LIVONIA, Mich. – Before dawn, wagons and carts formed a small line outside the mall entrance of Laurel Park Place.
Hailed as Detroit’s biggest used book and media sale, Bookstock boasts over 300,000 donated items for sale, with prices just a few dollars compared to retail. Each transaction supports education and literacy initiatives.
Sunday marked day one of the multi-day pop-up bookstore.
Instead of kiosks, rows of books line the mall’s corridors.
“There’s nothing like holding a book, actually holding it,” said Jennifer Grover, a shopper.
In the 21 years of hosting the event, organizers say the shopping experience has raised significant amounts of money to provide grant funding for area organizations.
“We have donated back to the community over $3 million, which is absolutely amazing,” said Bobbi Gutman, co-chair of Bookstock.
Children’s books start at just $1 and there’s a special collections area where shoppers can find unique items like rare and first edition books.
Rylee Dingman, a shopper, found exactly what she wanted in just 20 minutes.
“I found Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, a signed copy of it,” she said.
Whether searching for a gripping mystery or looking to expand a music collection, it’s nearly impossible to leave Bookstock empty-handed.
Additional sales throughout the week slashes already low prices.
Teacher Appreciation Days on Tuesday and Wednesday offer 50 percent off from 2 to 7 p.m. On Thursday, visitors can bring an old Bookstock bag for 20 percent off. For a complete list of the special day sales, click here.
