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A girl browsing books on a shelf. Photo by Suad Kamardeen on

The Best Bookstores in Milwaukee

There is nothing better than finding a cosy bookshop, browsing through the shelves and landing that title you have been looking for; new or used.

Milwaukee city in Wisconsin has several of these bookstores. Considering that the city experiences long cold winters, then it is no surprise that most of the bookstores have cafés.

Enjoy your nice cup of coffee while catching up on the newest book release in one of these bookstores.

The bookstore in Milwaukee stocks different genres of books from literature, comic books, coffee table books, children’s books, poetry, political books and so much more.

So whether you are looking for a brand new book, a pre-owned book, or just want to sit down read one then borrow it, I have a list of the best bookstores in Milwaukee.

Find out more about them below.   

1. Boswell Book Co. – New & Used Books

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This bookstore is one of the oldest in the city. It is owned by Daniel Goldin who was recently honoured for having been in the business for decades.

At Boswell, you will find a wide range of titles in every genre and category. They have everyone in mind from a fully stocked children’s section, magazines, and greeting cards.

It is that bookstore you go to for appearances by authors both local and international.

This bookstore has survived the digital age and has a knowledgeable staff that can guide you.

Practical Information:

Address: 2559 N. Downer Ave.;

Telephone: (414)-332-1181

Website:

2. Downtown Books – Used books, comics, magazines, videos

Just like its name suggests, this bookstore is located in Downtown Milwaukee.

It is one of the best shops to visit if you are looking for a pre-owned book. This bookshop is particularly well-stocked with genres in fiction and literature as well as music and movies.

If you love cats, you will love it here. They have resident cats making the place homey. Most of the people visiting this bookstore are regulars.

As you browse, you will get a comforting and familiar feeling like the staff and regular readers are friendly, and so are the cats. It is also a great place to meet new people.   

New customers that have visited this bookstore say it is clean, uncluttered and well organized.

Practical Information:

Address: 624 N Broadway St, Milwaukee, WI 53212,

Website:

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday: 10am to 7pm|Sundays: 10am to 5pm

3. The Little Read Book – Used Books

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Like Boswell, Little Read Book, in Tosa Village, is a general bookshop, but a smaller one.

The vibe here is very neighbourly and is a favourite of many children. There is a designated children’s reading area.

This bookshop is a free book stand run by an all-volunteer mutual aid collective on the occupied indigenous land, commonly known as Denver.

As a non-profit bookstore, it is dependent on donations from well-wishers and they share the books with bibliophiles.

Its goal is to offer a life free of oppression and exploitation.

You can buy a book from their online store. A percentage of your purchase will go towards funding free book distribution & community education programming.

Practical Information:

Address: 7603 W State St, Milwaukee, WI 53213

Website:

Telephone: +1 414-774-2665

4. Renaissance Book Shop – Rare books (Used & New)

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The name Renaissance Book Shop gives you a sneak peek into what to expect while here. This bookshop is also one of the oldest in Milwaukee.

The bookstore was founded in the 1960s and its first location was inside a former five-storey furniture warehouse.

Today, this bookstore is home to almost 600,000 books. They have another branch within Milwaukee’s General Mitchell Airport, just in case you need a rare book to burrow in on the flight.

So if you a looking for an old-fashioned used bookstore, drop by Renaissance Books. It is one of the best-used bookstores in the city.

Inside you will find a well-organized and sports a comprehensive selection of both used and new books.

Practical Information:

Address: General Mitchell International Airport (MKE), 5300 S Howell Ave.

Website:

Opening Hours: Monday – Tuesday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm | Thursday – Friday 11:00 am – 5:00 pm | Saturday – Sunday 11 am – 6:00 pm | Closed on Wednesdays

5. Woodland Pattern Book Centre – Contemporary & Rare Novels

Compared to the other bookstores listed here today, Woodland Pattern Book Centre is the only one that stocks contemporary novels.

It is the perfect store to visit and get a novel that no one has ever heard of. A visit to this store will have you become an explorer and discoverer of new titles.

Other than selling books, they also have performances, film and video installations.

This is the place to go for poetry titles, chapbooks and events, small press books.

You can also visit their online book centre to browse selections from the small-press inventory.

Practical Information:

Address: 720 E. Locust Street Milwaukee, WI 53212

Telephone: (414) 263-5001

Hours: Tues–Sun | 12-7 pm|Closed Monday|Contactless pick-up: Wed–Fri | 2–6 pm, Sat | 2–5 pm

Website:

6. Voyageur Book Shop

Image sourced from Voyageur Bookshop

This bookstore is one of the newest additions to the Milwaukee bookstore scene. It is a good spot to go if you’re looking for rare books.

Voyager Books offer a good selection of antique books, first editions, signed copies, something that bibliophiles are into.

There is a wide range of books that vary from academic, fiction, fantasy, and much more.

In addition, this book store is well organized and clean, making it a suitable place to buy quality literature. They also have an online website where you can order books and have them delivered to your location.

Practical Information:

Address: 2212 S Kinnickinnic Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53207

Phone: (414) 210-3309

Website:

7. Rainbow Booksellers – Children’s books

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Established in 1981, Rainbow bookstore has been Milwaukee’s go-to for kid’s books.

The store is located in Washington Heights and has a selection that is unique in town. Some of the books that you will find here include titles with a foreign language, art, multicultural and other books for young readers.

If you are looking for quality children’s books, then visit this store for books suitable for babies through to high school age. You will also find that most of the books are always offered at a 25% discount off the cover price.

They also have wooden toys, puzzles and small items for birthday gifts.

Additionally, they host book fairs at schools, daycare centres and other agencies as fundraisers.

Practical Information:

Address: 5704 W. Vliet Street Milwaukee, WI 53208

Website:

Opening Hours: Wednesdays: 3:30PM – 8:00PM|Saturdays: 9:30AM – 5:00PM

& By Appointment

8. Woodland Bookstore – Poetry & Artbooks

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Located in Milwaukee’s River West neighbourhood, Woodland Pattern is a poet- and artist-run non-profit book centre, gallery, and performance space.

They host about 350 programs and events encouraging collaboration and exchange across the visual, performing, and literary arts.

You will also find a great selection of small press books, classes and readings. What’s more, they have Avant-garde musical performances.

The books here are carefully curated and nationally recognized collections of approximately 25,000 titles of poetry, small-press literature, and ephemera.

If you are looking for material on Haiku in North America, then this is the bookstore for you. It has the largest Native American section in Wisconsin.

Practical Information:

Address:  720 E. Locust Street, Milwaukee, WI 53212

Opening Hours: Hours: Tues–Sun | 12:00 -7:00 pm| Closed Mondays