Next Chapter Books Keeps On Keeping On

As you probably know, Next Chapter Books was a top finalist in the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. It’s because of supporters like you that we had this opportunity! We’re so thankful that you shared our story and committed to voting for us regularly. We were the youngest business to reach the top 4. Although we did not win Hatch, the process introduced our bookstore to many new people. We hope this will help expand our customer base and connections with additional funding opportunities. In short, a lot of work for all of us, but worth it! Thank you!

On April 29, we celebrated the 10th Anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day! What joy it was to be a part of Detroit’s rich literary community doing so. It was also our last day at The Alger Theater storefront. The Friends of The Alger have been generous and supportive partners to us over the last five months.

So what’s next? We’ve signed a lease on a building at E. Warren and Kensington for our permanent home. This building needs interior renovations, but we are eager to transform it into a bookstore and community hub with room for programming.

The space also allows us to partner with complimentary small businesses in the future. We aim to open here in late summer. However, we are still working to secure additional funding for our modest buildout and scaling up our inventory. In the meantime, you’ll find us at the E. Warren Farmer’s Market starting in June and possibly, at Food Truck Fridays. We’ll keep you posted on all our events through our social media and website.

If you’re looking for your next read or a literary gift, we hope you’ll consider supporting us by ordering your books on our Bookshop page through nextchapterbkstore.com.

We are incredibly thankful for your support of our small business journey. We look forward to growing in community with you and seeing you around the neighborhood as we work to open Detroit’s next independent bookstore!