Renaissance Books

Just when I thought all airports felt the same... I stumbled into Renaissance Books at Milwaukee Airport — and wow. It’s like walking into a cozy book-filled time machine. Stacks of used (and some new) books, hidden gems, and the kind of charm you never expect between gates. For a frequent flyer tired of grey terminals and overpriced snacks — this place was magic. A 1000+ sq ft book shop with more that 60,000 volumes from 1800s to some current bestsellers, it's a candy shop for bibliophiles. Don't forget to check their original edition section of the Life and Times magazines starting from 1940s. Also the fun 'Banned Books" or the "Blind Date" section 😂. If you're ever passing through MKE, go find it. Your brain will thank you. #renaissancebooks #MKE #MilwaukeeAirport

Just the kind of bookstore a book lover would love to hunt through to find a gem. Not necessarily the monthly bestsellers on display, but an array of used and new books organized by topic throughout all the nooks and crannies. Bookshelves are tall and filled to the brim. Owner is nice and will chat about other books he has not on display if you ask. He even has an old German Bible from the 1700s. Lovely place to chill out a bit if you’re early for your flight!

One of my favorite parts about visiting my other home Milwaukee, is stopping at this beautiful book store! It’s before security so anyone can come at any time, not sure where to park, but it is so so worth it. They have excellent selection and a friendly staff and I always leave with 3 or 4 new books.

I love independent bookstores, and this is one of my favorites! Located in Milwaukee MKE airport, it contains delightful new and used books, as well as friendly staff! Love to shop there when I’m flying out or picking up family! Plus, they validate your hourly parking so I may make future trips just for books! Enjoy

One of the best things about the Milwaukee airport is this very cool bookstore. No other airport in the U.S. has anything close to this. Very helpful staff that are obvious avid readers. Love flying into Milwaukee because I get a chance browse their shelves.

Absolutely wonderful shop! Who would have thought that there would be one of the very best used book stores EVER in the airport in Milwaukee!? Super selection, awesome staff, excellent prices. Nine stars plus!

Best little bookstore in the world. In the main terminal of the airport, so accessible to anyone. Is used books. They’re very inexpensive. Quickly get a paper back for your flight in any subject you can possibly imagine.

Amazing little gem of a bookstore in the airport! The curly-haired man at the front helped me with recommendations and finding a book. If I ever find my way back to Milwaukee, I’ll definitely be paying a visit.

What a fun place to spend some time browsing! Located in the MKE airport, you'll find a great selection of new and used books. It's a little haphazardly organized, and there is SO much inventory, but that kind of adds to the charm. We were warmly greeted immediately when we walked in. Prices for both new and used books seemed reasonable/expected. I can't wait to come back and spend some time shopping and hunting for some unique treasures!

Just the kind of bookstore a book lover would love to hunt through to find a gem. Not necessarily the monthly bestsellers on display, but an array of used and new books organized by topic throughout all the nooks and crannies. Bookshelves are tall and filled to the brim. Owner is nice and will chat about other books he has not on display if you ask. He even has an old German Bible from the 1700s. Lovely place to chill out a bit if you're early for your flight!

AN ABSOLUTE GEM. I had a wedding i went to just outside one Milwaukee, and I ended up getting the airport so much earlier than intended. With loads of time to kill I wandeted through the main concourse and lo and behold a used bookstore!!! Its quite large with lots to choose from and cute little stickers and bookish accessories. An EXCELLENT place to wile time away before your flight--highly reccomend.

The selection of books from the classics to modern, decades old and almost new, childhood favorites and current bestsellers is amazing. If you have a layover it's a fabulous way to enjoy your time. If you're a reader you can't leave without a purchase!

Love this bookstore. Found the whole Harry Potter book series in great condition! Robbie helped me out and he was great, super friendly! Stop by next time you're at MKE

Amazing book store! Worth the cost of parking just to browse. I visit each time I use MKE

This place is pretty awesome! After dropping off my rental car I was still early for my flight. I happened to be walking by and was excited I had the extra time to browse the shop. In all honestly, the place is a bit of a mess, but to me that's part of the magic. The store definitely still has some semblance of organization and the book categories are clearly marked. Prices seem to range from $2 all the way up to a standard new book price of $27. I browsed around for a while, but I was particularly excited about the children's section. I like to bring my son home something from a trip and a book is a perfect gift. He's obsessed with the Little Engine That Could and I found two oversized vintage books from the early 2000s. Since those versions aren't in print anymore it was quite the exciting find. I know this wouldn't be exciting for most, but the find was thrilling to me. ;) I'm excited to give the book to my son! Love that this is a store to browse at the airport and next time I'm flying through MKE, I will definitely be stopping in.

The choice of the types of books makes it a real bookstore. Clerks have read much of the fiction. Eclectic choice of authors in fiction/mysteries going back decades. Not the run of the mill choices. Google some new names and explore. I took a Dashielll Hammett

This was an amazing highlight to my trip! This store is filled with so many amazing books both used and new. The folks working while I was there were amazing and very personable. I had a delightful conversation with one of them about knitting and mental health! I wish I could have spent more time looking and visiting with the staff. I highly recommend this shop! A used bookstore in an airport is a book lovers dream! Nice to have recombobulation areas on either side of TSA!

The best used bookstore in an airport. Ok, the only used bookstore in any airport! Leave room in your carry on bag for a treasure or two. Pray for a flight delay. That way you don't feel too rushed. Reasonable prices. Expert staff will leave you alone to browse. It's outside security so leave time to pay and bring your own bag. It's nearly impossible to leave without a great book.

This bookshop is in the Milwaukee airport. Usually airport bookstores are lame: tiny, with the same books/selection. But this bookshop doesn't feel like an airport bookshop! It has used books. And books piled everywhere. And bookshelves stuffed with books. Definitely not your average airport book store. It's outside security, so if you want to visit, make sure you save enough time before you need to get through security!

I love that this place exists. I hope it can exist even if it doesn't pay rent (I mean, I don't know if it does). It should be paid to exist there! All that said, I purchased a few books there, including Foxfire 2. The rest of the Foxfires are still there. I'm wondering if I should mail it back to them so they have a full set.... I stopped flying into MKE when my dad's eyesight wasn't good enough for the trip to pick me up. If I can find reasonably priced rental cars around MKE, I'll fly there again and definitely peruse the bookshop.

A nice little bookstore with a wide range of new and used books. It's hardly an expectation to find this type of thing in an airport, but definitely a welcome change to what you typically see in such places. The one thing that was consistent however is the gouging prices on used items. Far too high for me to want to purchase anything, despite the decent condition and better than average selection. That, unfortunately, is quite typical for airport bookstores and makes this a disappointment which keeps it from being a 5 star experience. A fair price and a bit of integrity goes a long way these days, but still, kudos to a great idea. Hopefully someone takes it just one step further.

This shop is the heart of the MKE Airport, and the only reason I am always early to pick up friends and family. My daughter and I spend time here on every trip or pickup/dropoff, and each get at least one book on every visit. The variety ranges from well-preserved classics to current reads, and are very reasonably priced! This family-run bookstore is a welcome pause in the hustle and bustle of travel, I wish more airports had a bookstore like this one, it is an absolute gem!!

This bookstore files and incredible atmosphere and absolutely wonderful people working there. It was absolute delight, stopping in.

I love visiting this Milwaukee airport because of this bookstore. It has quite an amazing the collection of books. Though it is packed with books, each time I ask an employee for a book I am looking for, they know exactly where to find it. It is a charming, unique experience to stop here. I make sure I get to the airport early specifically to shop at Renaissance Books! With the plethora of shops in the terminal, this is one that is not like those in every other airport.... the other shops can be found in all major airport and cities, not this one!! Love it!!!

I saw a review that said, "there are places that sell books, and there are book shops. Renaissance is a book shop" and I think this couldn't be more true. I went in without direction and ended up learning about various sci-fi authors and sci-fi conventions from the guy running the shop, and purchased a book I've been wanting to start for ages. This kind of connection is unheard of in an airport!

Can I tell you how many airport bookstores I've been in? Hundreds. Thousands, maybe. And they all have the same crap - issues of trashy magazines ("Kim Kardashian - Plastic Surgery Shocker!"), overpriced water, and 10,000,000 copies of the latest Twilight novel. Don't get me wrong - I like a Vanity Fair from time to time but it's like eating a whole bag of Doritos - seems fun at the time but ultimately is unsatisfying. For serious (and not so serious) readers, Renaissance is a gem. If you've lived in MKE for awhile, you'll doubtless remember their downtown location which was cluttered, overstuffed with amazing books, totally a fire hazard and ultimately condemned due to structural issues. The airport location is a tiny version of that, except it's clean and hazard free. Sure, you can grab the latest Jack Reacher novel if you like, but there's so much more than that. Expect rare, out of print, offball stuff in every topic under the sun. I love French classics and was delighted to see they were well represented at very reasonable prices. The staff is really nice, and happy to help direct you if needed. As a reader, I really do miss the downtown version of Renaissance Books so I'm happy to see they live on in the airport. I'd seriously consider making a trip there on a non-travel day to more fully explore the offerings.

I understand that the main Renaissance Bookshop downtown has an amazing selection within their allegedly dusty, disorganized, chaotic, "dangerous", and dimly lit space. This airport version of Renaissance is smaller, safe, nicely lit, still a bit chaotic, and is staffed by persons you would expect to be running a used bookstore. It's a great place to hang out and browse, while you're waiting for your flight or your friends to arrive. There are also some pretty good finds here and at discount prices. The only thing I couldn't really find was the bookstore cat! And after being in my share of airports filled with chain stores that all look alike after awhile, walking into this space that feels like a "Mom and Pop" shop is a real treat!

There are places to buy books, and there are book shops. Renaissance is a book shop, proper, smack dab in the middle of General Mitchell International. Travel far and wide and you'll find that most airports - especially larger ones - have places in which one might purchase a real life, physical book. These spots are often a touch slick, generally a touch small, and prop up titles such as the newest Twilight-esque vampire deal, the latest Michael Pollan joint (totally legit, he's just popular), or that god-awful Tucker Max character's crap. Like I said, Renaissance is a book shop proper. It's not perfectly organized. It's pretty huge. The cashier/workers are a touch eccentric. Shelves upon shelves boast everything from war history to science fiction and popular novelists to obscure philosophers from the late 19th century. The juxtaposition here must not go without mention. Old school meets new school, folks. In a world where everything's fast and in a place where everyone's in a hurry to hurry up and wait to get to where they're going, Renaissance is a breath of fresh air. This spot, nestled in the middle of our growing airport, may be somewhat emblematic of our city on the whole, too. Bear with me here, but I think there's a loose corollary: book shops such as these are forgotten holdovers from days of yore, but they've never lost their genuine value or their heart or their style. Kind of like MKE, no? Five giant stars for this serious and seriously awesome book shop!

Reminds me of the old style of university libraries. Just a cavernous, tall ceiling room with books and the smell of paper. Easy to find books by category, old books, used books and new ones too. This isn't Borders or any other chain bookstore, there isn't any flashy advertising or bright colors to draw your attention. One helpful associate at the counter, quiet, you and books.

If I could give zero stars I would. Extremely disrespectful staff and terrible customer service. I called in this afternoon looking for books authored by Indigenous folks to revamp a youth centered library at a non-profit organization in MKE. The man who answered did not have any interest in helping me. He gave me really gruff and short answers & was very vague saying things like "I dont know youll have to come in" with an annoyed tone. The phone call ended with him HANGING UP ON ME after asking if there was someone who could better answer my questions about potential discounts for buying in bulk through a non-profit organization. Not only was the whole interaction highly unprofessional but due to one individual's actions this store lost out on a great opportunity for community collaboration and of course money. I did not get a chance to figure out who I was speaking to or to get a manager on the phone because I was hung up on before the conversation got to that point. DO NOT spend your money here.

Honestly, I was not impressed with the limited selection (particularly of bestselling YA and adult authors) and high prices for a used book store. This would be a good way to pass the time in the airport, but I chose not to buy any titles. Many of the used books were selling for list price.

Heaven in the MKE airport. I always give myself extra time to stop and browse. The kind of used book store you usually find tucked away down town, but right in the middle of the airport. Maybe it's the fire/safety codes of the airport, but the aisles are particularly open and the shelves well organized, helpful when you're schlepping carryons.

Q: Have you ever suggested an AIRPORT shop rent the adjacent storefront to expand their selection of wares? (I bet that happens every day at RBS.) Q: Have you EVER visited ANY airport just to "browse the stacks?" (I have. Often.) Q: Have you EVER received a phone call from ANY airport bookstore informing you "Hey! That used book you asked about a while ago? We got one." (I have.) Q: Have you EVER "stopped by" ANY airport to check "What's New", just 'cause "You were in the neighborhood."? (Especially great on rainy days?) Q: Have you ever visited a shop, restaurant, pub or club on the OTHER SIDE OF TOWN just to "stop by the airport"? (Ask me how I know about that...) Q: Have you ever shocked, amazed or angered fellow travelers by departing for the airport an EXTRA HOUR early, just to "See What's New" at an airport shop? (Yeah, me too.)

Cool bookstore in the Milwaukee airport. Lots of older and used books. Crazy eclectic genres and huge variety for not a huge store. Amazing destination for book lovers and totally unexpected for an airport. Would be easy to miss your flight if browsing too much

One of my favorite things to do is to peruse the shelves here. Very helpful and knowledgeable staff. There is such a wide variety of high quality used books, it's such a surprise to see this at an airport. I've been coming here for years and always try to shop here anytime I'm in Milwaukee.

What a wonderful used books store. Its existence must be the cumulation of a book lover's dream. Its collection truly represents a Renaissance man/woman. There are literary fiction books, both classic and contemporary, a large collection of non-fiction books, and last and definitely not least, antique/vintage books. Among the fiction books, the genres range from mystery, sci-fi, to children, American African, Western, etc.. If you are looking for a poorly written pop fiction book, the picking is slim. The collection here are well written fiction. The non-fiction collection has great diversity. Some topics are unheard of in a shop of this size (approximately 1000 sq ft), such as a full bookcase on Churchill. The precious vintage books are on the shelves right next to the cashier counter, so they are safeguarded by the shopkeeper at all time. Most items are protected in heavy brown paper envelopes. In my dream, there would be a first edition of some famous books in one of the envelopes. Don't know for sure, but if I must hunt down a literary gift, I will give this book store a try. Renaissance Book Shop is located in the General Mitchell International Airport.

I cannot believe that this place is INSIDE the airport. There is practically nothing like it in the US. I vote with my feet and my dollars every time I can here. Great big stacks of every kind of book. Also boxes of books on the floor. (They are breeding at night, someone check the security camera footage!) Great selection, accurate prices. The opportunity to browse, and touch and smell. It's all priceless. Give them your business. You won't be disappointed!

Though it was closed when I landed late at night in Milwaukee, I nevertheless took notice of the large Renaissance Book Shop in the comparatively small General Mitchell airport, so I was eager to stop in before my return flight when I had a couple of hours to kill. Actually, I hate that phrase. One should never want to "kill" any hours. You'll never get those hours back. Lying on your death bed you'll probably wish you hadn't killed quite so many. Granted, it's pretty tough to spend time with loved ones or enjoy a beautiful day when you're stuck at the airport, but you can at least make those hours worthwhile. Which brings me to a second gripe - your average airport bookstore almost forces you to kill those hours with whatever mindless drivel is currently atop the bestsellers' list, the latest celebiography or tired, formulaic fiction from James Patterson - does he even write them anymore? They're always "and" some other author now. And what is Sue Grafton going to do when she runs out of letters? Greek? "Alpha is for Dominant," "Beta is for Testing," "Gamma is for Electromagnetic Radiation," "Delta is for Change," and so on, until she finally reaches "Omega is for Fatty Acids." Part of the problem is that most airport bookstores are tiny, with limited shelf space, so it's simply a matter of economics that precious real estate is going to be occupied with products that are going to move. Such is not the case at Renaissance Book Shop. General Mitchell Airport is arranged such that the several concourses radiate off a central hub, from which it's easy to get quickly to security and your gate. Renaissance Book Shop may well have the largest storefront in this common space, which perhaps speaks to a substantial Milwaukee reading public. I wouldn't even have to bring a book from home for my trip if I knew this bookstore was waiting for me at the airport. The large store houses aisle after aisle of literature, history, psychology, you name it, with everything from paperbacks to nice old hardcover editions. They even have displays of rare, signed, and first editions. Many of the volumes struck me as a bit pricey, but then again, where else are you going to find that Modern Library edition of Ulysses in the airport? Since I buy books faster than I can read them, was already in the middle of a novel, and my carry-on was barely closing anyway, I finally tore myself away empty handed. But I was glad to be able to spend some time in this impressive bookstore. Renaissance Book Shop is one of the better used bookstores I've been in, and certainly the best I've ever seen in an airport.

This is a pretty good bookstore, mostly reasonably priced used books, a good selection of new books, and a nice selection of rare collectible books. That's comparing this bookstore to other good used bookstores in general. As far as airport bookstores are concerned this is the best airport bookstore I've encountered anywhere. I mostly read on a Kindle, but for no good reason I can fathom, we still have to turn off e-readers on the front and back end of flights so it's time to open up a 20th century manual book. I always allow time before a flight to get one or three old technology analog books, I usually stop by when picking up or dropping off because you never know what you might find. This time I had a bittersweet moment as I found an old copy of Harold Lamb's Omar Khayyam (out of print historical fiction) from the library of a neighbor from Hyde Park. The previous owner had what we used to call a library so there was a first page emboss, I'm guessing he passed away in the 1970s after I went away to college the first time. How the book got to Milwaukee's airport bookstore is probably an interesting story, but will remain a mystery. This is one of the things I love about a used bookstore, wondering about the journeys the books have had before I got a hold on them.

This location is in Milwaukee's General Mitchell airport landslide, which is a wonderful place to have a used bookstore. Since you have to get there early anyway, you'll have time to browse through the significant holdings, including a section of vintage paperbacks, a huge espionage selection, and a deep history collection. Reasonably priced used books share shelf space with new releases. I always make time for Renaissance Books.

What a wonderful shop in the MKE airport! This shop caught my eye on the walk to the gate, and then kept my attention all through the hour long delay. Labelled as the first known used book store in an airport, this is a treasure trove of items you never knew you wanted. A small locally run shop, it's a welcome diversion from the endless Hudson News and Starbucks standard at all other airports. Definitely one of the best places to pass the time at MKE!

Just as a proper bookstore should be. Time passes fast here. I apologize that I hardly ever buy anything but it is certainly fun browsing .

I know I panned Renaissance's downtown store, but the airport branch is actually pretty cool and useful, though often more obscure than I'd prefer. Located conveniently within Mitchell International Airport ("MKE"), this bookstore is a modestly sized library of interesting and eclectic material, and any traveler with an hour to kill would be wise to stop by. You might even find something nice to read on your flight. Centrally situated in the main terminal building, you are close enough to the security queues for each major concourse so that you can keep an eye out for sudden long lines. Better to spend your plane-waiting time in a bookstore than a seat, I'd say. I haven't found the staff to be particularly helpful or knowledgeable, but they're mainly there to check out your purchase.

What a great treasure to find in an airport! I happened on this bookstore, thinking it was just another airport shop, and found used books and collectibles as well as new books. Be sure you enjoy a visit to the store while you are in the airport.

A pleasant surprise in the airport! Picked up a relatively new title in great condition for $7 (over half off the $16 list price). Though it's a bit of a cluster in there there staff seemed eager to help. Also loved the quirky staff signage, ha!

I was in the Air Force stationed at Mitchell Field in 1951, and actually lived at the field. My book "The Euclid Avenue Express" was recently released, and most of it takes place around Mitchell Field and other Milwaukee sites. It is a fictional love story in the days of the streetcar. Your readers will greatly enjoy this account from several years ago. Thanks for your consideration of my novel. William Young wyoung1932@gmail.com

If you are ever in the Milwaukee Airport and have some time to kill, stop at the Renaissance Book Shop in the main terminal. They have an unbelievable selection of used books that are organized well. If you just want to browse or pick up something for your flight, this is a great store.

This is a unique spot to pass the time at the airport. However--it's a USED book store and all the book are list price. Kind of ridiculous.

I absolutely love this store! Every time I fly out of Mitchell I stop here to remind myself of what bookstores should be. A great mix of old and new. A few years ago, I even found a copy of the first book ever written on Coaching Wheelchair Basketball. What are the chances of that? They are Wheelchair accessible and the staff is always willing to help!

Just in case anyone is looking, there are two sets of reviews for this same bookstore at Mitchell Field. That being said, and as someone else in the other set of review said, this is the best airport bookstore anywhere and among the better bookstore period!! I also told the clerk/manager when I made a couple of purchases. Very nice selection of old and new books even comics, maps, and more. It was my first time flying out of Mitchell but plan to do more trips in the future. I might even go to the airport just to hit the bookstore!!

Best airport bookstore ever! I was getting ready to depart Milwaukee for a long day of travel and layovers and decided to check it out. It was like walking into my old local neighborhood bookstore. Lots of used books but new titles as well. Great selection, great prices, and the gentleman running the store was very helpful. Sure beats the limited selection and outrageous prices you usually find in airport bookstores.

Lost my sale. I was looking at their collection of children's books (Tom Sawyer, and Robin Hood).... I was sending a picture to my mother-in-law to see if she would like any of them as well as for my kids. A gentlemen walked up behind me and asked "Can I help you?" I responded, "I love your collection of children's books." To which he responded, "Then you can buy it instead of take a picture." "I said I might buy the Aesop Fables," still not sure if he meant to be so rude. And to which he responded, "Well then buy it." I didn't respond and he repeated again that I should buy it. I responded, "Maybe I will." My husband was standing near by and when the man walked away, he put down all the books he had chosen for our twins and said he would not buy anything from someone so rude. Too bad.

Nice place to hunt for something to read on your flight if you have a bit of time to kill at Mitchell Airport. Lots of categories from which to choose, reasonable prices and helpful staff. I'm growing rather fond of this place and never fail to check it out whenever I fly to Milwaukee.

Just returned from a trip to Milwaukee. This is the first time I see a Renaissance Bookshop in an airport. I arrived to the airport and had two hours to kill when I ran into this bookstore. I literally spent the two hoursbrowsing through books and ended up buying a couple of books to read on the plane. It was great! Stp by next time you have a layover in Milwaukee. :-)

Lots of great and useful books, old and new were organized. Pretty good for wide readers.

Cool place in MKE. Amazing selection & atmosphere. MKE has lots of coolness like that.

The alternate, downtown location of this store is superb, mindbogglingly good. This location has very little -- hardly worth visiting even to kill time before a flight. Strictly for amateur (i.e., buying books for the plane) readers.