Everybody Reads

Along with Colleen Davis’s adjacent GONE WIRED, Scott Harris has transformed the 2000 Block of Michigan Avenue, heart of the Eastside, with this bookstore & event center. GW and ER are such important, ‘kindred souls’ that supporters put up the $$$$ to cut a door connecting the shops so you can wander back & forth.
ER is strongly focused on serving neglected social communities ~ afflicted children and the bereaved as well as the neighborhood’s substantial gay/​lesbian and ‘minority’ populations. Doesn’t have great breadth of stock but will order any book they can find for you, call when it comes in [and save you shipping]. They routinely discount bestsellers and have a ‘freebie’ section where lots of really good books get recycled for nominal contribution. Staff is sharp, personable, worth talking to.
There’s a fairly eclectic magazine rack, greeting cards, some world craft items, works by local artists, and specialized racks related to Michigan and to medical cannabis.
Scott also makes a small community room available, hosts readings and guest authors; there’s no telling who you’ll run into at the ER /​GW … ‘
Also on 2000 block are Italian, Somali and Thai eateries and the Green Door blues bar = well worth getting off the bus.
ER no longer operates Postal substation ~ was huge money loser.

Definitely a warm, welcoming, all-​inclusive place. It’s really refreshing to have somewhere so dedicated to being a center for community events/​information for all folks, and it’s a great place to go when you don’t just want to read for the sake of reading, but read for the sake of enlightenment. They have so many great books on a lot of hot-​button and sensitive topics, even for kids, which is sorely needed in this day and age. Plus, afterward you can hurry away with your newfound treasure to Gone Wired to read! Can’t be beat.

This bookstore is an important part of Lansing because it really gives the area a strong sense of community. In addition to being a bookstore, it is also a community meeting space, a post office and a resource for all kinds of community services. The store is a big supporter of local artisans and writers. You will find locally designed cards and lots of Michigan authors.
The owner, Scott Harris, is about as nice and smart as they come. If he doesn’t have the book you are looking for he probably knows all about it and will be happy to order it for you. As an additional bonus, once you have your new reading treasures you can take them right next door and enjoy them at the Gone Wired Café.

I came here accidentally because I needed to use the USPS service to send a package to my friend. The fact that they have a USPS service is a huge plus. This is a community bookstore which has a wonderful mission to it. The owner was super friendly, I had a nice chat him about the difficulties running a small bookstore. Although the selection was small, it was tasteful. Since this bookstore is connected to the Wired Café its a perfect place to hang out on a lazy afternoon.

Everybody Reads is a community bookstore. By that I mean two things.
One, it’s located on the stretch of E. Michigan that also houses Gone Wired, Magdalena’s, Lopez Bakery, Green Door Bar and other independent community businesses — all of which are located directly on the street and are accessible to pedestrians. You can stroll to Everybody Reads, pick up a book or magazine, buy a pastry at Lopez, and then hang out in Gone Wired over a coffee.
Two, it serves the community by hosting reading events and information evenings; advertising local community happenings; and specializing in books on health, environment, political activism and education. That said, it isn’t just a lefty bookstore — they also carry ficiton, history, humor etc. There’s a lovely little children’s area with pint-​sized furniture and games. The store also sells greetings cards, notebooks, and a wide selection of magazines.
I have always been greeted with a smile in this store. Everbody Reads is definitely your friendly local bookstore.