There’s a historically beautiful building that houses up to 70,000 books and whose bookish doors are open to the curious. That cozy, whimsical place is tucked in the main drag of Washburn WI, and goes by the name of Chequamegon Books.
A place on Lake Superior where you can search the spines and contents of books for hours, buy yourself a cup of coffee, receive friendly and expert service, and above all, be surrounded by the pulse of thousands of literary works.
There’s an undeniable feeling when you’re in the contently quiet company of packed bookshelves. Some may call it inspiration, and others may call it ‘better than people‘. Whichever is the case for you, you’re bound to find something that tugs at your booklover curiosity when you walk amongst these carefully curated books.
Known for its massive collection of rare, interesting, and beloved secondhand books, fair prices, good coffee, and excellent service by long-time owners, married couple Richard and Carol Avol, hours could easily be passed by in this bookish oasis.
Not only does each book hold its own story, past, and future (with a visit from book lovers like you!), but the building and proprietors themselves carry a rich history and story that all leads back to books. Tag along and discover the fantastical story embedded in this bookish fortress and my own lovely experience throughout their many, many shelves of lovely books.
“I could literally spend all day here, browsing the vast variety of books it holds. You’ll find new, used, and antique collections lining wall to wall and floor to ceiling shelves.
– Mel E ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fair prices, friendly staff.”
Where is Chequamegon Books?
When you arrive in Washburn WI you’ll quickly see the sweet shops that decorate its main drag, and amongst those is Chequamegon Books!
Browse the endless shelves of paperbacks and hardcovers, find your new novel companion, and stay inside the bookstore for a cup of coffee, or head down the street to North Coast Coffee or to Coco – Artisan Bakery & Good Eats to unwind with your new find. Take yourself on a cozy, dawdling adventure to discover the things to do in Washburn WI!
Chequamegon Books Address:
2 E Bayfield St, Washburn, WI 54891
Chequamegon Books Hours
Below are Chequamegon Books‘ operating hours, so you can browse to your bookworm heart’s content! Please keep in mind that during the Winter, bad weather may affect these hours.
Monday – Saturday: 10 AM to 6 PM
Sunday: 11 AM to 5 PM
Chequamegon Books Phone Number: 715-373-2899
Chequamegon Books, History, Appraisals, and Coffee!
This isn’t your average bookstore, and not just because there are 70,000 books to get lost in! This gorgeously detailed brownstone building has a deep history that dates back to 1888.
According to the Chequamegon Books website, originally, the building served as a City Pharmacy and the Meehan Mercantile Company and then went on to take quite a few different purposes (Including the County Journal, residential space, and an International Order of Odd Fellows lodge), ultimately leading to the current owners, Richard and Carol Avol, purchasing and restoring the building in 1995.
This ambitious and book-loving couple had made quite the names for themselves as book appraisers and booksellers in the Madison area but had always dreamed of finding the perfect historic building to curate, appraise, and sell remarkable books. When the opportunity arose for them to purchase the beautiful brownstone building in Washburn WI, they knew this was the perfect place to set up shop and enjoy the many future travelers and fellow book lovers who would come through their doors.
I’ll end this section with a delightful quote straight from their Building’s History tab on the Chequamegon Books website to wrap everything up in a lovely bow.
“In researching the building, it was learned that one of its early uses was by a bookseller. The current owners feel the cycle has been completed, with their book business and living arrangements within the building.”
So, not only do the walls, floors, and details within the building hold a rich history, but so do the many books that live on the shelves!
Richard and Carol Avol are highly respected book appraisers with decades of experience. Richard, in particular, loves to dive into his ‘detective work’ to discover the hidden secrets of vintage books that may be overlooked by some but not by this pro.
On the Chequamegon Books website, you can see some of the incredibly rare and valuable pieces they have, including manuscripts written by Mark Twain himself! Even if you’re not into collecting rare copies of books, it’s just an honor to be in the presence of greatness.
Say, while you’re browsing the hundreds upon hundreds of titles, why not buy yourself a nice, smooth cup of warm coffee to accompany you on your bookish browse? That’s right, this bookstore sells coffee as well; does it get any better?
The Bookish Spark of Chequamegon Books
What I love most about bookstores is that each one has a special and unique feel. There isn’t one bookstore that I’ve walked into that’s given my little bookish heart the same reaction; the only common denominator is my excitement about being around so many different books.
With that being said, the moment my husband and I walked into Chequamegon Books during our little dawdling adventure about and finding things to do in Washburn WI, on Lake Superior, we were taken aback in the best way possible.
It was a Tardis moment for our Doctor Who fans; we didn’t realize just how massive this bookstore was until we came inside and saw it for ourselves. That just goes to show you that you can’t judge a bookstore by its exterior, although the exterior of this building is beautiful!
The first room alone contains so many books that I couldn’t possibly fathom a ballpark number, and that’s not including the back room and second floor, where the wave of books goes on and on. For some, that may sound a bit overwhelming, but you can take ease in knowing that Chequamegon Books does an excellent job of organizing their books into easily distinguishable sections.
After my husband and I had taken in the moment together of coming upon such a gem, we went to our desired book sections and began the peaceful scan of titles and the curious cracking open of vintage hardcovers. We had come into Chequamegon Books on a snowy day, so we pretty much had the place to ourselves as far as patrons go.
My bookish heart felt cozy and content being amongst the thousands of stories, and as an Indie Author myself, it felt like a rush of inspiration to be surrounded by so many writing styles, subjects, and possibilities. There really is a topic and section for everyone to get lost in within this bookish oasis, and the owners were nothing but kind and knowledgeable.
I remember finding a precious vintage poetry book on the second floor, and the first poem captured me. Afraid to see the price written on the inside cover because, come on, it was a unique vintage book in very good condition, I thought I’d have to take out a loan. But, to my surprise, the price was an exhale of relief, and I found that all the prices I saw (save for the rare collections, of course) were extremely, fairly priced, and it was a refreshing thing to come across in the bookstore world.
Next time you’re bopping around on Lake Superior and you’re on the lookout for things to do in Washburn WI, I hope you take a chance on a bookish adventure and pay a visit to Chequamegon Books. Here, you can be amongst rare vintage classics, good coffee, and excellent friendly service right on Lake Superior.
