Bigger on the Inside

When customers enter the Curious Book Shop, the most frequent comment we hear, next to "I love that old book smell!," is "You have three floors?" Astonishingly, we do! Though the 40-year-old shop may look small from the outside, nestled among the other storefronts in downtown East Lansing, the shop is much bigger than it appears.

With over 50,000 items, the Curious Book Shop expands above and below the ground level, and the aisles stretch far to the back. The walls are packed with books or lined with ephemera, and the narrow aisles are created with tall shelves brimming with the same. The collection of books and paper items became so extensive in 1987 that Ray opened a second shop six blocks to the west. The Archives Book Shop houses an additional 20,000 books and 50,000 postcards!

Our books cover a vast array of topics, so you're sure to find something of interest. Take a look at our store layout to get an idea of the subjects we carry and where you might find them. You'll be amazed at how much bigger we are on the inside.