Saturn Booksellers
133 W. Main Street
Gaylord, MI 49735
989-732-8899
[email protected]
saturnbooksellers.com
Hours:
Mon-Thurs 9am – 6pm
Friday 9am-8pm
Sat 9am-6pm; Sun 11am-4pm
Summer hours 6pm time bumps to 7 pm
Owner: Jill Miner
If you’ve ever driven down Main Street in Gaylord you may have noticed the sidewalk sign outside Saturn Booksellers that reads ‘Get in Here.’ This legendary sign sits out on the sidewalk year round beckoning visitors into this independent bookstore tucked into the heart of Gaylord’s Alpine Village.
It’s an eclectic place for readers of all ages. Chalkboard walls and the smell of fresh coffee brewed in their log cabin full service coffee shop coupled with a knowledgeable staff, a full calendar of events and a real sense of fun, makes Saturn Booksellers a destination for locals and tourists alike.
Saturn opened in 1992 in Glen’s Plaza and seven years later moved to their current location on Main Street. Owner Jill Miner said that they draw from a very large geographic area in the northern middle of the state.
In this 3,000 square foot space you will find a fun collection of gifts, toys and games not readily found somewhere else. They also offer year round events typically held in their 2,000 square foot events space, with an emphasis on the summer resort season. They have hosted everyone from New York Times bestselling authors to regional favorites and everyone in between. Miner says their events draw customers from as far away as Midland to the south and Canada to the north.
Jill says that their success and the success of all of the other northern Michigan independent bookstores wouldn’t be possible without the loyal readers who support them. “We are also excited about reading ourselves,” she adds. “So it’s easy to communicate that, whether its face to face, via social media, through interaction with our schools, etc.”
The staff is comprised of self-described bibliophiles and “kids” who start working there in high school and typically work summers and holidays all the way through their college careers.
Saturn has racked up an impressive number of awards over the last decade including the Michigan Retailer of the Year (small business), Otsego County Chamber of Commerce Golden Pineapple Award for Best Customer Service, and numerous Best Bookstore, Best Store Staff and Best Hangout awards in local and regional publications.
Miner was just named 2014 ‘Woman Making History’ by the local AAUW chapter for enhancing the culture of Otsego County. Jill has served on the board (and as Education Director, Secretary, Vice President and President) of the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers’ Association and on several committees for the American Booksellers Association, as well as on numerous regional boards and committees.
2013 Staff Picks:
“…there are so many good ones!”
Bootstrapper by Mardi Link
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole
Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles by Fabio Bartolomei
The Aviator’s Wife by Melanie Benjamin
The Boy on the Wooden Box by Leon Leyson