2025/2026 Bookstore Report - A Word From John King

It was a quiet 2025 at 901 W. Lafayette. Our sales were down marginally from the year before. Our payroll has increased since the new labor law dictates our employees are now guaranteed paid sick leave. This seems like an excellent idea and was way overdue. The state minimum wage increased but our base pay is much higher.

Our sales at Ferndale have increased due to the hard work of Brady and Adeline. The parking there is still limited since the bus now takes up most of the block and the meter parking we had is history.

Internet book sales were down in 2025. Our art annex has been improved and we have added more art and antiques. If anyone is serious about visiting the art annex or rare book room, please call for an appointment.

We want to thank our loyal customers for all their support in 2025. (And thank you John Mulaney for the nice shout out.)

Our year included months long road construction that closed off Lafayette. The constructions continues but is less oppressive. A burst pipe in the art annex destroyed a large number of books about prints. We also survived our President insulting our good neighbors across the river. The Canadians circled their wagons and we had an immediate decline of 30% in sales on Saturdays. We can't blame them for not wanting to be our 51st state.

Libraries kept pouring in with 3 large science fiction collections, a substantial first edition collection from Ohio, even a couple of William Morris Klemscott Press books walked in. A large collection of architecture and photography both came in from an architect who specialized in mid-century modern. We also encountered a hoarder's house which we worked for 3 months to extract a wonderful array of books, antiques, and barrister bookcases (all sold).

We will be working on getting all this in the hands of collectors in 2026. Our staff, including Tom, Janelle, Chris, Deb and Toni, worked above and beyond expectations. Our crew is the best we've had in years. Our participation in the Detroit Festival of Books in July brought new and old customers to our booth. The well run event is always the 3rd Sunday in July and anyone interested in books can have a great immersive experience. Best of all, it's free admission.

We recently learned bookseller Michael Good of Woodacre, CA, passed away in 2025. Michael was very kind, professional, and he was respected and beloved. Once, he made us a wonderful lunch of smoked salmon (he caught and smoked it himself!) He had a great stock of antiquarian volumes. some of which made it to Detroit over the last few decades.

As 2026 opens, we wish to invite you all to visit and review our newest acquisitions. Wishing you all a happy and healthy New Year.

John King