Paperbacks & Things (Westland)

The research on this defunct bookstore was made easy by a full article on store from 1993. Joan (d. 2019) and Robert Aldis opened Paperbacks & Things (the stamp says Paperback) in 1982. The address seems to be different from the known store at 8027 N. Wayne Rd. in Westland (across from the Arby's) but 8044 would be across the street between the old Wendy's and Arby's. This advert from 1999 shows the address at the latter location. Either way, it is defunct now.

Since the previous owner didn't mark a date in the book like she did most of the Gothic romances that I bought at the estate sale, I'll just assume that it was post 1982.

Redford Observer, December 2, 1993

One interesting thing of note was that the store had a cat named Bambi. Considering that it specialized in romance novels, this seems par for the course.

An article from 2010 states that a woman named Melissa Bliss owned the store. The location was host to a book signing in 2016 and a Google Map image from July 2018 seems to indicate that it was still operating.

Canton Observer, November 4, 1999

Detroit News, March 7, 1998

Comments

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Detroit Area Books and Bookstores

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