Belleville Books — Local services in Belleville

I am not a customer but an organizer of a 12-step meeting group, and this is my experience with Belleville Books.

In late February, I contacted Steve about hosting a recovery meeting at the bookstore. He was welcoming, explaining that they saw themselves as hosts to the community. I told him I needed a weekday evening slot around 7:00-8:00 PM. He said they closed at 6:00 PM but could accommodate me with a key to the back door. We discussed details, and he confirmed that since it was a 12-step group, there would be no rent. I planned to start in early April, and he invited me to stop by one Saturday to meet him.

The following Saturday, I went in and asked for Steve. Two employees told me he had left early after covering for a sick colleague but were still very welcoming, gave me a tour of the rooms, and handed me a business card. I mentioned I would be out of the country mid-March and would follow up when I returned.

After returning from vacation, I called to confirm the April meetings. The man I spoke with said Steve wasn’t there but took my info, checked the room schedule, and confirmed my spot was still available. I decided to shift the meeting time to 6:30-7:30 PM, which he said was better since employees would still be there to let us in, eliminating the need for a key. Feeling confident, I purchased $300 worth of supplies, including texts, workbooks, flyers, and other necessities. I also contacted the 12-step organization to list the meeting on their website.

One week before the first meeting, Steve called to say they couldn’t host it because they closed at 6:00 PM. I reminded him he had offered a key, and I had adjusted the time to accommodate them. He then changed his reasoning, saying he hadn’t heard from me for too long and had given the room to someone else. I reminded him that I had stayed in touch, but he claimed he had forgotten until his employee mentioned my call. His excuses didn’t make sense, and I asked if he was being honest. Then he changed his story again, saying that the other renter was hosting art parties but wasn’t even using the room I wanted. So, the room was still available, but now he said it didn’t make business sense to give a key to a non-paying group.

At this point, it was clear I wasn’t being given the real reason. Steve admitted he was new to “this business stuff” and just trying to please everyone. He even awkwardly suggested I could still use the space until I found another location—contradicting his previous statements. After investing so much time and effort, I was left scrambling to find a new host on short notice.

Ultimately, I don’t believe I was given the real reason for the cancellation. His excuses kept changing, and his last-minute decision was unprofessional and left me in a difficult spot. I had put in a lot of work and genuinely thought Belleville Books, with its welcoming vibe and community mission, would be the perfect place. Instead, I felt misled, confused, and disappointed.

Belleville Books might be a good bookstore, but if you’re considering them for a room rental, be cautious. My experience showed they might not follow through on commitments, and you could find yourself in a similar...

Belleville Books is an absolute gem! 🌟 The moment you step inside, you feel transported to another world rich with history and charm. The atmosphere is incredibly inviting, with countless hidden treasures tucked away on every shelf. One of the standout features is the awe-inspiring vault—it's like a secret library within a library! The owners are genuinely kind and passionate about books, always ready to share recommendations or fascinating stories about the shop's storied past. Whether you're a bibliophile or just looking for a unique spot to explore, Belleville Books is a must-visit. Highly...

This store is in a beautiful building. Staff was kind and personable.

The space is quite cramped. there was maybe 15 customers inside and we were having to scoot around each other. the chairs looked great, but I don't know how anyone could sit in it.

Lastly, I'm a horror and scifi nut, and a good selection of horror and scifi makes or breaks a store for me. the horror section was at the butt end of mystery and consisted of around a dozen stephen king adaptations. Scifi was a slight bit better but fairly small.

Wonderful place,...