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Nominated for: BEST Bookstore
Over the years, King has built a reputation among book lovers that speaks for itself. Through his retail business and rare book catalogues (he's working on Catalogue #97 at the time of this writing), King has handled a myriad of books, autographs, archives etc., including the books and papers of the auto barons (from Dodge to DeLorean), authors (John Kendrick Bangs, Zane Grey, etc.), sports stars, celebrities and just plain folk. Among his finds lately were original photos of Mark Twain which literally fell out of a Twain bio one day, and a small pamphlet from the 1950s (pulled from a box of library discarded ephemera) with a signed presentation from the junior senator from Massachusetts, one John F. Kennedy.
These days King says he's content with having over a million books in stock, three stores (the main store on West Lafayette, a small place in Detroit's Cultural Center near Wayne State University, and one in the trendy suburb of Ferndale), about 20 employees, two dogs and two canaries who come to work every day.
Be prepared to get lost for a while if you are any kind of bibliophile. Good staff knowledgeable in authors and topics; throw them a question and you're like to get several recommendations. While not quite Powells to Portland, King is definitely right up there as a Detroit institution.
Vote: BEST Bookstore
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They have just about anything you are looking for. Very knowledgeable staff.
Vote: BEST Bookstore
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Discovered them years ago and loved them since the moment I walked in! A true gem!
Vote: BEST Bookstore
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