I'm not from the area but always check out local bookstores when I visit other cities. This is a Bookstore was a must visit. Wide selection of books, and gifts. Cute, comfy spots to read and relax. Factory coffee cafe is located inside This is a Bookstore - they serve bagels, sammies, coffee and adult beverages. Walked across the sidewalk and visited Book Bug which is a children's book store. Again, a wide selection of books, comfy sitting space and a playhouse for the kiddos. Service was quick and everyone was friendly. I plan on visiting again next time I'm in the area. read more

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I always come here for books amazing stock love the ambiance there i also love the cafe i could read in there for hours

My favorite bookstore in town - wonderful broad selection, especially the paperback section along the back wall. Always cozy and have gotten some wonderful recommendations by one of the booksellers here! read more

TIABS is one of my favorite spots to stop at when I'm in town. The book selection is incredible, the staff are friendly, the vibes are good, and they support local schools with their round up program. If you're looking for somewhere to get books, definitely come here! read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Bookshelves - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I usually stop by and browse when I'm over in the area. Combined with a spin off of Factory Coffee on one side. Great book selection along with other knick knacks, socks, puzzles, etc. read more

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Friendly, well stocked. Great cafe. I love it all here! It's like going on vacation. They will order books for you and they host events that are fun like trivia. read more

Beautiful bookstore with a wonderful selection! Very friendly and helpful staff!! Also an entire area devoted to children's books. read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

The staff is both helpful and kind. You can order a book if necessary (great for the holidays).

I've always loved this bookstore~ I come here often to work on my novel in the cafe and pick up gifts for friends. Or a few new books for myself haha! The food in the cafe is simple but delicious. And the coffee worth every penny Not to mention it is lgbtq+ and hosts a welcoming environment for all who enter. Consider picking up your books here over BnN! read more

Great bookstore in a thriving strip mall is Kalamazoo. I was there on a recent Friday, and the store and cafe were busy. Just enough table space to accommodate the amount of business. Good inventory of books. Plenty of staff. read more

Love their coffee so much! Fun place to bring someone to grab a coffee if you're looking for something new! More on the pricier side, but worth! Also if you go in fall the seasonal caramel corn latte is so good. read more

My favorite local bookstore. Well organized, good selection, great customer service.

Cool vibes... Nice and clean and very kind staff. Gosh, I love the Midwest hospitality. I will be here. Definitely will come back. Strawberry creme Matcha read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Very cool. Staff is so kind snd very nice. #midwesthospitality - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

I have continuously been disappointed by the customer service at this local bookstore. My daughter purchased a wrapped album here and the first song skipped. When asked how we can return it, she was told that since the store could not receive any money for the return they could do nothing about the defective album. The lesson here is to never purchase an album at this store because if it is defective, you will not receive a refund. They care more about their bottom line, than selling merchandise that is not defective. I recommend the local record stores that care about the product they sell and customer satisfaction. read more

Wonderful food and wonderful selection of books. I've never felt so cozy in a bookstore before.

This is my dream bookstore/coffeehouse! Great selection of books, several cozy places to sit, many bookish supplies and interests like t shirts, puzzles, pens and pencils, etc. and a coffeehouse read more

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Cozy little bookstore with unique interesting items from books, puzzles, cookbooks. Tons of genres . The coffee shop in the back has great options too and is a nice reading spot with tasty bagel flavors read more

These stores are a treasure! Lots of books, but also unique gift items, stationery, and art supplies for kids in Bookbug, while This Is a Bookstore has a lot to offer the adults. Great spot to do some local gift shopping. read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Bookbug - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

What a wonderful place! I love finding local bookstores while visiting cities and this might be my favorite find! This place was so cozy and VERY welcoming. Immediately upon walking in you are met with the amazing smell of coffee and tables of books highlighting thought-provoking and diverse/inclusive books. The store is well laid out in my opinion with the gift/cards near the cash registers and the books all filling up the area in the back of the store with a coffee shop at the front as well. The books are all labeled within categories/genres like all bookstores but the way they have them labeled feels a little more personal. I could spend hours in here going through the different shelves and finding books to read. The main bookstore and coffee shop are tied into their kid's bookstore which is right next door. It's a super cute little idea to have them separated but still feel attached. The kids' area is so cute and really nice. They have a nice little reading nook for kids and their parents to enjoy. If you are visiting Kalamazoo this is a must-stop place! CHEERS! read more

Such a cute store and amazing that is all locally owned and doing great! Recently Bookbug expanded to open This is A Bookstore. The new place is all adult and gifts, while Bookbug has remained children's lit and art supplies. The staff are super friendly! I asked one for a suggestion and he gave me a few and then another staff member gave me some more. Later while I was playing cards in the cafe with my boys, the man came back to me and said he'd thought of another one I may like. That was probably a good 40 min later, so it was impressive. Sign up for their rewards membership. You can get $5 gift cards after $100 in purchases. read more

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I took my niece for a bookstore tour of Kalamazoo and by far I believe Bookbug/this is a bookstore won our hearts. Bookbug is where you'll find the large children's and YA section. There is an adorable playhouse with a roof covered in books that makes for a fun reading spot for the littles in your life. The staff was friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful. They even helped me track down a book with the only copy in the store being in the display window. Next, we went next door to this is a bookstore. I quickly fell in love with this place. There's a wonderful cafe called Table of Contents inside and walls of bookish gifts! Take my money already! We also enjoyed the various reading nooks throughout the store and the customer service desk made from books. Again, wonderfully friendly staff and a warm atmosphere all around. Can't wait for a return visit! read more

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My favorite reading spot! It is readers heven! There is a Cafe inside the store, sandwiches and boooooooks!! They even hold events here every week like book signing, dance events, yoga and book clubs meetings. Nice environment with good music. Prices are good for drinks, high for sandwiches. They have couches everywhere for readers comfort. 10/10 rate. read more

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With the idea of finding alternatives to chains, I happened upon This is a Bookstore and Bookbug. I only entered This Is A Bookstore because it was the larger part and I was told Bookbug was more focused on kids books. I have been needing more cookbooks and there was a cute cookbook display right up front. I almost got the cookbook inspired by the TV show The Good Place but decided to get that next time. I wandered a bit more and found the cookbook section was right next to my other type of book: true crime. I left with my campfire cookbook in hand and was pleasantly surprised that my not so bookish husband had bought a book too! I am honestly so happy to have found an independent bookstore to buy from when in Kalamazoo. No more Barnes & Nobles doe this gal. Thanks This Is A Bookstore. read more

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A very eclectic bookstore with a coffee shop inside, this is ideal for people who wanna enjoy books and coffee. Such a great and thoughtful idea. We came here for the first time for the unofficial yelp coffee meet up. I am not sure if the coffee is spectacular but for the bookstore, I'd say it's organized, warm and feels like home. The barista/cashier was pretty nice. I love the bookstore, Period! read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Poem Latte - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Who does not like walking the aisles of bookstores and if the bookstore has a coffee shop, I'd probably spend half the day getting buzzed on espressos and reading my new purchases or writing in my journal. I immediately feel in love the moment I entered This Is A Bookstore as this is my type of store. The reason for my first time visit was to meet up with fellow Yelpers who appreciate and love coffee. The cafe fits well in the bookstore. The tables & chairs blend well the decor. They offer coffees, teas, beer & wine, soup, sandwiches, and desserts. I had their special Witches Brew which was chai tea and cider. It was delicious. Just the perfect tang. The oatmeal cookie was tasty too. Made just as I like - soft. I wandered through the bookstore, which besides books, includes puzzles, LP's, cards, stationery, and lots of cute gifts. The store was very welcoming and I felt like I could just take my time and absorb it all in. The checkout counter is so unique. And I love that they offer Round Up for Reading, which if you agree, they will round up your purchase to the nearest dollar and they use the money to buy books for a local school. The school changes each month. What an amazing place! read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Wiches Brew and Oatmeal Raisin cookie. - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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We love shopping local, especially for books. Bookbug's new digs are spacious, warm, and inviting. There are creative displays, a great Michigan author selection, and a lovely ya section. You know we love their cafe, table of contents, and their events. Bit the staff is also fantastic - friendly, knowledgeable, and funny. PLUS COUCHES!! why go anywhere else? read more

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I came here to have coffee and enjoy the company of friends. I liked how cozy the place is, it has a home feeling in it. It is unique ! The employees are good. For the coffee, I've had better. I mean I wouldn't come here for the coffee. But their prices is just right ! read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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I love This is A Bookstore & Bookbug. I went on 11/30/19 for a work event and they helped us reserve a table, which was very convenient because we didn't have to awkwardly wait until a free table was available. I love that they have so many options to choose from to drink from coffee, tea, specialty coffee and tea, beer and more. I also had the Peanut Butter Sandwich with Bananas and it came with chips. I didn't really like the bread choice, which I will note for the next time, but it was tasty. I also tried one of the Euphoria coffees. It was good and would recommend it. The menu is full of many different types of drinks and food and I highly recommended checking it out. Do you love reading? If you answered yes, this place is for you. So many books. All different types of categories and little areas to sit and read. They offer wifi so you can do your homework or office work. I love that it is a bookstore but also a cafe. Best of both worlds for a Book worm like myself! read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

This bookstore also has a little cafe that has coffee, tea, food, wine, and beer. The coffee is simple, reasonably priced, and comes in cute glass mugs. There is great lighting if you wish to read or work indoors, and they have a very nice outdoor patio. This is by far my favorite independent bookstore in Kalmazoo. read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Sitting outside on the patio with my $4 cold brew! - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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A fantastic addition to Kzoo, and something indispensable to the community. Clean, well-lit, filled to the brim with new books and some delightful gift items (many with a literary theme, naturally), and the most helpful and friendly staff possible. There are even comfortable nooks to hide away and read for awhile (for kids and for adults). On top of everything else, there's a great little cafe inside the store with coffee drinks, an array of tasty sandwiches, and alcohol options as well. Outside patio seating is available for good weather, too. For a treat for yourself, or to hang out with a friend for an hour or two, this is a perfect spot to try. read more

Talk about amazing first impressions! The building is chic and welcoming. Wall to wall with books, toys, and of course all the reading materials your heart could desire. Not only that friendly staff, a cafe, and well organized. It's pretty cool to go from one shop to another. It's almost like a portal from adult books to those childhood favorites. While you're getting lost in all the books and etc. You can have a seat right in the middle of non-fiction and fiction. Well I guess it's a patio outside. Regardless, you can have a nice drink! Or be like me and try some chocolate bourbon bacon. read more

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When it comes to bookstores, more like this please! A great selection of popular authors, eclectic titles, bestsellers, and local interest works. Atmosphere, relaxing. Staff, engaging. Sandwiches, tea, coffee, treats, done top shelf beers. So this can be an actual date spot, a place for a study session, or just a nice little place to kill a lazy afternoon. For people bringing the little ones, Bookbug is a separate building just next door with a phenomenal selection of children's books (classic and new), and the staff really know their stuff. I trusted a recommendation and my niece loved it. read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

Two hours away from where I live lies this bookstore. I was excited to visit a bookstore that wasn't a Barnes & Noble which I still visit regularly. However, when I finally entered here, I immediately fell in love with it. The atmosphere, the decor, the friendliness of the staff and here's the cherry on top of the whip cream of the awesomeness that is this place: IT HAS A BAR!!!!! I'm not an alcoholic or a lush but I love a good drink. And to imbibe alcohol while perusing a book or two or even having a discussion in a book club? Love it. And on a different note, walk over next door for the all kids bookstore BOOKBUG and pick up something for your kid. I absolutely recommend this establishment. Go and see for yourself. read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - The checkout counter. Love it - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

As soon as we heard that this little place was opening in Bookbug, we drove over as quickly as humanly possible without getting a ticket. And it was very much worth it. The atmosphere is exactly how you would think of a bookstore/coffee shop: warm, comforting, cute. When I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised by the store's layout - books everywhere, but plenty of room to walk around in. It's a place for discovering treasures and feeling at home. Now to the coffee, or chai, in my case. Deliciously spicy, you can order it with three different kinds of milk. I chose almond milk, and, in my opinion, it enhanced the perky flavor - perfect for this extremely cold, Michigan day. The barista was extremely nice and obviously was very good at his job. The seating was fairly good, as we sat next to a display of Bowie books and items. I almost felt like I was having a drink with him (ha!). The place was filled with laughter (including ours). read more

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Cool locally owned and operated bookstore. Cafe and used books too. Don't miss the main counter that's entirely made of old hardback books. Now THAT'S recycling. read more

Long having been a fan of Bookbug, I finally had a chance to visit This Is A Bookstore, and it's just as wonderful. Other than a truly fantastic selection of books, the store has a cafe, friendly employees, an amazing selection of puzzles and family games, some stationery, and various fun and interesting gift items. If you're local, they offer a loyalty program in which you get $5 credit for every $100 you spend. I'm not local, but I signed up because I spent $65 today, and do visit Kalamazoo occasionally. Plus I will keep this great local shop in mind for any future book mail order needs. read more

Excellent selection, knowledgeable staff; best bookstore in Kalamazoo. If you ever get a chance, head over to this store. You will not be disappointed. read more

Not only do they have an amazing vibe in general along with a great collection of feminist books, but I just feel at home here. Every time I stop by I end up in conversation with someone new about recommended reads. This place makes my soul happy! They also have really great gifts for all of your favorite book lovers, pop culture folks, and feminists. I love This Is a Bookstore! read more

"Suck it, Ann Arbor," my friend Ben uttered as we enjoyed our drinks at Table of Contents, where they serve a nice selection of food, the expected coffees and teas, and serve wine and beer. Kalamazoo has finally surpassed A2 in the hipsterdom hierarchy, he supposes, because we've got a bookstore with a bar in it. I don't know about that, but I do know I like this spot. We attended the 10th anniversary weekend celebration for Bookbug, which has expanded into a complex overtaking one corner of Oakwood Plaza. The original Bookbug corner location is now focused on children's and young adult books and gifts plus an area featuring art supplies. Kitty-corner to it, next to Bark's Fifth Avenue, is the combined Table of Contents cafe and This Is a Bookstore (a second bookstore more focused on titles and gifts steered toward adults). They've got a screen and occasionally show bookworm-related films ("Notting Hill" was screening on our recent visit). Oakwood Plaza has really become a must-visit part of town with the Sawall's expansion and Bookbug growth. Love seeing little local businesses thrive like this! read more

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Shame on me. I was here in 2008 when they opened and it was a children's bookstore and I never checked back. Well last week I decided to check it out again. Thank you for such a wonderful indie bookstore. It has a very comfortable, cozy feel with a very good selection of adult books also, every genre from fiction, bio's, cookbooks and everything in between. I think somebody said "cute". That it is. I enjoyed reading the staff picks around the store. I bought one of their recommendations and 2 of my own. The beauty is there are enough good books to buy that you didn't know you wanted or needed. They also have a good selection of poetry magazines and art type magazines. They will order anything they don't currently have. I thought they were very friendly and I will buy more books at Bookbug. It is a fabulous place to buy children's books and gifts. I am going to buy my books here and leave Amazon for other items. read more

This Is A Bookstore & Bookbug - Adult section of books - Bookstores Near Me - Kalamazoo, Michigan

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