With frosty weather back in Cleveland for the foreseeable future, it’s easy to retreat indoors and snuggle up. We suggest a tweak to that plan—head to an independent bookstore in Cleveland, grab a book, and then make haste back to your couch to get lost in a fictional world (or your genre of choice). If you made a resolution to read more this year, but you’re not sure where to start, check out The Daily on Thursdays in January—we’ll take you on a tour of local bookstores that you can support.
Our third stop on the Cleveland bookstore tour takes us to Appletree Books in Cleveland Heights. Established in 1975 and located in the historic Cedar Fairmount neighborhood, Appletree Books is just a short distance from Case Western Reserve University and University Circle (about a 15-minute walk).
The bookstore offers an eclectic, well-curated selection of new book titles in multiple genres for both children and adults. They also carry greeting cards, journals, letterpress cards and notecards, as well as puzzles, bookends, candles and small gifts inside their intimate, warm space in the historic Heights Center building.
Fun Fact
What sets Appletree apart from other Indie bookstores is its book curation process. They maintain accounts with more than 20 publishers and purchase from them directly, as opposed to ordering primarily from Ingram, the nation’s largest book wholesaler. Additionally, Appletree sells only new books, not previously owned titles.
Books in a Bar
Appletree sponsors a book group, Books In A Bar, that meets monthly at Parnell’s Pub, their neighbor in the Cedar Fairmount neighborhood. Due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group is on hiatus—but as soon as the pandemic allows them to resume meeting in a small space safely, they will announce their meeting schedule and books up for discussion.
Have an idea for a book to discuss? Email the store at info@appletree-books.com.
BookBox
Looking to get into the habit of reading more often? Look no further than BookBox, Appletree’s book subscription service. Simply fill in your contact information, decide whether you’d like a monthly or quarterly subscription, and answer a few questions about yourself (like your reading interests) to help Appletree staff curate the perfect selection of books for you.
You can choose how many books you want and you can note whether you’d like paperback or hardcover. Looking for a gift for a friend or family member? You can also give the subscription box as a gift. Set up a subscription box today!
Visit Appletree Books
Ready to stop by Appletree? It’s located at 12419 Cedar Road in Cleveland Heights, just a three-minute drive from Case Western Reserve. They’re open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. You can complete their book order form to pick up a book in the store, or to have it delivered or shipped to your preferred destination.