I had a gift card to use so I stopped in to Barnes & Noble right when they opened recently. I…read morehadn't been in to a B&N in years so I had forgotten how large the store is. I wandered around a bit at first, just taking in all the displays. They do a great job at merchandising and the displays were mostly holiday/gift related. They have SO many things at this store - books, obviously, but also gifts, puzzles, LEGO sets, calendars, cards, decor, toys, music, and more. It was fun but also overwhelming. I asked at the desk about the cookbook area, and the employee was so kind and helpful and even was going to take me upstairs to the main cookbook section. The cookbook section is huge, with different categories grouped together for different cuisines and dietary needs. I found a few I wanted to browse, but then quickly realized there are only like 3 chairs in the whole upstairs section. They really don't want you to sit and read books here, which I get. I ended up buying a cookbook that I'd already checked out from the library so I knew what I was getting into. The employee who rang up my purchase was polite and kind. I always prefer to support local, independent bookstores whenever I can, but sometimes it's nice to see a broader selection of items at a store like B&N.

Around my home town, all the big box Barnes and Noble stores have closed or shifted to the smaller…read moreinventory "cafe" models. Seeing this large, two-story, mall-anchored palace was awesome! I didn't realize how much I missed B&N until I saw this place. This location still carries hundreds of Funko Pops, rack and racks of board games, and so many toys & collectibles, you could spend hours in here before getting to the books. Speaking of books, with all the space, many of the titles I was looking for were in stock. I ended up buying some gifts for my wife and though I live about 3-hours away, if I am ever back in the area (for a hockey tournament), I will definitely stop in. As far as service, the cashier was kind, but there weren't a lot of noticeable associates to answer questions (not that I had any). Regarding value, it's hard to not compare prices with Amazon when you're shopping for books and unfortunately, with Amazon's discounts and delivery, many of the books here are a shade higher in price. That said, I love the tactile shopping experience, so I will continue to buy B&N and support brick-and-mortar.

[Out of Towner Review]…read more If a bookstore felt like a HUG, this would be it! I loved visiting this special independent bookstore in Grand Rapids. I love when you walk in you are greeted with the 100 Banned Books to peruse through. I love a business that highlights banned books, as all booksellers should be doing this year. Although I felt like the selection was limited, I wasn't upset with this store. It just took me a little longer to find a book to purchase. I loved all the knickknacks (stickers, bags, etc) they had to shop from. The kind bookseller was helpful when I asked for help. She was completely open to offering suggestions, but I felt capable of finding something else. She was extremely kind and engaging with the few patrons that were in the store. Since I this was my first time here, I was taking it all in. The kid section was really cute and the layout is easy to shop. I enjoyed the staff picks and layouts of the different sections. They are on the smaller side, so I wouldn't expect to show up and find every single top book on the market. But there are PLENTY that I found enjoyable and enough to purchase two books! Small town charm, but make it books!

This is a cute little bookstore with good vibes. Located on Cherry street in a lil shopping…read moredistrict, there is street parking but I'm not sure if there are any nearby parking lots. This bookstore has lots of new releases, lgbtq books, books about social justice issues, as well as a young readers section. They have three different book clubs that they host- new best sellers, sapphic book clubs, and birding book club! So cool!

So fun if your either a literary historian or just your everyday book nerd such as myself, you…read morecould almost miss this little beauty if you walk or drive by too quickly, but make sure you turn around because you'll have at least an hours worth of enjoyment ahead of you. They have quite the sprawling fiction and classics sections, comics, sci-fi, children's books and loads of classically written just about everything you can think about.

Very cool used book/comic store. The person working the front was so nice and helpful. The used…read morebooks are extremely well priced. Loved the comics/memorabilia section. Really appreciated the banned/challenged book shelf at the front. Just a great local book store.

Incredible selection and kind staff! Loved the wide selection of preowned books they have. Would…read moreabsolutely come back here.

Great selection! We arrived right at opening time and were greeted as the lights were coming on…read more.. first pick of the day! :) The space is similar to used book stores - lots going on, books tucked everywhere... it was perfect! The display in the front was of banned books, so we were thrilled to find a few to add to our collection! After asking about the Spanish options we were guided down the stairs and WOW - a whole other land of options existed... so many books to look through, we could have spent the whole day! Great used book store, friendly people, and good prices!

I love independent bookstores! Cellar Bird Books is now open on Bridge Street in the former Mitten…read moreState shop. I think it's a really great addition to the area, and a nice place to pop in if you're waiting for a table at a nearby restaurant or walking in this area. The vibe inside is a bit moody and dark but I like the big window in front. It was decorated with origami cranes when I was there. The selection of books I saw was varied and I think they stock something for everyone. The owner Lea was very kind and chatted with me a bit about her background. I always love learning about business owners so that was really nice. I particularly liked the non-book items like puzzles, tote bags, locally made pins, cards, handmade mugs, and more. I'll definitely be visiting again in the future for gifts for myself and others!

We were passing through on our road trip and stopped in between our brewery visits, so in awe of…read morethis cute, local, independent bookstore! Staff was friendly to share about the store and area!

I absolutely love wandering in Vault of Midnight and coming in for little gifts for my friends!…read moreIt's a bit overwhelming to try and find something if you're not a big comic book or graphic novel enthusiast but even as someone who appreciates it, you can ask the staff at any point and they will be more than happy to provide recommendations or point you in the right direction. I've never gone wrong with purchasing a gift here and I definitely will come back. They even have a punch card for loyalty which is amazing. Parking is a little tough since it's right on Monroe Center and street parking but I haven't had a big issue. I'm a huge fan overall and encourage people to stop in if they haven't!

Vault of Midnight has been one of my go-to stores for years now! I grew up a comic book and graphic…read morenovel fan so to have a nice store right in the middle of downtown is great! They have comics, graphic novels, manga, board games, blind boxes, and some ttrpgs and trading cards. The staff are always incredibly helpful and kind and will definitely help give you a recommendation based on what you like. I love the area in the front with self-published and local zines. It really is a small gesture but shows an effort to uplift and platform the local community and creatives. This location is definitely smaller than the other I visited, but there's still so much to find! There are several other stores along the street as well as the Art Museum, so it's a great place to stop by on a day out!

Cute little themed spot, great books and local artisan goods! Friendly staff. Worth the stop!read more

Great indie bookstore that specializes in romantic literature and has tons of little locally made…read morethings from artists/artisans in the area: bookmarks, magnets, stickers, signs, etc

Long , long , LONGtime fan and patron of not only this wonderful comic shop, but also the wonderful…read morepeople who run it. Top marks and could not recommend any shop any more !

Tardy's Collectors Corner is on a cramped part of Eastern Avenue, and a little tricky to get to,…read morebut well worth the journey if you like comics and collectibles. They have selections of trading card games, comics old and new, and toys and memorabilia for nerdy franchises going back decades. Stepping inside feels like searching for buried treasure at times, but when you find it, it's well worth the hunt--and you've probably found multiple interesting items along the way.