Bookstores of Saint Paul: Midway, Black Garnet, Next Chapter
by Birdie Keller ’25
The Twin Cities is a great place for book lovers. You can find small, independent bookstores everywhere, each with their own unique vibe, curating a selection of literature just for you, dear reader! In my time at Macalester, I have not visited even a fraction of the bookstores here. So, this month, I visited a bunch of bookstores (along with my roommate Audrey, another intrepid book fiend). My hope is that this will inspire readers to visit some of these amazing bookstores, whether to browse, buy, or enjoy being surrounded by books.
The bookstores featured in this article are ones closer to campus, by walking distance or a short bus ride. Later this semester (when it gets just a bit less cold), I hope to extend my voyages even farther from campus.
Midway Used and Rare Books
1579 University Avenue, Saint Paul Ideal for buying and selling used books!
Midway Books is the place to go for anything old. The vibe is very much your quintessential bookstore: towering shelves crammed with books and the musty smell of old pages. It is less curated than other stores, instead seeming to focus on collecting and displaying as many old books (and magazines, comics, and more) as possible.
Midway is also massive– three stories, each with their own vibe and selection of topics! The first floor is the place for graphic novels, comic books, sci/fi and fantasy (they have more mass market paperbacks than I’ve ever seen in one place), history, and a whole wall of books on art.
The second floor sports your mystery, horror, literature, poetry, and short stories/essays. I found one bookshelf full of books on writing, and at the bottom of it, a little shelf of how-to books for magic!
Finally, in the basement, all the books are $2.50. You can also find boxes of comic books, old Time magazines, posters, pictures, and strange antique items, including a whole box of these Ex Libris bookplates.
Black Garnet Books
1319 University Ave, Saint Paul Ideal for a curated selection of books and art by authors and illustrators of color, and a joyful environment!
Stepping into Black Garnet Books, we were immediately greeted by a warm, welcoming environment and this sweet pup named Frappuccino asking for pets. The creators of Black Garnet have clearly put a great deal of thought into the vibe of the bookstore. It is filled with fun accent chairs, tables, painted walls, and exciting walls of books; I could immediately picture myself spending hours there
I was particularly drawn to the selection of children’s books—fiction and nonfiction. The organization of the bookstore makes it super easy for anyone to find something they would like.
The walls are sectioned by topic and genre, including fiction, nonfiction, kids, middle grade, and more. The store even has a specific section of books concerned with social justice issues, for those interested. I particularly loved the kids nonfiction section. This would be a fantastic place to get some really intelligent and beautiful stories for any kids in your life!
The vibe in Black Garnet is just fantastic. You can see the care with which the book selection has been curated, and the intention to create a welcoming space. Someone was at one of the tables taking a meeting, and by the check-out counter, a small cart of coffee and tea was available for any customer! Their website (found here) also features events like Garnet Club (their social book club), social reading hours, reflection sessions, and even a “yoga for readers” class.
Next Chapter Booksellers
38 Snelling Ave S, Saint Paul Independent bookstore stocking a wide range of topics in a space with a lounge area!
Any Mac student reading this newsletter should already know Next Chapter and its wonderful selection of books. This independent bookstore is located just past Breadsmith on Snelling. I have frequented Next Chapter many times, and often not even to buy a book—instead, I love to stop in and look at their displays, the “staff recommends” section, their great variety of stickers and notebooks up by the counter, and peruse the shelves.
Next Chapter often hosts book readings and book club events, including some in the past that have partnered with Macalester to feature our very own professors. They display updates about events on the colorfully decorated chalkboard just outside their store front, so keep an eye out for what may be coming up!
The shelves of Next Chapter are packed with options, whether you are interested in mystery, horror, fiction, nonfiction, self care, or “good books in tough times,” one of their more recent displays. Anyone in need of finding their next read should absolutely stop by — it won’t even be that far out of your way!
I had a great time visiting bookstores to write this article, and now I have a mission for all of our readers: next time you are looking for a book, eschew your classic Barnes & Noble or (god forbid) Amazon, and take a trip to a local bookstore: you will be supporting an independent business, and have a wonderful time. You won’t regret it!