A ‘booked’ and busy downtown day in Stevens Point
By Emmy Pinzon
Winter in Stevens Point calls for cozy activities, and what better way to spend a cold day than exploring bookstores? Bundle up, grab a warm drink, and explore some of the downtown shops…
Your first stop is the largest military bookstore in Wisconsin, JadeCo Stamp.
JadeCo Stamp was founded in 1999 by Marine veteran JD Manville, who dubs it a “bookstore museum.”
“I encourage every veteran to write their stories down, no matter what their role was,” Manville said. “People may wonder what it was like to be in the military in the 1970s, and preserving their stories through writing is important.”
The store, a recent expansion of Manville’s first location on Main St., has books organized by era and historical event, with military artwork lining the walls and more stamps than a local post office.
JadeCo Stamp & Books hosts war gaming events throughout the year. Contact the store for dates and times, or visit the store at 1209 Second St. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Heading east on Main Street, you can find Bound to Happen Books.
Bound to Happen Books was founded in 2020 and is owned by UW-Stevens Point alum Lin Ciurro. The store focuses on building community, inclusivity, and education through literature.
“We see bookstores as community and civic centers,” Ciurro said. “We wanted to open a space where necessary conversations take place, and our curation of books reflects that.” The store offers books of all types to spark important dialogue.
Bound to Happen Books offers a variety of events, such as boozy book pop-ups at local breweries and book club meetings. On Jan. 20, the store will host a midnight release for Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros, starting at 11 p.m.
Bound to Happen Books is located at 1008 Main St. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; or Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
To round out your day downtown, you’ll find Kindred Spirit Books, the oldest bookstore in Stevens Point.
Established in 1997, owner L’Aura Di Salvo works to provide excellent customer service daily. Treasures such as crystals, local art, and bumper stickers make Kindred Spirit a welcoming environment downtown.
“Everyone is welcome; we have books about different religions, honoring people’s past, self-help … we want to cater to everybody,” Di Salvo said. “People talk to me every day and tell me their stories if they’re comfortable.” Di Salvo describes the energy in the store as “eclectic.”
Kindred Spirit Books will host a psychic medium on Saturday, Jan. 18, from noon to 3 p.m. at $30 per reading. Every other Saturday, they host tarot card readings in the afternoons for $1 per minute.
Visit Kindred Spirit Books at 1028 Main St., Monday-Friday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; or Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Editor’s note: Sojourn Booksellers, also located downtown, declined to participate in this story.
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