James Till was in town visiting from the Grand Rapids suburb of Wyoming when friends suggested a bookstore that had just opened.
He and his partner, Amber Winkel, found themselves in what used to be a hair salon in Kalamazoo’s Westwood Plaza, which is now an independent bookstore that sells both new and used titles.
“It’s kind of fun to find a book, versus searching for one topic online,” said Till, a particular fan of horror and adventure. He bought “1984” by George Orwell and “The Hobbit” by J.R.R. Tolkien during his visit to Booked Up in Kalamazoo, the latest retail option for those who prefer real shopping to buying online, and actual books to e-books.
It’s a trend in Kalamazoo that’s mirrored nationwide. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce reports data pointing to an increase in in-person shopping and community around physical books. The American Booksellers Association reports an increase in members and both physical and online orders via their stores…