We are definitely entering cozy season in West Michigan. To me, that means it’s time to stock up on wintertime reading material to pore over as I snuggle on the couch in pjs and blankets, covered in cats. So of course I’m jazzed about a new book store opening up right here in Grand Rapids: The Gathered Shelf!
From Warehouse to Public Storefront
If the owners, Troy and Julia, sound familiar, here’s why: for the last five years, they ran a used book operation called The Last Chapter out of a warehouse on 3 Mile Road. Back then, it wasn’t your typical walk-in shop; you had to book an appointment to pop in, browse their wholesale pallets, snag one of their hand-picked book bundles at local markets, or shop online.
Then this past July, a legal name tweak pushed them to rebrand. They took that pivot as an excuse to dream bigger, officially transforming into The Gathered Shelf and opening a wide-open public shop for all of us to explore.
Grand Opening and Roadwork Parking Tips
After dealing with construction slowdowns, they finally opened the doors for their official grand opening weekend on October 24th and 25th…