I was driving down the road behind Swensons Drive-In the other day and I saw this shop, The Bookseller, out of the corner of my eye. I quickly pulled into the parking lot because I knew it would be perfect for my next Hidden Gem.

Having discovered it by accident, I stepped inside and was greeted by the smell of old books. This store is big and I like that, although there are many rows of bookshelves, it doesn’t feel claustrophobic like other book and antique shops I’ve been to. The prices for the books are written inside the cover.

This shop is stocked with rare, used, and out-of-print books. They carry all genres here and, if you’re a history buff, you’ll love this shop. They have publications about the history of Akron, the rubber industry, Summit County, and Northeast Ohio. I would recommend students stop by here for unique books to use for research.

“The books here are quality editions at excellent prices. The owners are knowledgable and are glad to see you. [They are] my first choice when it comes to purchasing books,” said Benjamin Holda, an English student and grilled cheese connoisseur at The University of Akron.

According to the store’s website, thebooksellerinc.com, The Bookseller is a business that has been in operation for around 60 years and has been passed down from generation to generation in the Klein family. The shop is now operated by Andrea Klein and her father Frank Klein.

The shop also has an ongoing book club that meets the fourth Sunday of each month from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

This shop is located in the backside of the plaza in Wallhaven where Dunkin’ Donuts and The Eye Opener are located.

Hours of operation:

Monday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.