Schuler Books (Ann Arbor)

This is the way bookstores used to be. I came here as a child in its previous iteration. I remember the excitement I would feel when the new book I wanted was ready for pickup. When I walked in today it was like walking back in time. I was hit immediately by the comforting smell of paper and ink. The store itself is massive. Is much larger than it looks on the outside. There's a gift shop in the front where they have journals, note cards, coffee mugs, stickers, etc. There's a robust Michigan section for local interest. All the usual sections are there: fiction, biography memoir, science, self help, psychology, h health, romance, sci fi, mystery. There are little nooks here and there with wing backed chairs for reading. In the back of the store there's a fireplace with several chairs around it for reading. There's a large children's section with toys to the left side. The staff are very friendly and helpful. It truly feels like a corner bookstore in every sense. The thing I liked the most is the staff recommendations. There's a section, and there are also cards under recommended books with staff statements about why they liked them. I just love all of it. I'm so glad to see bookstores having a resurgence post covid.

Schulers Books is the type of bookstore a bookish person like me will always enjoy perusing. The sections are clearly labeled and always orderly. The staff is quick to help find any books you can think of, even if that means ordering the book especially for you. As an early childhood educator, the new children's section is set up perfectly for a small child to able to explore the books and fall in love with reading. And with the recent addition of a used books section and clearance carts greeting customers at the door, its easy to find a new story to escape into, even on a budget.

I will give it 4 stars because I believe in Shop small! Shop local but I don't get a warm & fuzzy feeling when shopping there. The space for books and magazines is well lit and easy to navigate but I find the space where the cash registers are to be unnecessarily dark and annoyingly crowded and junky. I have often found tge people on the floor to be more warm and helpful than those behind the counter.

I've been going to this bookstore since the mid-90s, wayback when it was Little Professors Bookstore. Love the location, love the atmosphere inside the store (and the smell of paper and print). No matter who the owners - the staff has always been helpful. Looking forward to shopping there this holiday.