Store owner Nancy grew up in Paynesville, and her and her family are long-time residents of the Paynesville area.
The town’s changed a lot since Nancy was a kid, and in 2005 one of these changes turned the old Ben Franklin store into a little used bookshop called Ben Around Books, named for the shop’s history and for its new chapter. The store quickly became a favorite place to visit for the family’s young, avid readers, who returned time and time again to peruse the shelves packed with every type of book imaginable.
In 2020, former store owner Monica decided it was time to close down Ben Around Books, as many other small Paynesville shops had been forced to do in recent years. But Nancy’s family came up with what felt like a crazy idea: what if we bought the store, ran the business, and kept the doors of Ben Around Books open for a little longer?
So here we are! We’re so grateful to be a part of this chapter in the story of Ben Around Books and Paynesville, Minnesota. This bookshop really is a beloved part of the Paynesville community, and has been since it first opened. Every week adults and kids alike return to chat with us, trade in books, and to find their next adventure, mystery, research topic, craft idea, and more!
We hope that you’ll come visit us, too! And who knows— perhaps your own next story will be found on the shelves of Ben Around Books!
Ben Around Books 