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Brown's Family Bookstore
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
27309 Harper AveSaint Clair Shores, MI 48081
(586) 773-7370
- Price Range:
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$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
3 reviews for Brown's Family Bookstore
3 reviews in English
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Review from Anj F.
Detroit, MI
5/9/2011
This is the best (and probably only) used bookstore around. Sometimes it can take a little bit to find what you are looking for, but in that time I usually find many more books to read. Their prices can't be beat and they are a friendly shop. I don't see any reason to buy a book brand new when I can usually find it here for a fraction of the cost. And if I don't find exactly what I am looking for I still leave with a big bag of great books!
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Review from Adam W.
Grand Rapids, MI
9/21/2008
Brown's Family Bookstore is one of those places that you think you can only find in Hollywood movies. It's not nearly as big as it should be, but don't hold that against it, because the stock here is absolutely MASSIVE.
It has that "old book smell" about it too, which is something that I totally dig on. Like walking into some of the older bedrooms at my grandma's house where she just stockpiles books for some unknown reason (yes, I'm serious). You can find practically any genre of book you're looking for here, but they seem to carry a big range of classics and romance from what I saw...
Everything is packed so tightly in here, you might make a few messes trying to find what you're looking for, but I just calculated that in as part of the fun. The aisles were so narrowly spaced, I almost had to walk sideways through them just to make sure not to bump anything and cause an even bigger mess than I had while trying to find a particular Stephen King book.
When I couldn't find one book, the old dude in there was more than happy to help me out and even walked around the store checking a few other sections. We didn't turn it up, but I'll be back frequently to check anyway...
There's a big somewhat complicated thing you can go through to get books at half price by trading in some of your older books - I'll let whoever is working the counter explain to you, but it seems well worth it if you ask me. Maybe the guy there just wanted to have a little fun with me and made it seem more difficult than it was.
Nevertheless, I loved Brown's Family Bookstore and will be returning a lot to scour their used stock and hopefully expand my collection while whittling down some of my books I really have no more need for.
Overall impressions? This place is FAR superior to Second Story used books even if they are a little smaller and have a just little less stock (it may be hard to believe because it's squeezed into such a small space). Don't pass this one up though, you'll be doing a disservice to yourself. -
Review from Michael C.
Warren, MI
4/9/2008 2 photos
This is a great little bookstore tucked in a strip mall in the Shores.
I'm surprised that this place has lasted as long as it has; it's been around since I was a kid, and it really has a reputation as being a great place to shop for used books.
They have a large selection of used books; if you've ever found yourself drooling at stacks of old books, definitely come here; they have old volumes-a-plenty!
The prices are really great; Many of the books I've picked up from Brown's have only been a couple dollars a piece, even if they were hardcover.
My only gripe about the place is the size issue; given that they are tucked into a strip mall, they have a small space in which to cram their stock. And don't get me wrong, they have a LOT of books here. But Brown's has had to forgo stocking newer titles - so all you'll really find is older books. Some genres get more space than others (for example, there is a large history and war section, and a large classic lit section) by the tastes of the owners. There's nothing wrong with that, but certain genres you may find lacking at Brown's.
Still, if you're on this side of town, it certainly should be on your list of places to browse.
