That bookstore is fantastic. My wife's parents live in Lake Forest, Il., about an hour from the Wisco border and her father, knowing I'm a bibliophile, mentioned the store on one of my first visits. So of course we went and I got more than enough used Updikes to fill my carry-on. I remember reading that the proprietor used to have a larger store in/near Chicago, but that it shuttered.
Another fun story of the store: Upon my first visit, I spotted an old, comic-y looking Wodehouse compendium behind the counter in a locked display case—the "rarity" section of the store. I thought about that book for an entire year. Then, when our annual (pre-children) Thanksgiving visit was coming up, I called up the store and spoke to Orange Mike, inquiring if the Wodehouse was still available. I described it from memory and after a few minutes, he found it, offering me a price of $100. I said I'd be there in a week to get it. When I finally arrived, he had put it in a brown paper lunch sack behind some other books behind the counter. It was finally mine!
And in true bibliophile fashion, I've never cracked the spine since purchase.
I grew up in Milwaukee and have long loved this bookstore. Now, when we are flying here to visit family, we make a point to bring our toddler here to choose a prize read for the plane trip hone. There are lots of things that make Mitchell Airport distinctive. This is one of them!
I used to live outside Milwaukee, and every time I flew in or out I would make an excuse to visit that store. Not only the best airport bookstore I've ever encountered, but Milwaukee and probably many other cities cannot boast a better bookstore.
I resent the "flying *through* Milwaukee" ... some of us live in Wisconsin, you know, and we fly *to* Milwaukee.
But the story is great and honestly I'd never even noticed that bookstore. Will have to look for it next time I'm at MKE.
That bookstore is fantastic. My wife's parents live in Lake Forest, Il., about an hour from the Wisco border and her father, knowing I'm a bibliophile, mentioned the store on one of my first visits. So of course we went and I got more than enough used Updikes to fill my carry-on. I remember reading that the proprietor used to have a larger store in/near Chicago, but that it shuttered.
Another fun story of the store: Upon my first visit, I spotted an old, comic-y looking Wodehouse compendium behind the counter in a locked display case—the "rarity" section of the store. I thought about that book for an entire year. Then, when our annual (pre-children) Thanksgiving visit was coming up, I called up the store and spoke to Orange Mike, inquiring if the Wodehouse was still available. I described it from memory and after a few minutes, he found it, offering me a price of $100. I said I'd be there in a week to get it. When I finally arrived, he had put it in a brown paper lunch sack behind some other books behind the counter. It was finally mine!
And in true bibliophile fashion, I've never cracked the spine since purchase.
I grew up in Milwaukee and have long loved this bookstore. Now, when we are flying here to visit family, we make a point to bring our toddler here to choose a prize read for the plane trip hone. There are lots of things that make Mitchell Airport distinctive. This is one of them!
Just make sure you afford yourself plenty of time to 1) dig for books, and 2) make the long trek back to your gate after digging.
I used to live outside Milwaukee, and every time I flew in or out I would make an excuse to visit that store. Not only the best airport bookstore I've ever encountered, but Milwaukee and probably many other cities cannot boast a better bookstore.