Book Suey runs as a co-op, inside Hamtramck's old bank

The corner of Joseph Campau and Caniff in Hamtramck has had several lives. The building went up around 1923 as the Merchants and Mechanics Bank of Hamtramck, and it did not stay a bank for long. The Depression cut that chapter short, and for most of the decades since, the ground floor held restaurants and bars while the second story carried doctors' and dentists' offices. More recently the corner spot was a Chinese takeout.

Now the ground floor is home to Book Suey, a cooperatively owned and operated bookstore. The store describes itself as a co-op run by member-owners who contribute their time, money, and expertise to keep it open, and who are motivated by community value rather than profit.

The roster of member-owners rotates over time. The store's own member page currently lists about ten people, and their day jobs reflect the bookstore's bent: an early childhood educator, a poet and teaching artist, a writer who coordinates programs for a youth literacy nonprofit, a teen and youth librarian, and others. The cooperative grew out of Bank Suey, the larger community space in the same building, whose interior the Shelton family restored over about two years. Alissa Shelton founded the space and Eric Anderson is among the co-founders; both Eric Anderson and Connie Shelton are listed among the bookstore's member-owners.

The bookstore's stated mission is to provide access to books, connections to local writers and publishers, and meaningful conversation in what it calls a safe, inclusive environment. The shelves lean toward that aim, with local and regional work and a focus on independent publishing, and the space doubles as a place for clubs and events.

Hours are limited and built around what volunteer member-owners can sustain. Per the store's visit page, Book Suey is open Thursday and Friday from 6 to 9 in the evening, and Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 6, with the note that hours can extend for clubs and events.

The cooperative model is rare in retail bookselling, where most independent shops are sole proprietorships or family operations. Book Suey is built to outlast any single member's tenure. People rotate in and out, and the shop continues.

The building keeps its history in view. During the restoration the Shelton family brought back plaster ceilings and historic tile inside, and in 2022 the work turned to cleaning and repairing the limecrete exterior. Book Suey, 10345 Joseph Campau Avenue, Hamtramck.