Our Story

In 2005, The Stray Dog Bookshop was envisioned by founder, Larry Nelson. Being a book “accumulator” since college, the dream of opening a bookstore was always present. After practicing as a Certified Public Accountant in various capacities for thirty-five + years, Larry has gone into another phase of “bookkeeping”. The bookshop has now become reality thanks to mentoring, guidance, encouragement, and assistance from many people. Our staff includes Kate Baggott, our English Lit major and Nicky Hufford, our Coffee Barista. We actually don’t have a stray dog, but you can visit our stray cat @ The Stray Dog. Pumpkin was abandoned here last summer and has now moved indoors.

Our shop is located in a refurbished home built in 1852 in downtown Three Rivers. Our growing collection of 10,000 + hardcover and paperback books is carefully selected and presented, and although it changes daily, we do keep a well organized, clean shop. The shop includes comfy chairs and benches, stained glass, plants and access to coffee bar drinks, all to make your browsing enjoyable.

What's Happening

Summer has finally arriver in Michigan! At Stray Dog we are restocking our shelves with new arrivals, adding more bookshelf space and opening our porches for your outside reading and sipping enjoyment. Visit our shop now for that special collectible copy or just for something to fill your leisure time. Visit our inventory on our “Books For Sale” page if you can’t get to the shop. Watch this site for announcements of special sales and events throughout the summer months. If you are a first time visitor to shop or website, remind us and receive a special 15% first time customer discount.

Book Collecting Tips

We encourage reading for fun and pleasure and collecting whatever you have a passion for. We love helping you grow your collection and develop your Literary Addiction (called Biblioholism, according to best-selling author, Tom Raabe).

Numerous books have been written on collecting and valuing books. We offer only a few of the primary tips that you should know to successfully collect, and buy or sell, books.