Hey BridgeDetroit readers!
I love reading (if you couldn’t already tell from my career choice) and I’m part of a book club. A while back, my book club had the idea to do a “book crawl” — visiting the many distinct shops the city has to offer.
That’s what inspired this guide on indie bookstores in the Detroit area. Ahead of the holidays and as Small Business Saturday approaches, we take you through six stores and what they offer, from Detroit-themed merch to the latest reads.
Along a busy road in North Rosedale Park on Detroit’s west side, Pip, the bookstore cat, greets shoppers as they come in to Pages Bookshop.
Across town, at 27th Letter Books on Michigan Avenue, titles are on the ground floor but down a flight of stairs there’s a game shop tucked underneath.
And, in Hamtramck, a 1920s building on the corner of Jos. Campau and Caniff was once a bank, restaurants and bars. Now, past its stately facade, shoppers will find books and a space for clubs to meet inside at Book Suey.
Read on to learn more (we’ve also got a map)!
On Your Radar
🚰 WATER AFFORDABILITY: Detroiters enrolled in a program that reduces water bills to as low as $18 a month and wipes away water debt must verify they are still income-eligible by the end of the month to remain on the plan. Learn more.
⚖️ IMMIGRATION: Immigration lawyers and advocates in Michigan are preparing their clients ahead of President-elect Donald Trump assuming office in January. The legal services nonprofit Michigan Immigrant Rights Center (MIRC) has recommendations for specific steps noncitizens — which covers a broad spectrum of immigrants who don’t have citizenship — can take now. Learn more.
👶 FREE RIDES TO THE DOC: Pregnant women in Detroit and anyone who cares for an infant under one can get free transportation to and from doctor’s visits through a new program from the Detroit Health Department. Learn more.
🏬 FUND FOR BUSINESSES: Detroit businesses that have been around for 30 years or more can apply for a new program offering grants from $15,000 to $50,000. Learn more.
🏚️ FORECLOSURE PROFITS: Former property owners, whose homes were foreclosed and sold at auction, may be able to claim any profit the county made from those sales beyond the tax debt they owed, depending on when sales took place. Learn more.
Thank you for reading! As always, you can reach me at nrahman@freepress.com
Nushrat Rahman
Economic Mobility Reporter, BridgeDetroit and Detroit Free Press
How did you miss Nandis Knowledge Cafe in Highland Park?