John K. King Used & Rare Books

Four floors and a million books in a converted glove factory

Address 901 W Lafayette Blvd, Detroit, MI 48226

John King's used bookstore fills a four-storey former Advance Glove factory just west of downtown, with more than a million books on the shelves. The aisles are tight, the heating is patchy, and the categorisation is famously eccentric — but the depth of the inventory is extraordinary. The rare books are in a separate showroom by appointment.

It has been on lists of the world's best bookstores for years. Go on a Saturday with no plans and lose three hours. Cash and card accepted; parking is in the gravel lot to the west.

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