Located near the famous Mookies in the Greenfield and 10 and a half strip mall. Inside is a crowded and frankly wrecked-looking bookstore. Rather than a good filing system, books are more or less grouped. Prices are much too high, both for new and for older used books. The selection also tends far left and revolutionary, which fits as they were playing some loud zephyr music for my visit. The staff was also unfriendly, more interested in their conversation than customers. I strongly advise going to either King Books Detroit, or King North, instead. Unless you have a taste for far left books and spending a long time hunting for books than interest you. read more

Book Beat - Bookstores Near Me - Oak Park, Michigan

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Pretty meh in terms of what I consider quality reading... Staff seems to go through the motions as if they'd rather be librarians as opposed to anyone I'd pay for thrift shop quality... -- Dave read more

I discovered this magical place after I was homeless for nine months and my mother died. Not only do they have more books per square foot than any other bookstore in North America, they also have the best staff They greet you as if you've gone into a fancy restaurant by saying hi my name is Bob and I'll be your book seller today. Even Even though you can get every book cheaper on eBay with free shipping, I still like to spend my money there Once again, I have to make sure everybody knows that the people that work there are knowledgeable, friendly, funny, and helpful. 92.5% of brick and mortar boosters have failed since the Internet, but book beat keeps on going and it is because of their staff read more

They don't make stores like this anymore. I really hope they can afford to stay open because this place is a gem. It is independently owned and they love what they do. IT's apparent in how they condcut the business. They have a huge selection of unique books you won't find elswehere. Honestly, it's just fun to browse. read more

there's something horribly amiss about this place, too many book crammed together, like putting too many rats in a cage, it turns into a hitchcock film with anthony perkins. lately it resembles a poorly run dollar tree store, with aisles cluttered with unopened boxes of yet more books needing shelving. sometimes a very strange man with food wanders in. it used to be a nice place where you could bring your kids & let them wander around. it's trump's fault, the whole country is going down the toilet, and then it overflows, and it's like a bookstore in haiti/hades/hell run by the illuminati couple carey & candy. read more

This is a well-stocked and super cute, cozy bookstore located in a Kroger strip mall on the our skirts of Detroit. I was really impressed with their book selection. There were so many different categories. The folks that work there were friendly and helpful. Stop by and support this great local business :) read more

Book Beat - Bookstores Near Me - Oak Park, Michigan

I remember getting my first Harry Potter book here. It was the only store without lines or waiting lists. Fast forward 20 years and it's one of the last book stores standing. It has a charm to it that's hard to describe. Slightly overfilled with books falling off of every shelf, it brings a smile every time I walk in. read more

The service here is very poor. I found a book I wanted to purchase for my husband and took it to the counter. Both myself and the clerk assumed the book was the price on the back of the book. The owner swooped in and said that can't be the price, it should be much more. He angrily made me show him where on the shelf it was located and said it wasn't supposed to be there. He said it was out of print and between 150-300 dollars. All this I understand but he was very mean about it, wasn't apologetic, and didn't offer to help me some thing else. I won't be shopping there again. I'll go to Flyleaf in Grosse Pointe that doesn't even need my money. read more

One of the independent book stores still standing. Support these guys or we won't have any bookstores left.

This review is long overdue! I've been coming to Book Beat for Years!! Book Beat is a local Independent book store with a lot a lot to offer. From books to small trinkets, like buttons, postcards, greeting cards, puzzles, and more! Before Covid, I loved when authors came to do book signings. I attended a book signing for one of my favorite authors, Beverly Jenkins. Book Beat partnered with a local library to host a book signing and conversation with YA author Sharon Draper a few years back. Even if an author hasn't hosted a book signing at Book Bear, I've been able to get my hands on a signed copy of their book. If I am in need of a book, if they don't have it, Book Beat has offered to order it for me. This year, I was able to get a few gifts from Book Beat that I believe those receiving will love. Sometimes it is easy to order online or go to a bigger store. Still, I love the personal touch of going into a local store and having employees provide outstanding and personalized service that I might not get online or at a big retail giant. I can't explain the feeling, but I feel so much joy being inside a bookstore, especially one that celebrates and embraces Detroit authors and creatives and celebrates people who look like me, Nina, bell, Michelle, Toni, Maya, Aretha. Thank you, Book Beat! I am and will continue to support Book Beat. read more

Very knowledgeable and kind and quaint store. Great children's selection. A great place to browse for interesting books. read more

If you are a Book lover like myself Be prepared to spend Alot of time here! There are books everywhere and some unique and hard to find items A Great selection of Art books too! I think i have died and gone to Heaven! read more

A beautiful place. Cozy, treasured haven for book lovers. Service is unmatched. Extensive children's offerings. Highly recommend.

This is an A1 book store. Lots of art literature children books. People are knowledgeable and helpful.

I would classify this as a medium-sized combination of new/used bookstore. This is your place if you're looking for a friendly independent bookstore that provides quality customer service. For me, the best part of the store was the vast selection of children's books. They had many more new books than I was expecting and are more of an independent books store that also sells some used books. In each of their many categories, it appeared that new and used books were combined on the shelves, which looks nice for variety and selection but makes identifying the used books difficult. Most of the used book selection was devoted to many art books. I found a few vintage, antiquarian and collectible titles randomly arranged throughout the store. read more

I love this book store, They sell Post cards, They have a nice little atmosphere when u walk in the place. Many little artifacts to look at, I will definitely be back !!!! read more

BEST BOOK STORE in the Detroit metro area!!! Not your Barnes and noble, it is an actual book store that has a lovely children's section, unique reads, and people who know what they are doing. A wonderful place to pick up a great gift, and spend hours and hours wandering through the shelves. Support your small book sellers, they may not be amazon prices but they actually have service and you can wander which is the fun part of being in a book store. read more

I had such high hopes for this place. I was a bit disappointed when I left, especially since I left empty handed. I've been meaning to come here for a while, and finally had the opportunity to yesterday. Don't get me wrong, this isn't the worst place, but it's in a bit of disarray. I had a hard time finding stuff and even though it's a great small independent store, I was hoping for more. They did have a great Detroit section, but I didn't find anything that I was interested in at the moment. Staff is super nice, and there is a big selection. If I'm on this side of town, I would probably stop in again, but I wouldn't drive exceptionally out of my way. read more

I went here after finding it on Yelp. This place seems out of place in these days of monolithic Borders and B&N in strip malls. The Book Beat is like a mythical local book seller that seems like it would exist in downtown Ann Arbor in the 80s or early 90s. The days of the local, independent bookseller may be gone, but Book Beat hearkens back to those days of legend. Book Beat isn't a Big Box Bookstore. It's books are organized by topic but not in any real discernible way. You just kind of have to look around until you find the subject you're looking for. The aisles are narrow and the books are overflowing from the shelves. It's a tight squeeze in some places, but it's not claustrophobia-inducing. There are a lot of books in this place and there is a good selection. Some areas or genres get more attention than others, but they've got just about everything. If you're looking for childrens' books, there is a large section with a lot of great books. In addition, I saw a lot on art, music, classics, young adult and fantasy books. I was surprised that such a nice bookstore is so close to me. If you're a locavore looking to buy local and keep your money in the community, this is definitely a good alternative to the big guys. read more

Always a treasure trove. Staff is helpful and it's easy to spend hours looking through all their books.

I'm not sure if it's the desolate, suburban wasteland Book Beat is set in, the awesome, overwhelming, overflowing collection of strange and exquisite literature contained here or a combination of both that makes walking into this place so transcendent. Two steps in the door and I'm transported. It was like arriving in town the last time I went to New Orleans. My whole body just relaxes. I half expect to encounter some crazy old witch offering me Turkish delight, a Chesire cat or some other such literary fantasy. It's easy to lose hours here since this place makes it seem that it's the hours not spent here that are wasted. I wish I had a basement like this. When I die lay me down in one of these narrow aisles and cover my body with books. I'll come back as a character in one of them. read more

The Bookbeat is a gem of a bookstore. You never know how many books you will leave with when you visit.I can't believe some people have not discovered this book store yet. This is the best book store in Michigan. Colleen and Cary put their all in their love for books and the people they serve. read more

I cant say enough how important a landmark this is. Workers helpful. A bit cramped but its a smaller spot. Been going here long time. I try to support this spot whenever possible. To be honest though, I don't read as much as I used to. So I would love to support this place more. Also - don't forget to come to this place for gifts not just books because there's some great things to give for gifts, if not just giving a book as a gift. read more

Wow! What a great little find filled with lots of amazing & different books! I collect birds on Birds and found so many. I bought "Subirdia", can't wait to read! But saw lots more, I'll have to come back for! read more

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Colleen has such a extensive eclectic collection of books at Book Beat. This independent bookstore has such great service and will order anything for you. I ordered a book from them one time and because it was only a paper back when I looked at it I knew it wasn't what I could use. They had no problems about not having me purchase the book, but just added it to their collection. Colleen can pull children's books on any subject, and on any grade level. She has such an amazing knowledge of children's books. Adult books are great there too! I Purchased a book for my granddaughter who is transitioning into a male. It was written by teenagers and very appropriate for her and as she/he goes about this change. Colleen found that book for me. You will get lost in this book store literally and figuratively. Well worth a visit! Give yourself lots of time to browse. read more

My favorite book store in the metro Detroit area, hands down! Friendly environment and always interesting finds. Amazing selection of off-kilter children's books as well as a huge art section and a cool art mag/ small publisher section. Lots of rarities to be found if you have the time to dig! I admit, the place could be a bit more organized, but if you're not put off by a little clutter you can certainly enjoy yourself for hours. Sometimes this place feels more like home than my actual house! read more

I walked into this bookstore and immediately fell in love. First of all, I'm a "wannabe reader." Meaning, I buy books that I want to read, I start them and then after my ADD kicks in and a squirrel darts by, I forget all about reading and just giggle maniacally until the stares of on-lookers causes me to stop and question myself. Book Beat has that awesome feel that you didn't know you wanted from a bookstore; the smell of incense, calming music in the background, artsy people quietly shuffling from aisle to aisle and quirky gifts and must-haves on every shelf. I could've spent hours there. I left with a huge book of 140 Mad-Libs and a small, yet thick, book of lists. The staff was pleasant and not in your face, the prices reasonable and the selection was really great. I plan on going directly here when I need to find a cool gift for a friend. read more

My boyfriend took me here on my birthday as a treat. It's walking distance from his house and he knew I would love their eclectic postcard collection. I was not disappointed in the least! I recommend you check out the rack to the right of the register, as well as the section towards the center of the store where they keep the postcard books. They have postcards of everything from Diego Rivera portraits & Frida Kahlo art, to Detroit architecture and Man Ray photos. I perused the books a little bit and it seems like they have a pretty vast variety. I know their prices are higher than, say, Amazon, but their selection is top-notch and buying stuff from BB supports awesome local business! This place is literally jam-packed with books. You sometimes have to turn sideways through certain aisles because the shelves are so close together. The one thing I don't like is the nasty, condescending way the older woman running the store that day talked to her employees. I was standing at the rack, perusing the cards, and the stuff she said to them was really rude. At least keep that stuff to the back room instead of loudly chewing them out and calling them stupid right in front of customers...it made me uncomfortable. I'm definitely going to stop back again soon. read more

As I live in San Francisco, and haven't yet been to the Detroit area, I have yet to visit the Book Beat in person. That said, their online service is excellent. I was looking for a T-shirt that I randomly saw online. After sending the word out to some friends that I was looking for said shirt, one of them sent me a link to the BB. I promptly placed my order, wondering if it was a good idea. Never fear, not only was their response prompt and personal, but the shirt arrived sooner than they had estimated. Browsing their online shop, they have quite a bit of stuff I came across a bunch of stuff I haven't seen anywhere else. In any case, I know that if I am looking for some books online, I will definitely throw some more business their way when possible. read more

A book lover's dream and definition of "hidden gem" if there ever was one. The children's section is amazing and they had two books I was searching for everywhere. I was especially impressed by the range of the children's collection, with many unusual, international, feminist, and the list of qualifiers could go on and on books. Be warned that it is a crowded space, with books crammed into every available inch. Not stroller accessible. However, the staff was charming and super helpful. I will be back every time I'm in the area. read more

My new favorite book store! I went in to do some holiday shopping and may have bought more books for myself than others. There is a great selection of books and the staff is friendly and knowledgeable. They will even order books for you if they don't have them in stock. I will definitely be a frequent shopper. read more

If your idea of a bookstore is a chain like Barnes and Noble or Borders, you owe it to yourself to see how great a real, independent bookstore can be. And if you have any interest in art or children's books- well, you will not find a better selection of these two genres anywhere on the planet. A visit to Book Beat is an adventure. You never know exactly what you'll come across, either in books, or artworks, or just interesting little geegaws that can be found at the counter and scattered around the store. Owners Cary and Coleen and their staff are all interesting and educated people who will take their time to help you find whatever it is you may be looking for. Visit once, and you'll be back again and again. read more

As much as I'd like to give Book Beat a good review, I can't because if I did, that would make me a liar. Keeping this review short.....My main problem with Book Beat is that the used AND new books are very overpriced. Only buy here if you don't mind wasting money here and there. Their selection is diverse and that's a huge plus, BUT it's not worth it when I can find the same book on Amazon for $10-$20 cheaper (especially the art books). I would love to support Book Beat because 1) they're an independent store and 2) the staff is friendly. But damn, some of those prices just ridiculous! I've been in the store 3 times, but I just can't bring myself back. Again, I've never even bought anything from there...I just can't get with it. Sorry, Book Beat. read more

Great Bookstore. A really great place to browse for unique books, and very cool gifts. The staff is very helpful too. They often host guest authors to speak about their books. They always seem to have the book I am looking for. I prefer buying from a local bookstore than online, and really enjoy walking into Book Beat and looking around. It's hard to beat the experience of walking into a great bookstore like this, and seeing and touching actual books, and have the ability to buy them on the spot, and walk out with them. If you haven't been to Book Beat yet, go and check it out! -Aaron read more

Lovely place I wish this place existed in VA!!! I love that they had a wide selection of children's books and a good selection of African American literature too read more

Book Beat - Loved their collection of African art and sculptures. Wish I could've taken more. - Bookstores Near Me - Oak Park, Michigan

Some used but mostly new books, decent prices, insane art collection. Somebody pointed me here when I first got to town, hunting down what southeast Michigan had to offer in terms of used books. Well, when i arrived, i discovered it's not a used book store. There are SOME used books, but it's mostly new books. That said, everyone else's review has hit the highlights. Some of their collections are SUPER strong, esp. their art/art history section. You can find exhibition catalogues, single artist retrospectives, glossy coffee table books organized by period, style, artist, and criticism. Art books are always pretty pricey, but the ones here are reasonable... still pricey, but reasonably pricey. Very small aisles. Some great oddities and first editions in the display cases around the register. read more

Oh, man. The Book Beat is one of the weirdest finds in the area, but a weird-good find. I can't believe it's still in business after all these years and the rise of the big book giants, but it's still placidly sitting at the corner of Lincoln and Greenfield, waiting for your business should you choose to meander in. I find that this is a place that's best for wandering. It can be a little challenging if you come to the Book Beat with a specific title in mind - though if you ask one of the staff, they probably have it. It's amusing to watch one of the workers clamber over a couple piles of books, thrust a hand into another pile, and pull out the book you wanted. There probably is an organizational system to this place, but I've never figured it out. But the Book Beat is better for poking through the stacks and piles and seeing what you can find. Whenever I've allotted myself the privilege of doing so, I've been pleasantly surprised. It's a very nice way to spend an afternoon or two. Overall, I would definitely say that it's a must-see if you're in the area. When I've had friends visiting from out of town, I generally try to take them here if they're the bookish type. The only reason why it doesn't have five stars is the weird pricing system that a couple other reviewers have mentioned - a lot of the books don't have prices, and even some that do have prices will often ring up differently at the register. All things considered, though, it's a minor gripe and you really should go visit if you're into books at all. It's worth the extra couple of bucks to keep this place in business; it's an experience. I just wish that the pricing was more upfront. read more

Cute bookstore with a very nice selection of both new and used books. I have picked up a great selection of books here for the kids at Juve to read. read more

11 years later, and it's much the same. There's no other physical store in metro Detroit where you can find such a selection of "new" out of print books, small press books, and remainders. The children's selection is quite good as well. But I was told by the clerk that some staff do try to mark up the out of print books at the register, even above sticker and cover prices. That's obviously unacceptable, and really shady. read more

Holy cow! I like independent bookstores, and this place is better than almost any other I've seen in the area. Book Beat sells new, gently used and rare, my favorite combination, and its pickings are magnificent! It was kind of like a wish dream, actually, because I kept finding out of print books in hardback, with dust jacket, that I'd been looking for. The only downside is that they were priced at their worth, so I couldn't buy everythng I wanted. Still, I know they're there! I also found signed copies of favorite children's books (the kids books section is mesmerizing), and a fabulous card and gift selection; in fact, I kept getting distracted by all the new places to look. What's funny about this place is its location, just off a strip mall in a corner of the parking lot that hosts my nearest DMV and an Aldi. Parking is not a problem, which is great, and let me say, the location is misleading for the kind of experience Book Beat offers. I will return and spend more money here. This business ought to be supported by local book lovers, fabulous shops like Book Beat need to be rallied around in times fat and lean. I take one star off because I couldn't afford to buy everything I wanted to, but really, that's petty of me and I know that. read more