Nicola’s Books in an MLive file photo from 2014. ANN ARBOR NEWS
ANN ARBOR, MI — Longtime Ann Arbor bookstore Nicola’s Books has officially changed its name to Schuler Books, the namesake of its West Michigan owners.
The new name of the well-known store in the Westgate shopping center comes years after a change of ownership. Nicola Rooney, the location’s former owner, sold the store to Grand Rapids-based Schuler Books in 2014.
The place was originally known as The Little Professor until Rooney bought the shop in 1995.
READ MORE: Nicola’s books sold; owner is slowly transitioning as Grand Rapids-based Schuler Books takes over
Schuler Book owners Bill and Cecile Fehsenfeld chose to keep the name to not only continue Rooney’s legacy, but to give people a chance to see what they wanted to do with the space at 2509 Jackson Ave.
“After this number of years, we feel like people are very comfortable,” Bill said. “They have seen that we have not changed the store radically. It has the same character and has much of the same staff that it had when we bought it.”
Now, Bill said, “it just feels right” to put the company’s name on the building, especially as the store expands. The bookstore is currently in the process of taking over The Old Siam restaurant at 2509 Jackson Ave.
The extension will create a more spacious children’s area, a used book section and room to add more book selections throughout the store. Bill said he would love to have the space open before Christmas.
Bill and Cecile are University of Michigan graduates who spent nine years in the Ann Arbor community. Bill said being able to have a shop in town has been like a “homecoming” for the couple.
“It’s a community that’s in our hearts,” he said. “It’s been like coming home to a community we know.”
Schuler Books will celebrate 40 years in business this fall. The local independent bookstore has locations in Grand Rapids and Okemos.
Read more from The Ann Arbor News:
The Ann Arbor Art Center will showcase the process of creating murals with a new exhibit
Staffing shortage causes Ypsilanti location of Coney Island to close temporarily
Dunkin’ is coming to former Cloverleaf location in downtown Ann Arbor
Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a commission.
