Even in tumultuous times for the brick-and-mortar bookstore industry, Schuler Books has maintained steady growth.
In Okemos, that growth led the Michigan-based bookstore and cafe chain to move its Meridian Mall location to a larger 30,000-square-foot space across the hall, expanding its seating and offering a brand-new event studio.
With an additional 6,000 square feet of space, employees and customers say the new location feels more open.
“The bigger space allows for more breathing room than the last one,” employee Boone Murdoch said.
Customer Jacob Rodgers agreed. “It feels less chaotic than when it was across the hall,” he said. “It seems like everything’s a little neater.”
The Meridian Mall proposed the move when Schuler’s old space began “showing its age,” according to Elizabeth Bosscher, the company’s marketing manager. When the former Bed Bath & Beyond closed in 2023, the mall sought a new use for the space. The move benefitted both the mall and Schuler.
“We were really excited about the offer,” Bosscher said. “The tables at our cafe often filled up, so we were excited to offer a few more tables for people to sit and relax at for longer.”
Bosscher said the new location supports Schuler’s goal of being a community space.
“We want to be a place where people feel comfortable and enjoy spending time,” she said. “Maybe they’re meeting someone for a meeting, maybe they’re getting a little work done, maybe they’re just coming in to browse. We hope to be a place where you plan an afternoon to be here and hang out for a while.”
The most visible addition is the event studio, which features a stage and seating space for more than 100 guests. Bosscher said the space is “a great tool” for the bookstore: “We can reach out to publishers and say, ‘We have this beautiful space in Okemos, and we would love to be on your author tour.’”
The Okemos location has already played host to notable guests, such as New York Times best-selling author Angeline Boulley. Bosscher said the new location will allow the bookstore to host even more.
“Customers will be able to see an increase in how many author events we offer here,” Bosscher said, “as well as an increase in the profile level of the authors we bring in.”
The event studio mirrors a similar space in Schuler’s Grand Rapids location, which Bosscher said has been a popular fixture since its introduction.
Chris Faulkner and Rose Moon of DeWitt visit Schuler’s Chapbook Cafe nearly every week and have been loyal customers since before Schuler moved into the Meridian Mall in 2001. They said they like the new location’s open atmosphere and natural lighting; however, even with the extra seating, the cafe is still packed on weekends.
“It sure gets busy,” Moon said. “We were here on a Sunday, and there were no seats.”
Support City Pulse - Donate Today!
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here