Remember the thrill of the Scholastic Book Fair days? Mom or Dad gave you ten dollars before you hopped on the school bus and told you to pick out good books. And if you listened to them, you probably grabbed a classic Goosebumps in paperback. If you ignored the parents, you made a beeline to the merch table and blew your money on scented pencils, puppy and kitty bookmarks and Space Jam posters.
Good times.
Why should all that fun be reserved for school kids? What if there was a book fair for the grown ups that popped up in unexpected places like microbreweries and wine bars?
That is the concept behind The Crooked Nook, a pop up book shop experience that travels to different locations throughout Michigan. This month, the shop will be traveling to HOMES CAMPUS location on March 7 from four to nine pm. Shoppers are encouraged to grab a brew and browse through tables full of books.
Corley and Eric Wall have been operating the Crooked Nook since April 2025.
“Eric actually came up with the name from a Dungeons and Dragons campaign,” Corley Wall said. “The idea is that you come to us to get a magical and whimsical experience. Imagine entering a door in a tree and finding a cozy and fun hideout to enjoy books.”
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March is National Reading Month. What better excuse to add to your To Be Read pile? It’s the perfect opportunity to grab a brew, a stack of books, and maybe a cool bookmark, too.
“The goal is to bring back that Scholastic book fair nostalgia feel, but with a drink in hand,” he said.
The Crooked Nook offers a wide range of popular genres, while promoting Michigan authors as well.
“Our Michigan authors are a big part of why we do what we do,” Wall said.
Shoppers will also find a variety of merchandise, including crocheted stuffies from Northern Luna Crafts and exclusive Crooked Nook items from Hop Couture Designs.
“Our events typically take place at bars, breweries and wineries. We travel all over Michigan, finding new places to have our book fairs. We’ve had some events at salons, flower shops, and soon, a few schools. We do have events for the whole family, even if we are geared more toward adults.”
Fans of Booktok will appreciate the selection, and may even opt for a mysterious selection from the blind date with a book section.
Looking for a bookish community? The Crooked Nook also hosts a monthly Blind Book Club.
“People love books. They really do. But they also love a night without the kids to just go out and shop.”
The Crooked Nook counts on the nostalgia factor to draw shoppers in. “We want to bring a level of happiness back into the world,” Wall said. “When you open a book, you get a chance to escape and live in a world that’s not your own. This can help with mental health, and that’s extremely important.”
The Crooked Nook at HOMES CAMPUS. 112 Jackson Plaza, Ann Arbor. Saturday, March 7, 4-9pm
