembered.

I was disappointed (though not surprised) that the Schwartz branch here in Racine went belly-up. I was hoping they'd carry something different than the usual fare, but instead they geared their stock to go head-to-head with the wildly popular B&N. And lost. The location was a bad idea, too.

There have been a couple updates on the used book scene here. The local Martha Merrill moved into a better location at the corner of Main and 6th St. They were still moving in when I stopped by, but they had some good finds at good prices. I found another place, but I haven't been able to stop in yet.

Joe, where is Downtown Books? I'll stop in when next I'm in MKE.

I go to the Frugal Muse (in Madison) every chance I get. Even though we have the 2nd largest B&N in the nation here (and it is wonderful to relax over there), the Frugal Muse has a great selection of both new and used books. And great prices too!

When Up North I always make a point to spend some time in Chequamegon Books, a used bookstore in Washburn. The owners used to own Avol's in Madison, which is still a pretty decent used bookstore.

Which Frugal Muse in Madsion? Monroe St?

The Half Price Books at East Towne in Madison is very good. My favorite 'new' bookstore in Madison is the Borders on University Avenue.

I also like the Frugal Muse(Mineral Point Rd.) in Madison. I can usually find something I want when I'm in there. Even if I can't, there is a Barnes & Noble right around the corner.

i looooove a room of one's own!

I vote for the Frugal Muse -- WestTowne or Northgate in Madison. I've been buying from them for at least 10-12 years. They are the best for a frugal teaching librarian like me!

ExVivre, since you live in/near Racine, do you mean that you "don't like" RK News? How could that be possible? For years, they were the only bookstore(s) in Racine/Kenosha!!!

There is a B&N near Regency Mall on Green Bay Rd.

and Kenosha is hoping for a Borders ... at least the people I know in Kenosha are hoping for a Borders... preferably in the Target store location, since they are moving up Hwy 50 (westwardly)

I could put Kenosha/Racine in my profile, being from the former and living in the latter, but I never expected anyone else on here to be from either. :D

RK News? As in the Hallmark card store? Best Buy sells books, too, but I wouldn't call them a bookstore... ;) And they were never the only bookstore in these step-sister cities - Regency Mall has always had one or two bookstores, and many small stores have opened (and closed) in both cites.

I seem to recall it was the combined threat of a B&N and Starbucks that closed Pat Moran's Little Professor bookstore (formerly next to Target), and so far only the Starbucks has materialized. I don't know how realistic it is to hope for a Borders there. The Target building is far too large, so they'd have to rebuild, and there are no other sites available at that corner. It's more likely some discount warehouse store chain will move in and sink the corner.

I've got family in Kenosha & the only place I could get books in K'town was the RK in Pershing Plaza... Long before there was any development on Green Bay Road.

Yes, the LP Store by Target was nice... but not enough. I'm not really enamored of LP stores, but that was a better one.

In the NW Detroit suburbs, Borders took over a former ToysRUs store & it does a really good job. We can always hope for Kenosha. That location would be a good fit.

I started going to Kenosha when my family moved there in 1980. When the drive to Regency was down a two lane blacktop!!... past the fields of cabbages!!

Hey! I've BEEN to Mulwaukee (just last September), and was blown away by The Renaissance Bookstore on No. Plankinton. I wrote a review of it in the Favorite Bookstores group, if you care to go there and read it.

If you wouldn't mind adding some of yours there as well, that'd be spedoinkle!

Hello! I live in "Beautiful, Grand Door County", and in Sturgeon Bay there is this quaint little place called 'Bookworld', Where I go to get any book fix I need. It's got just about anything I really want. Other than that, Target or my local, friendly library!

Well, I've just been informed that when I visit Wisconsin at the end of the month, I will be going to Renaissance Books in Milwaukee.

Apparently, a friend of the family will be going with us (taking us?) and is very excited at the prospect of showing the store to me.

She told my family that the bookstore is very disorganized and expensive (but she loves it!!). I will let those of you who have been there, confirm or deny that information.... and offer suggestions.

I'm also going to try to get to the "International Import and Export Company" **cough*cough** near Wells & Water Streets afterwards. I just hope that I have some money left to enjoy it.

I was in Renaissance books once... don't think I'll go back. That place is a maze of run-down, falling-apart rooms filled floor-to-ceiling with books. Certain rooms smell so bad, looking through the piles isn't really worth it.

But then again, I guess that's part of the "character." I just remember walking through a room FULL of rotting newspapers and magazines and my sinuses had to get out of there-- the dust was so thick it was hard to breathe!

I much prefer Downtown Books to Renaissance Books-- but then, even Downtown books has some smelly rooms. I just feel like its more organized and less garbage.

well, I'm heading to Wisconsin just before Easter, & there's a trip to Renaissance planned... maybe I can do a Downtown side trip??

well, I'm again heading to Wisconsin this weekend... didn't make it to Renaissance Books last time, but I've planned it for this trip!! & hopefully, I will get there!!!

ETA: I just got back... WOAH, that place is major dangerous.. too too too many good books. You may have to search for them, but they are there... (spent too much $$, too!)

I would have to say that Half Price Books and the Goodwill clearance rack are my favorite places to buy books. I used to shop for books at Waldens in the Fox River Mall and Conkeys but they shut down. Barnes and Noble is too expensive. I guess I like used books better because they are cheaper and they are already worn in.

I once spent an entire afternoon in Conkey's, and bought an armful of books for a quarter the original cost. My last visit there was summer of 2008.

My favorite location in Green Bay is The Attic Books and Coffee. It's a good location for coffee, tea, and used books.

FYI: Lakeshore books in Kenosha is closing.

Noooo! They tended to be over-priced for the market, but I always found some good stuff there.

#25: She also had an online presence, but I don't know if she will be continuing that.

Up here in Wausau there is a Barnes and Nobel but there are also a couple of small bookstores too. For instance, there is Janke Bookstore on 3rd St. which has always been a staple. Just a block north from that is Et Al's, my personal favorite. It's small but cozy with a great selection for it's size.

I moved to Madison three years and one of the first things I did was scout out book stores. Paul's is right on State St. and almost next door is Browzers. A few blocks down and just off State is Avol's. I spend a lot of time in all three of these stores. They're a significant contributing factor to my status as a poor college student.

WaldenBooks is closing down. Books at 50% off. Got 25 myself today. There's one in Bay Park Mall in Green Bay.

There is also a closeout bookstore in Racine in Regency Mall that is closing. All books are $1. There were some pretty good finds in there the other day. I think the last day is the 23rd of January.

I visited the Border's closing in the Fox River Mall. Great deals.

Bumping this to check on updates to stores open & closed.

I'm now an official cheesehead.

Welcome to the club! :)

BORDERS on Madison's far east side was the best!

Yes it was NOT a tiny independent, but a struggling tiny chain, but it had
the most wonderful, QUIET, and pleasant front window cafe, with a friendly and caring staff
and fine coffees and food.

(>> a real contrast with the nearby over-bright and noisy East Towne Barnes and Noble which drove it out of business -
and very different from the often cranky staffs at locally owned bookstores...)

It offered comfortable chairs, easy to manage and up-to-date shelves and aisles, a welcoming entry with featured books,
many splendid seasonal sales and coupon offerings, and the VERY best Annual Reception - complete with
fruits and vegetables and other healthy treats - for Teachers. That alone made teachers VERY loyal customers.