Wisconsin's Indie Bookstores
Our journey visiting independent bookstores across Wisconsin
Novel Bay Booksellers
This is our local bookstore! It was the bookstore that made us want to see all the indie bookstores in Wisconsin. August 2025 was when we started buying books from indie bookstores, so that is the date I put here. We had visited this bookstore years before we moved to Sturgeon Bay when it looked quite different than it does today! (still need a pic of us in front of it)
8/12/2025
Redbery Books
We went here during our trip to the Apostle Islands! (still need a pic of us in front of it)
7/11/2025
The Story Cellar
We went here on our trip to see Rib Mountain State Park! The basement has used books and a really cool speakeasy vibe.
10/25/2025
Yardstick Books
This one is over in Algoma, 20 minutes from us. I found a cool history book here that uses 47 national borders as a lens to talk about the history of various countries. (still need a pic of us in front of it)
11/15/2025
Prairie Pages
We came back to Sun Prairie a year and a half after moving away just to see this bookstore! It opened right next to a café and the two businesses promote each other ❤️
11/22/2025
Lion's Mouth Bookstore
This one is in Green Bay! I bought my first Bernie Sanders book here, and they serve coffee drinks you can sip while you browse.
1/24/2026
Janke Book Store
We wandered in here the same day we checked out The Story Cellar's new 2nd location in Wausau! This one is pretty large and has a big bear statue we posed in front of right when you walk into the store. Not as cozy as The Story Cellar but still I was able to find a David Graeber book I'd been eyeing.
8/15/2026
Fair Isle Books & Gifts
We accidentally got a discount because Sam is a bookstore employee! I also found the next Warriors book that I was going to read, and a fun shirt that says "I crossed Death's Door to get to this bookstore". Also ended up chatting with an older couple about the Edmund Fitzgerald because the husband was a history buff.
8/20/2026
Arcadia Books
We went here a long time ago when Sam was working for Girl Scouts and did an event out here in Spring Green! Coming back to visit for our 5th wedding anniversary weekend, what we remember most is vastness of their collection! We both found several titles we don't usually see elsewhere and wanted to buy, but alas we were limiting ourselves to only a couple of books each this weekend. Definitely one of our top 3 in Wisconsin!
10/30/2026
Books on Main
This was also part of our wedding anniversary weekend and it was in a little town called Friendship! In the story they had a few adopted pigeons hanging out in cages being adorable, and the ceiling was covered with fake leaves, so the whole place had a really chill vibe to it. We got each other another book as part of our "book swap" tradition we started this anniversary, and we learned that the bookstore called Boswell in Milwaukee is a popular site for author visits. Another fun fact about this place is it's kitty-corner from the Dem and Republican Party offices which are right next to each other!
10/31/2026