The MN Bookstore Guide to Black Friday and Small Business Saturday 2020

The pandemic means holiday shopping will look a lot different this year, but it also means local independent bookstores need your business more than ever! Whether they’re open for in-store browsing or only offering orders for pickup or delivery right now, lots of Minnesota stores are offering sales and specials on Black Friday, November 27, and Small Business Saturday, November 28, 2020. And even if your favorite shop isn’t offering any special discounts, it’s a great time to support your local indie and help them stick around for years to come.

If you spend at least $15 at an independent bookstore between Wednesday, November 25, and Monday, November 30, you can get a free audiobook through Libro.fm. You can also get this freebie by purchasing any item from the Book Industry Charitable Foundation’s online gift guide, which includes bookish T-shirts, masks, mugs, and more.

Twin Cities Independent Booksellers are also running a special giveaway for dedicated bookworms: if you visit enough participating bookstores and document your visits, you’ll be entered into a monthly drawing for a $50 gift card good at any Twin Cities indie bookstore and a one-time drawing for a $150 gift card. To be eligible for November, you need to visit 15 of the 20 participating stores (in person or online); to be eligible in December, you need to visit all 20. Visit the TCIB website for the full rules and how to enter.

And finally, two of the stores on this list are participating in St. Paul’s Shop Small Holiday Crawl, in which you can earn entries into a gift card giveaway for visiting participating businesses on Grand Avenue between November 15 and December 15.

A note on the listings below: Many stores are closed to in-store shopping and/or have limited hours—including some that were fully open as recently as last week. The information we’ve provided here is correct as of publication time, but the situation has been changing rapidly, so be sure to double-check store hours and policies before visiting in person.

Friday, November 27

Amazing Alonzo in Duluth will be giving out 10% off coupons for future use as well as Shop Small totes and stickers on Friday and Saturday while supplies last. The store is open to limited in-person browsing; shoppers are welcome to walk in as space allows but are encouraged to make shopping appointments ahead of time to avoid having to wait (call or email). At-store pickup and shipping are also available.

Beagle and Wolf Books and Bindery in Park Rapids will be open until one hour after the city’s tree lighting, which is going virtual this year. The store is encouraging shoppers to take advantage of online shopping, curbside pickup, and personal shopping by staff.

The Book House in Dinkytown, Minneapolis, is currently open to browsing by appointment only.

At the Bookstore at Fitger’s in Duluth, get a free bookmark or book-themed pin with the purchase of a $25 gift card, a free book light or travel pouch with the purchase of a $50 gift card, or a free $10 gift card with the purchase of a $100 gift card Friday and Saturday. Wrapped three-book mystery book bundles, following themes like “historical fiction” or “written by regional authors,” are also available while supplies last and come with a holiday stocking. Additionally, all hardcover fiction, mystery, science fiction, and classics are always 15% off at the store, which is open for browsing and curbside pickup.

Buffalo Books and Coffee in Buffalo is offering 15% off coffee beans, calendars (including advent calendars), and Jellycat stuffed toys both Friday and Saturday. The store is open to limited in-person browsing, or you can contact staff by phone, email, or Facebook to order items for curbside pickup. The store’s 2020 holiday catalog is also available online or on display in person in the fireplace room on the store’s lower level.

Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wisconsin, will be open Friday and Saturday. The store offers limited in-store browsing but encourages online orders for curbside pickup or free media mail shipping.

Cherry Street Books in Alexandria is also open for limited in-store browsing but encourages curbside pickup, in-town deliveries, and shipped orders.

Content Bookstore in Northfield is hosting a virtual edition of its annual Black Friday Book Talk starting at 10:00 a.m. Store staff and Penguin Random House rep Jason Gobble will present a collection of gift recommendations, and “attendees will receive a coupon code good on all the holiday gift picks to use in the store or online.” Content is open for in-store browsing and also offers shipping, free local delivery for orders over $50, and curbside pickup.

Cream & Amber in Hopkins is open for in-store browsing and offering free shipping on online book and merchandise orders over $30 on Black Friday using the code FEELGOODGIFTS. Giftwrapping is available on all shipped gifts. The store has recently expanded its selection of nonbook gifts and is also promoting its new Books & Beans subscription service, which sends out a different newly released book and a 12-ounce package of Bootstrap coffee beans each month. Cream & Amber is a donation location for the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive.

DreamHaven Books and Comics in the Standish neighborhood of Minneapolis is open Friday and Saturday for in-store browsing. There is a limited selection of inventory available for online shopping, and shoppers can call or email to ask about anything not listed.

Driftless Books in Wabasha is open Friday and Saturday for limited in-store browsing and curbside pickup.

At Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais, get 15% off storewide from Friday, November 27, through Friday, December 4 (excludes online orders). The store is offering limited in-store browsing, a walk-up window, contactless curbside pickup, and online ordering.

Eat My Words Bookstore in Northeast Minneapolis is open Friday and Saturday and offers in-store browsing and online ordering for curbside pickup or shipping.

Excelsior Bay Books in Excelsior is open Friday and Saturday for in-store shopping and offers phone and online ordering for curbside pickup as well as shipping.

Fair Trade Books in Red Wing will have vintage science fiction on sale to benefit Uncle Hugo’s and Uncle Edgar’s bookstores. For geeky shoppers, the store is also promoting its Dungeons & Dragons books, Unemployed Philosophers Guild gifts, and fair-trade collars and leads and holiday items from Auburn Leathercrafters. The store is open for curbside pickup or for shopping by appointment only.

The Little Professor Book Center in Owatonna is having a 20% off storewide sale Friday and Saturday.

At Lundeen’s in Fergus Falls on Friday and Saturday, save 15% off regular-priced items (some exclusions apply) and get a free tote bag with a $50 qualifying purchase. The store offers in-store shopping, curbside pickup, and online ordering.

Magers & Quinn in Uptown Minneapolis is open Friday and Saturday and has limited-capacity in-store browsing, next-day contactless pickup, and shipping, including free standard shipping for orders of $29.99 or more.

May Day Bookstore on the West Bank in Minneapolis is offering its usual deal of 20% off all hardcover books 15% off all paperback books.

Midway Used and Rare Books in St. Paul is open Friday and Saturday.

Moon Palace Books is open for curbside pickup and shipping only and is participating in the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive. The store is also participating in the South Minneapolis Small Business Sale: buy four $25 gift certificates from 10 participating businesses and get a fifth free, Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Next Chapter Booksellers in St. Paul’s Macalester-Groveland neighborhood is open to in-store shopping by appointment only. The store offers handpicked bookseller recommendations and giftwrapping. Orders over $50 get free home delivery within St. Paul or free media mail shipping via USPS to anywhere else; curbside pickup is also available. In addition, the store is participating in the Shop Small Holiday Crawl.

Once Upon A Crime in Minneapolis’s Whittier neighborhood is promoting its Mystery Book Box: fill out a form letting staff know about the reader and where to ship the books, and they’ll put together a box of books they think you or your gift recipient will love. The store is closed to in-store browsing as of November 23 but has curbside pickup and delivery and is hosting a donation box for the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive.

Red Balloon Bookshop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul is offering free media mail shipping on book orders over $25 and free priority shipping over $100. The store is participating in the Shop Small Holiday Crawl as well as hosting a donation box for the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive and offering a 20% discount on all items purchased for donation. Red Balloon is open to in-store browsing but also has parking lot pickup and neighborhood delivery in addition to  shipping.

At Scout and Morgan Books in Cambridge, get 20% off used books, 10% to 30% off new books, 20% off jigsaw puzzles, and other promotions from Friday, November 27, through Friday, December 4 (excludes online orders). The store has in-store browsing, curbside pickup, and shipping.

Storied Owl Books in St. Paul is currently closed for in-store browsing but offering free local delivery to Minneapolis and St. Paul, media mail shipping everywhere else, and curbside pickup. Curbside hours on Friday are noon to 5:00 p.m., but the store has also added Saturday pickup hours for the holiday season; see the Small Business Saturday section below for details.

SubText Books in downtown St. Paul is free offering shipping on all orders over $50 with the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS and 10% off orders $100 and above with the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS10—use the codes online or mention them in person. The store is also offering “surprise” bundles: “People can purchase a bundle of three surprise books, or just a single surprise book, and we’ll select a book based on any interests/recent favorites they include at checkout. They’re perfect for gift giving!”

At Sweet Peas and Back Forty Books in Two Harbors, buy four used books and get one free through the end of 2020.

The fate of Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore and Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Bookstore in Minneapolis is still up in the air after the building burned down earlier this year, but you can support the dual stores by buying a store-branded T-shirt or sweatshirt. The store’s GoFundMe campaign is also still active.

At Valley Bookseller in Stillwater, get a free $20 gift card when you buy $100 in gift cards (through December 24) and get free media mail shipping on website orders. The store is open for in-store browsing but is strongly encouraging online shopping.

Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers in Linden Hills, Minneapolis, is open for curbside pickup and shipping only and is participating in the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive. The store is also participating in the South Minneapolis Small Business Sale: buy four $25 gift certificates from 10 participating businesses and get a fifth free, Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

The Willow Bookstore in Perham is open on Friday, but its special event is on Saturday (see below). In-store browsing, curbside pickup, and shipping are available.

Zenith Bookstore in Duluth is donating 10% of in-store and online sales on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday to CHUM, the city’s largest food shelf and a provider of emergency shelter and related support services.

Saturday, November 28

Amazing Alonzo in Duluth will be giving out 10% off coupons for future use as well as Shop Small totes and stickers on Friday and Saturday while supplies last. The store is open to limited in-person browsing; shoppers are welcome to walk in as space allows but are encouraged to make shopping appointments ahead of time to avoid having to wait (call or email). At-store pickup and shipping are also available.

Beagle and Wolf Books and Bindery in Park Rapids will be giving out a free tote and a free book with every purchase (while supplies last), there will be at least one prize drawing, and the store offers complimentary giftwrapping. Beagle and Wolf is encouraging shoppers to take advantage of online shopping, curbside pickup, and personal shopping by staff.

The Book House in Dinkytown, Minneapolis, is currently open to browsing by appointment only.

At the Bookstore at Fitger’s in Duluth, get a free bookmark or book-themed pin with the purchase of a $25 gift card, a free book light or travel pouch with the purchase of a $50 gift card, or a free $10 gift card with the purchase of a $100 gift card Friday and Saturday. Wrapped three-book mystery book bundles, following themes like “historical fiction” and “written by regional authors,” are also available while supplies last and come with a holiday stocking. Additionally, all hardcover fiction, mystery, science fiction, and classics are always 15% off at the store, which is open for browsing and curbside pickup.

Buffalo Books and Coffee in Buffalo is offering 15% off coffee beans, calendars (including advent calendars), and Jellycat stuffed toys both Friday and Saturday. The store is open to limited in-person browsing, or you can contact staff by phone, email, or Facebook to order items for curbside pickup. The store’s 2020 holiday catalog is also available online or on display in person in the fireplace room on the store’s lower level.

Chapter2Books in Hudson, Wisconsin, will be open Friday and Saturday. The store offers limited in-store browsing but encourages online orders for curbside pickup or free media mail shipping.

Cherry Street Books in Alexandria is also open for limited in-store browsing but encourages curbside pickup, in-town deliveries, and shipped orders.

Content Bookstore in Northfield is open for in-store browsing and offers shipping, free local delivery for orders over $50, and curbside pickup.

At Cream & Amber in Hopkins, get $15 off any purchase of $100 or more, either in the store or online (use the code SUPPORTSMALL). As noted above, the store is also promoting its new Books & Beans subscription service, which sends out a different newly released book and a 12-ounce package of Bootstrap coffee beans each month.

DreamHaven Books and Comics in the Standish neighborhood of Minneapolis is open Friday and Saturday for in-store browsing. There is a limited selection of inventory available for online shopping, and shoppers can call or email to ask about anything not listed.

Driftless Books in Wabasha is open Friday and Saturday for limited in-store browsing and curbside pickup.

At Drury Lane Books in Grand Marais, get 15% off storewide from Friday, November 27, through Friday, December 4 (excludes online orders). The store is offering limited in-store browsing, a walk-up window, contactless curbside pickup, and online ordering.

Eat My Words Bookstore in Northeast Minneapolis is open Friday and Saturday and offers in-store browsing and online ordering for curbside pickup or shipping.

Excelsior Bay Books in Excelsior is open for in-store shopping and offers phone and online ordering for curbside pickup as well as shipping.

Fair Trade Books in Red Wing will have vintage science fiction on sale to benefit Uncle Hugo’s and Uncle Edgar’s bookstores. For geeky shoppers, the store is also promoting its Dungeons & Dragons books, Unemployed Philosophers Guild gifts, and fair-trade collars, leads, and holiday items from Auburn Leathercrafters. The store is open for curbside pickup or for shopping by appointment only.

The Little Professor Book Center in Owatonna is having a 20% off storewide sale Friday and Saturday.

At Lundeen’s in Fergus Falls on Friday and Saturday, save 15% off regular-priced items (some exclusions apply) and get a free tote bag with a $50 qualifying purchase. The store offers in-store shopping, curbside pickup, and online ordering.

Magers & Quinn in Uptown Minneapolis is open Friday and Saturday and has limited in-store browsing, next-day contactless pickup, and shipping, including free standard shipping for orders of $29.99 or more.

May Day Bookstore on the West Bank in Minneapolis is offering its usual deal of 20% off all hardcover books 15% off all paperback books.

Midway Used and Rare Books in St. Paul is open Friday and Saturday.

Moon Palace Books in South Minneapolis is open for curbside pickup and shipping only and is participating in the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive. The store is also participating in the South Minneapolis Small Business Sale: buy four $25 gift certificates from 10 participating businesses and get a fifth free, Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

Next Chapter Booksellers in St. Paul’s Macalester-Groveland neighborhood is open to in-store shopping by appointment only. The store offers handpicked bookseller recommendations and giftwrapping. Orders over $50 get free home delivery within St. Paul or free media mail shipping via the USPS anywhere else; curbside pickup is also available. In addition, the store is participating in the Shop Small Holiday Crawl.

Once Upon A Crime in Whittier, Minneapolis, is promoting its Mystery Book Box: fill out a form letting staff know about the reader and where to ship the books, and they’ll put together a box of books they think you or your gift recipient will love. The store is closed to in-store browsing as of November 23 but has curbside pickup and delivery and is hosting a donation box for the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive.

At Red Balloon Bookshop on Grand Avenue in St. Paul, spend $60 or more and get a Red Balloon mug and a surprise tasseled bookmark; spend $120 or more and get a copy of the store’s 35th anniversary print (designed by local illustrator Michael Hall) and a blank journal; and get free media mail shipping on book orders over $25 and free priority shipping over $100. The store is participating in the Shop Small Holiday Crawl as well as hosting a donation box for the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive and offering a 20% discount on all items purchased for donation. Red Balloon is open to in-store browsing but also has parking lot pickup and neighborhood delivery in addition to shipping.

At Scout and Morgan Books in Cambridge, get 20% off used books, 10% to 30% off new books, 20% off jigsaw puzzles, and other promotions from Friday, November 27, through Friday, December 4 (excludes online orders). The store has in-store browsing, curbside pickup, and shipping.

Storied Owl Books in St. Paul is currently closed for in-store browsing but offers free local delivery to Minneapolis and St. Paul, media mail shipping everywhere else, and curbside pickup. The store has expanded its curbside hours for the holiday season and is offering pickup on Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. through December 19 in addition to its normal weekday hours.

As on Friday, SubText Books in downtown St. Paul is offering shipping on all orders over $50 with the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS and 10% off orders $100 and above with the code HAPPYHOLIDAYS10—use the codes online or mention them in person—as well as promoting its “surprise” bundles (see info above).

At Sweet Peas and Back Forty Books in Two Harbors, buy four used books and get one free through the end of 2020.

The fate of Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore and Uncle Edgar’s Mystery Bookstore in Minneapolis is still up in the air after the building burned down earlier this year, but you can support the dual stores by buying a store-branded T-shirt or sweatshirt. The store’s GoFundMe campaign is also still active.

Valley Bookseller in Stillwater will be running a giveaway for five $25 gift cards—enter in the store, by placing a website order, or by commenting on a social media post (Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram). The store’s “buy $100, get $20” promotion on gift cards continues through December 24. As noted above, the store is open for browsing but strongly encouraging shoppers to order online instead.

Wild Rumpus Books for Young Readers in Linden Hills, Minneapolis, is open for curbside pickup and shipping only and is participating in the 2020 Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive. The store is also participating in the South Minneapolis Small Business Sale: buy four $25 gift certificates from 10 participating businesses and get a fifth free, Black Friday through Cyber Monday.

The Willow Bookstore in Perham is celebrating its second birthday on Small Business Saturday. The store will have book cookies for shoppers and will be running giveaways for free advance-reader copies. Curbside pickup and shipping are also available.

Zenith Bookstore in Duluth is donating 10% of in-store and online sales on Black Friday and Small Business Saturday to CHUM, the city’s largest food shelf and a provider of emergency shelter and related support services.

More Sale Days

Cherry Street Books in Alexandria will be running a 24 Days of Books promotion: each day in December that the store is open, a different pair of staff picks—one adult book and one children’s or YA—will be 24% off. Watch social media for details.

Cream & Amber in Hopkins will be offering free shipping for online orders on December 4.

Drury Lane Books’ 15% off storewide sale continues through December 4 (excludes online orders).

Scout and Morgan Books’ sale also continues through December 4 (and also excludes online orders): 10% to 30% off new books, 20% off jigsaw puzzles, and other promotions to be announced.

At Sweet Peas and Back Forty Books in Two Harbors, buy four used books and get one free through December 31.

Valley Bookseller is offering 20% off all website orders on Cyber Monday, November 30; and, as noted above, buy $100 in gift cards from and get a free $20 gift card through December 24.

Other Bookstores to Support

Don’t forget about the other indie bookstores around Minnesota not mentioned above! There are plenty of other local businesses to support, including:

• Against the Current (Macalester-Groveland, St. Paul)
• Birchbark Books and Native Arts (Kenwood, Minneapolis)
• Black Garnet Books (currently online only)
• Black Letter Books (Stillwater)
• Boneshaker Books (Seward, Minneapolis, but currently operating as a pop-up)
• Book Break (Maple Lake)
• Daybreak Press Global Bookshop (Arden Hills)
• Eye of Horus Metaphysical (Uptown, Minneapolis)
• The Irreverent Bookworm (South Minneapolis)
• James and Mary Laurie Booksellers (North Loop, Minneapolis)
• Lake Country Booksellers (White Bear Lake)
• Magus Books and Herbs (Northeast Minneapolis)
• Milkweed Books (downtown Minneapolis)
• The Owl Books and Brew (Osakis)
• Paperback Exchange (South Minneapolis)
• Paperbacks and Pieces (Winona)
• Sweet Reads Books (Austin)
• Turtle Town Books and Gifts (Nisswa)
• Whitney Books and Prints (South Minneapolis)
• Winding Trail Books (St. Paul)

Also keep in mind this list doesn’t include any of Minnesota’s great comic shops, like Comic Book College, High-Class Comics, Hot Comics and Collectibles, and so many more. And plenty of other businesses are having promotions this week, including many of the locations participating in the Twin Cities Geek Holiday Toy & Book Drive.

Happy shopping!

Did we miss something? Let us know!