John K. King Used & Rare Books

Category:	Used Book Store
Address:	901 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226, USA
Phone:	+1 313-961-0622
Site:	rarebooklink.com
Rating:	4.8
Working:	9:30AM–5:30PM 9:30AM–5:30PM 9:30AM–5:30PM 9:30AM–5:30PM 9:30AM–5:30PM 9:30AM–5:30PM Closed

Location

+−

Leaflet

Photos 100

Reviews 9

Golden Rules of Wine and Travel

Driving up to the warehouse, I felt all tingle-y where my husband likely felt concerned about the differences in time we were each wanting to spend there. For perspective, Ill show the math behind the Time-In-Book-Store Equations in both of our heads. My husbands Time-In-Book-Store equation: 8 minutes - 2 minutes if there is any game/match/round on TV (being able to retrieve scores on his phone does not influence this number) - 3 minutes if there are no historical artifacts around - 4 minutes if the quantity of books in the store outnumbers baseball cards he collected as a kid - 2 minutes if he is hungry - 4 minutes if he needs a Starbucks - 10 minutes if there is a store nearby that sells North Face fleeces or meat thermometers = _____ My equation: Infinity + 2 days if the book store is in Paris + 30 minutes if I have recently eaten + 4 hours if someone brings me water and a banana + 2 weeks if the store has good lighting = _____ My husband is a downloader of books. He likes the feeling of being able to choose between dozens of books that are already on his iPad. I have an aversion to actually reading books on my technology because I consume almost all other content that way. To separate from that reading style and pick up a book is distancing enough from real life that I am immediately relaxed. Plus, the wonder of selecting your next book in an actual book store is special. It just is. Once inside John K. King Books, we were greeted immediately by both a person and teaming stacks of books. The warehouse windows cracked through all of the book collections occasionally, but mostly we were in a dark maze of mysterious organization and book quality. It was on the first floor that my husband asked cautiously if we needed to go all the way up to the 4th floor. This happened just as I saw that TRAVEL was on the 4th floor. So, up we went to the 4th floor. The building (overall) and stairwells (specifically) smelled like hybrid of a library and an old high school more than a traditional book store. There was something reassuring about it, not like that smell that you can never, NOT EVER get out of things bought from a thrift shop. This is a place that seemed to require more of an exploration than most stores ask. You could ask for help, but that kind of defeats the purpose and the mystery of a shop that has four floors of word weight. The dive for that interesting cover and the reach for that oh-I-meant-to-read-that book on the top shelf, these are all of the exercises that work those discovery muscles that make the finding that much better. Here there are lots of "art" and "historical" non-literary chotskies around, if books are not your thing. Being there is overwhelming only in that if-you-had-ten-years-maybe-you-would-see-it-all way and in the unruly temperature way. In these summer months, it is much warmer on the higher floors; a discovery I am sure flips to cold in the winter months. Bring a personal fan or sweater as appropriate.

Jill T.

Please turn the lights on, Mr King would have wanted the lights on! The request made of me as I was using the light from the window on this gray gloomy day here in Detroit. 100s of 1000s of books some so rare they are not even kept in this building, but in a separate building. That book you are looking for is $250.00. I hear from the young man as he looks it up on his computer, but we do get more modern dated sets in at a lesser price says the lady behind the counter, as she starts her lunch break. Check back often they say and hand me a card. My mind is still in awe of all of the books that I have just seen. Leather-bound, first editions, hard covers, coffee table beauties, childrens books both old and new, even coloring books, books on every possible hobby, religion, city, state, country, anything your heart desires...it can be found HERE. The two things that you will run out of, time and money, cant help you with that, although I bet you they have books on it!!

A Private User

Enjoy this bookstore while its still around. Places like this are history in most parts of the U.S. I drive from Chicago to look through the constantly changing inventory once a month. I dont know of any other bookstore like this in the U.S. I know two couples that come from Europe and spend a week every year at this store. The staff is friendly, and you have floor upon floor to look at just packed with books. Most of the inventory is not in a database which means you will find bargains galore. I have never witnessed another bookstore thats even close to this one. This is old school book shopping at its finest.

Kirk Dedenbach

This is a bibliophiles dream, and its inclusion on a list of the best bookstores in the world I recently read is totally warranted. The size and breadth of the collection is amazing, and a lot of it is out-of-print books you cant find anywhere else. The staff is very helpful and able to talk about the collection, and doesnt just point you toward a shelf. This is the kind of place one can spend hours just looking around and taking it all in, so when you come, be sure to allow some extra time.

Amelia Israel

I purchased books from this book store and yes its a bit over whelming but very rewarding. What I noticed with this bookstore is that they have several types of shoppers. To name just those who stood out, the rush, the exploratory, and research shopper. I was the rush and I received the help I needed and they found the book I was looking for. Great place for Used and Rare Books. Customer service overall needed some spark but it worked out that day for the purpose needed.

Don Z

This is a treasure... So many out of print, and rare books here its unbelievable... Probably the second best bookstore in the country, and the prices are darn cheap, I wish I lived closer, do I can come here more often. Disclaimer: you can spend your life away here, This place is very addictive, especially when a lot of the books here are so rare that you dont know when you will have another Chance to leaf through them.

A Private User

John K. King is the best bookstore in the city of Detroit, and potentially the greatest bookstore on the face of the earth. Although Royal Oak Books wins my heart over with the two calico store cats and lovely owner, I get lost in John K. King for hours on end. Ive walked out of here with some of the rarest and most beautiful books. No two visits are ever the same, but theyre always a great experience to remember.

Sally York

Dont ever let John King touch a valuable book of yours: He may damage it, like he damaged mine. Took a first edition Mark Twain book to the store to see if King wanted to buy it. He handled it very roughly, and broke the binding -- in my opinion, deliberately. Then he acted like it was already broken. A first-class jerk. I mean, who would do that? He can not be trusted with other peoples property. Beware.

Aron Lawrence

Dont come prepared. This bookstore is a sprawling building full of all kinds of books... but not necessarily the ones youre looking for. If you come in looking for a specific title or author, you could be disappointed, but if you come in to browse and look around for something new, youll find plenty to keep you busy. As long as you know what youre getting into, youll enjoy your time there.