Hard-to-find literature a staple of downtown Holland used bookstore

Classics, literature and hard-to-find titles line the bookshelves at downtown Holland's Book Village 2, an expansion of the used bookstore Book Village on Holland's north side.

The focus of the new store, located near Hope College, is to sell older books not offered in mainstream bookstores.

"Our books are more obscure," says store owner Tom Kohl. "I don't want to be a miniature Barnes & Noble. You are going to find things here that you aren't going to find someplace else."

Kohl has owned the original Book Village since 2003, and although the store is on a busy road, he says it's hard to draw people in because there's no foot traffic. He decided to try downtown, hoping to attract a different crowd than his north side store.

He opened the downtown location on College Avenue in August, then moved two doors down to a larger space at 214 College in October.

Kohl kept the previous occupant's distinctive leopard print carpeting and some artwork painted by a local artist, but invested about $3,500 in bookshelves, nearly 1,000 books, a couch and comfortable chairs. The store also has a keyboard for anyone who wants to play it. College students work at the downtown shop.

"The atmosphere really fits in with the stores around it," says Kohl, referring to the coffee shop and record store on either side. "This little area is like the San Francisco of Holland."

Kohl collects used books to sell in his stores from book sales all over the state, estate sales and thrift stores. He finds unique editions that he says will appeal to book collectors and serious readers, but he says he doesn't buy any books from online sources.

"It's the thrill of the hunt," he says.

Source: Tom Kohl, owner of Book Village and Book Village 2

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].