Bookstores in Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI has 27 bookstores on the map. That's 27 bookshops mapped around Milwaukee, each with its own shelves and specialties. The used sections are where the real bargains hide. Give yourself an hour minimum — bookshops are the one errand that always takes longer than planned.
This guide covers every bookstore we could verify in and around Milwaukee (within about 40 km), built from OpenStreetMap's community-maintained data. Names you'll run into include Book Marq and Barnes & Noble, plus Sweeney's College Books. If a bookshop's missing from Milwaukee's list, it probably just hasn't been mapped yet.
The Milwaukee bookstore lineup
27 mapped within about 40 km:
Book Marq
Bookstore
Book Marq is Bookstore on North 16th Street.
North 16th Street, 53233
Barnes & Noble
Bookstore
Barnes & Noble — Bookstore, found on 2710 South Green Bay Road in Racine. Also worth knowing about Barnes & Noble: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00.
2710 South Green Bay Road, Racine
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-21:00; Su 10:00-19:00
Sweeney's College Books
Used bookstore
Sweeney's College Books is Used bookstore on 1100 West Wells Street, Milwaukee. Sweeney's College Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo 09:00-14:30; Tu-We 09:00-16:00; Th 09:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
1100 West Wells Street, Milwaukee, 53233
Hours: Mo 09:00-14:30; Tu-We 09:00-16:00; Th 09:00-16:00
Phone: +1 414 933 8398
UWM Bookstore
BookstoreRun by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Run by University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, UWM Bookstore is Bookstore. Also worth knowing about UWM Bookstore: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Phone: +1 414 229 4201
Downtown Books
Used bookstore
Downtown Books is Used bookstore on 624 North Broadway, Milwaukee. Downtown Books also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
624 North Broadway, Milwaukee, 53202
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-19:00; Su 10:00-17:00
Phone: +1 414 224 1799
Barnes & Noble
BookstoreRun by Barnes and Noble
Run by Barnes and Noble, Barnes & Noble is Bookstore, found on 95 North Moorland Road in Brookfield. Also worth knowing about Barnes & Noble: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 10:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
95 North Moorland Road, Brookfield, 53005
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-22:00; Su 10:00-19:00
Phone: +1-262-796-8550
Christian Science Reading Room
Bookstore
Christian Science Reading Room is Bookstore on 310 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee. Christian Science Reading Room also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
310 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, 53202
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-16:00
Phone: +1 414 273 0872
Half Price Books
Bookstore
Half Price Books — Bookstore, found on 17115 West Bluemound Road in Brookfield. Also worth knowing about Half Price Books: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 12:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
17115 West Bluemound Road, Brookfield, 53005
Hours: Mo-Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 12:00-18:00
Phone: +1-262-789-0280
Collector's Edge Comics
Bookstore
Collector's Edge Comics is Bookstore on 2330 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee.
2330 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee, 53207
Boswell Books
Bookstore
Boswell Books — Bookstore, found on 2559 North Downer Avenue in Milwaukee. Also worth knowing about Boswell Books: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa-Su 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
2559 North Downer Avenue, Milwaukee, 53211
Hours: Mo-Fr 10:00-20:00; Sa-Su 10:00-18:00
Phone: +1-414-332-1181
Lion's Tooth
Bookstore
Lion's Tooth is Bookstore on 2421 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee. Lion's Tooth also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
2421 South Kinnickinnic Avenue, Milwaukee, 53207
Phone: +1-414-455-3498
Waukesha County Technical College Bookstore
Bookstore
Waukesha County Technical College Bookstore is Bookstore.
Barnes & Noble
Bookstore
Barnes & Noble — Bookstore. Also worth knowing about Barnes & Noble: the map lists its hours as Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00, Su 10:00-19:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
Hours: Mo-Sa 09:00-21:00, Su 10:00-19:00
Phone: +1-414-475-6070
Voyageur Book Shop
Bookstore
Voyageur Book Shop is Bookstore on 2212. Voyageur Book Shop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Su-Mo 12:00-17:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-20:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
2212, 53207
Hours: Su-Mo 12:00-17:00; Tu-Sa 10:00-20:00
Phone: +1 414-210-3309
Catholic Books and Gifts
Bookstore
Catholic Books and Gifts — Bookstore, found on 7346 West Greenfield Avenue in West Allis. Also worth knowing about Catholic Books and Gifts: the map lists its hours as Mo-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-16:00; Su off; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
7346 West Greenfield Avenue, West Allis, 53214
Hours: Mo-Fr 09:30-17:30; Sa 09:30-16:00; Su off
Phone: +1-414-258-2665
Niche Book Bar
Bookstore
Niche Book Bar — Bookstore, found on 1937 North Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive in Milwaukee. Also worth knowing about Niche Book Bar: it has a website with more detail.
1937 North Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Drive, Milwaukee, 53212
Lighthouse Christian Bookstore
Bookstore
Lighthouse Christian Bookstore is Bookstore on 3624 West North Avenue, Milwaukee.
3624 West North Avenue, Milwaukee, 53208
Christian Science Reading Room
BookstoreRun by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Brookfield
Christian Science Reading Room is Bookstore run by First Church of Christ, Scientist, Brookfield on 12201 West North Avenue, Wauwatosa. Christian Science Reading Room also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 10:00-14:00; Sa 11:00-13:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip.
12201 West North Avenue, Wauwatosa, 53226
Hours: Tu-Fr 10:00-14:00; Sa 11:00-13:00
Phone: +1 414-258-3576
Wonderland Bookshop
Bookstore
Wonderland Bookshop is Bookstore on 4001 North Downer Avenue, Shorewood. Wonderland Bookshop also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Mo off; Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-16:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
4001 North Downer Avenue, Shorewood, 53211
Hours: Mo off; Tu-Sa 10:00-18:00; Su 11:00-16:00
Phone: +1 414-249-5680
Rainbow Booksellers
Bookstore
Rainbow Booksellers is Bookstore on 5704 West Vliet Street, Milwaukee. Rainbow Booksellers also notes on the map: a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
5704 West Vliet Street, Milwaukee, 53208-2161
Phone: +1 414-774-7205
Rooted MKE
Bookstore
Rooted MKE is Bookstore on 5312 West Vliet Street, Milwaukee. Rooted MKE also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Sa,Su 10:00-16:00; Mo-We "Field trips & programming by appointment only"; Th-Fr 10:00-18:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
5312 West Vliet Street, Milwaukee, 53208
Hours: Sa,Su 10:00-16:00; Mo-We "Field trips & programming by appointment only"; Th-Fr 10:00-18:00
Phone: +1 414-488-9545
Little Read Book Store
Bookstore
Little Read Book Store is Bookstore on 7603 West State Street, Wauwatosa.
7603 West State Street, Wauwatosa, 53213
Arise! Christian Stores
Bookstore
Arise! Christian Stores — Bookstore, found on 3312 Washington Avenue in Racine.
3312 Washington Avenue, Racine
Woodland Pattern Book Center
Bookstore
Woodland Pattern Book Center is Bookstore on 720 East Locust Street, Milwaukee. Woodland Pattern Book Center also notes on the map: the map lists its hours as Tu-Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa-Su 12:00-17:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
720 East Locust Street, Milwaukee, 53212-2547
Hours: Tu-Fr 11:00-20:00; Sa-Su 12:00-17:00
Phone: +1 414 263 5001
VCY Christian Books
Bookstore
VCY Christian Books — Bookstore, found on 10707 West Capitol Drive in Wauwatosa.
10707 West Capitol Drive, Wauwatosa, 53222
Half Price Books
Bookstore
Half Price Books — Bookstore, found on 5032 South 74th Street in Greenfield. Also worth knowing about Half Price Books: the map lists its hours as Mo, Tu 10:00-20:00; We 10:00-18:00; Fr, Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-20:00; a phone number is listed — worth a call before a special trip; it has a website with more detail.
5032 South 74th Street, Greenfield, 53220
Hours: Mo, Tu 10:00-20:00; We 10:00-18:00; Fr, Sa 10:00-20:00; Su 10:00-20:00
Phone: +14142810000
Barnes & Noble
Bookstore
Barnes & Noble — Bookstore, found on 5755 West Glen Bay Avenue in Glendale.
5755 West Glen Bay Avenue, Glendale
What the map tells us about bookstores in Milwaukee
15 of the 27 list their opening hours on the map, which is genuinely useful — bookshops keep civilised hours, so the listed ones are usually reliable.
16 have websites listed. Worth a look for events — readings and signings get announced there first.
Most of the bookstores in Milwaukee list a phone number. Useful for checking whether a specific title is in stock before you visit.
2 of the shops are tagged as selling used books — the second-hand shelves are where out-of-print gems and first editions turn up for pocket change.
The Milwaukee bookstore crawl
Making a day of it in Milwaukee? Work this order: Book Marq on North 16th Street, Barnes & Noble on 2710 South Green Bay Road, Sweeney's College Books on 1100 West Wells Street, UWM Bookstore, Downtown Books on 624 North Broadway, Barnes & Noble on 95 North Moorland Road, Christian Science Reading Room on 310 East Wisconsin Avenue, and Half Price Books on 17115 West Bluemound Road. That's the bookstore crawl in one sensible loop, no backtracking. 19 more are listed below.
Bookstore tips for Milwaukee
A few things worth knowing before you work through Milwaukee's bookstores:
- Poetry lives in bookshops at Book Marq. Poetry barely exists online as a browsing experience. The poetry shelf in a real shop is a different world.
- Read the first page in the shop at Barnes & Noble. The first-page test never lies. If it doesn't grab you standing there, it won't grab you at home.
- Check for a café corner. A bookshop with coffee is a trap in the best way. Plan accordingly; you won't be leaving soon.
- Check the cookbook section. Cookbooks are the most browsed and least bought section, which means the used shelf is full of barely-touched gems.
Good to know
We searched about 40 km around Milwaukee — that covers the town itself plus the surrounding communities you'd reasonably drive to. Listings come from OpenStreetMap, mapped by local volunteers, so a brand-new bookstore in Milwaukee can take a while to appear. If you spot one of the 27 that's closed, or a great bookstore we missed, the fix is to update the map itself — that's where this guide reads from.
We don't list prices — they change constantly and vary by edition. What we list is the where: real shops, verified by real mappers, in alphabetical order with no favourites.
If you run one of the 27 listed here and something's wrong — a closure, a move, new hours — the fix is the same: update the shop on OpenStreetMap and the correction flows through to this page on the next daily refresh.
Bookstore listings for Milwaukee: 27 mapped from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Photos from Wikimedia Commons contributors; individual photo credits appear in captions. Listing data was last refreshed automatically — verify hours before visiting.