Many cities the size of Grand Forks no longer have any bookstores, so we can count ourselves lucky…read moreto have Ferguson Books & More! The Ferg, as my family and I affectionately call it, is the only dedicated bookstore in Grand Forks. They have an enormous selection - possibly a couple hundred thousand books in stock, but I don't think anyone has counted them. Their inventory is primarily previously enjoyed books, although they have many new titles in stock including several of local/regional interest and by local authors.
Their main browsing showroom is loosely organized by topic, although organizing by sub-topic would be helpful for the time-strapped customer who may want to spend a little more time reading and a little less time hunting. For example, they have a section of books pertaining to sports, and scattered throughout that section are books about baseball mixed in with books about golf, horse racing, football, etc. It would be nice if baseball books had their own subsection, golf had its own subsection, and so on. Another aisle I frequent is the how-to section, where books on gardening, knitting, deck-building, wedding planning, interior design, jewelry making, and home handymanning are all mixed together. They really should be organized by topic-within-the-topic for more efficient and pleasurable browsing.
The staff are always friendly and ready to help, so if there's a title you've been searching for, don't hesitate to ask if they might have a copy. They may even be able to call you if they come across it.
In addition to books, the Ferg also carries CDs, DVDs, and educational toys, and they offer a decent children's book section. There's also a large room of used mass-market paperbacks, some rare vintage books, and a display of coffee-table books.
And speaking of coffee, a particularly charming feature is the French Taste café and crêperie, serving Bully Brew coffee and a creative variety of both sweet and savory crêpes. French Taste will get its own review from me soon, but for now let's just say it's a wonderful addition to Ferguson Books, because coffee goes so well with books as much as it does with crêpes.
Ferguson has their famous Bag Sale twice a year, but unless you sign up for their text reminders or you happen to be in there the week before, you might not find out about it. The bag sale is as many books as you can cram into a standard paper grocery bag for $20. The sale goes from open to close on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, but it's only a couple times each year. The sale is limited to the books in their back stockroom, where there are thousands of books but their order is totally random. If you enjoy the thrill of the hunt, and you have a wide range of interests, and you allow yourself at least twenty minutes, you will easily fill a bag, perhaps two. It's a great deal for you as the customer, and it helps out the store because that's inventory they won't have to price and sort into their general topic sections of the main room. Everyone wins.
Ferguson occasionally has book-signing events as well. Due to my schedule I haven't had the opportunity to attend any, but I've received text alerts about them and it's very cool that they have authors come and speak at these events.
There are only a few things I don't care for, but they're likely easy fixes. There's a room off the main retail area that would be ideal for parties, meetings, or classes. However, lately it's been looking like a stockroom. Hopefully this space can be put to use and become a pleasant gathering space for the community.
Another area could be made over into an inviting reading nook, with proper lighting and seating arrangements conducive to getting lost in a book while waiting for a friend.
Another aspect that I personally find less than appealing is the area around the checkout counter. So often there are boxes of books needing to get priced and put on the shelves, even a shopping cart filled to the top with such books. I understand that it takes time to get around to doing this, especially when there are customers to help. But perhaps there's a way to streamline the process and not let the boxes pile up as they get emptied. This sort of thing might not bother most bookworms. But it isn't as neat and tidy as it could be. I like to hope it's a work in progress and that soon the piles around the checkout will diminish and the books will be dispersed to their appropriate departments.
It's nearly impossible to wander the stacks at the Ferg and not end up making a purchase. It's one of the gems of Grand Forks. If you're looking for a gift for someone who knows how to read, you are sure to find one at Ferguson Books & More!.
Disclaimer: I have not been paid or compensated in any way for my honest review of this business.
