John K. King Books (Ferndale: house, purchase, military)

[Bondurant]

This past Friday, December 21, was a special day for me as I was finally able to visit John K. King Books. Easily the best bookstore I've had the pleasure to visit. Four floors of books, periodicles and other items. Any topic you can think of. They even had a modest collection of books in Icelandic. I walked away with a paperback about the Montreal Canadiens, a history of the Netherlands and a copy of Chess Life Magazine from '75 with a feature on Walter Browne. Upon my next visit I hope to see a selection of vintage Tigers programs and score cards they have in the rare book room.

Do visit if you have not already. Criminally underrated bookstore that should be mentioned along with The Strand and Powell's.

[usroute10]

Thanks for sharing. I have never been, and I have worked downtown for many years. Looks like I have been missing out! The store seems like one of the great treasures of SE Michigan.

[Nattering Heights]

There is a small branch location on Woodward in Ferndale.

[bigjim]

The Ferndale branch is great. Tons of books, cheap, very helpful staff.

The one downtown is possibly the coolest place I've ever been in my life.

I read all the time. If you welded me in there for the rest of my life and just passed food through a slit in the door I'd be ok. And the smell! A fantastic smell of old books (go figure).

It's really a treasure.

[Coldjensens]

I have not been in there in many many years (decades). I should bring my wife there. She is a librarian. She will either love it, or wonder why I am taking her to work for a date.

[MS313]

The went in the store by myself a couple years ago. Once you get to the top 2 floors and away from the stair case, especially later in the day it's kind of empty and creepy which makes the experience better, but there are so many different books anyone should check it out.

[leroythelion]

After reading this thread, my wife and I checked out the one downtown yesterday. This is the best used bookstore of all time. In an hour, I just brushed the surface of what this place has to offer. I did manage to visit all 4 floors. From Civil War texts published in the 1890s, to German military magazines published during WWII, to a great section on the 4th floor on Presidential biographies, this place has it all. I did purchase a memoir from the White House kennel keeper in the 1940s to 60s. There were famous dogs in those days.