My latest Wisconsin trip marked my first-ever use of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport, where I was delighted to find a cavernous used bookstore that brought back many happy memories of childhood.
No Lounge, But A Great Used Bookstore At Milwaukee Airport
The airport, often called Mitchell Field and officially called General Mitchell International Airport until 2019, is named in honor of United States Army General Billy Mitchell, who was raised in Milwaukee and is heralded as the father of the United States Air Force. There is a nice museum in his honor:
Airport museums may be rare, but they are certainly not unheard of. But next door to the museum I found a used bookstore, which brought a huge smile to my face. I was quite a bookworm growing up (shame I never mastered spelling) and you could often find me in a used bookstore. Across Los Angeles, I knew where the best used bookstores were and spent my money on books. If you go to my parent’s house today you’ll still find a floor-to-ceiling bookshelves in my old room filled with my books.
I always preferred used bookshops to Borders or Barnes & Noble (though I liked those too). Even the smell of musty books is something I quite like. Sadly, every single one went out of business.
Anyway, MKE has a massive used book store called Renaissance Books. I find that so cool! In fact, it took every bit of sales resistance to avoid buying some more Easton Press books while there…
That bookstore really gives the airport some character.
CONCLUSION
General Mitchell International Airport did not have a lounge for me to use (USO lounge is only for active-duty military and I did not have access to Delta SkyClub), but it did have a used bookstore for me to peruse. I loved it!
This is awesome – what a wonderful thing to have at an airport.
Nice post. Kudos and thank you.
Shocked to learn that Matthew has been to Benin and Bhutan but not MKE until now. I wonder how many US states and major US airports he has not been to.
There are several significant US airports that I have never been to including Fairbanks, Boise, Fargo, Austin, Madison, Harrisburg, Syracuse, Providence, Richmond, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, and Colorado Springs.
I used to fly to/from MKE a lot many years ago- had a short-term job posting there. LOVED that bookstore and went in there whenever I got to the airport a bit early. So glad it’s still there.
I fly long distance (national) to MKE. MKE is surprisingly small. I find that ticket to Milwaukee are usually higher than other cities. Much higher. Chicago is near by and tickets are crazy cheaper. Go figure.
I scored a very cheap Frontier ticket on the way out, but the ticket back on United was about the most I’ve paid for domestic economy class all year.
Was Dutton’s Bookstore in North Hollywood one of your old haunts? My mother grew up in that area and was very close with the family who owned that bookstore ( closed around 2007). Have visited- it was a pure treasure!
It was not. I was more in the Pasadena/Glendale/Burbank area, which used to be full of used book stores but every single one has closed.
I to0 have only been to Milwaukee Airport once. Was quite stunned to find a used book store staffed by somebody over 16 years of age who actually knew about books.
Bought a great book – Non Stop; A Turbulent History of Northwest Airlines. Read it on Amtrak’s Empire Builder back to Seattle.
I last took Empire Builder in roughly 2005. I remember it being beautiful, comfortable, and friendly despite some mechanical delays. Having a national parks guide in the observation deck through Glacier National Park was amazing.
Those Midwest Express seats sure bring back memories. I can almost smell the warm chocolate chip cookies too.
Midwest Express…first class seats for the price of AA coach. The only times I would not fly AA out of DFW was when I could fly ME…which was only to MKE unfortunately
I was looking at those beautiful meals on china that Midwest served as late as 2002. What a shame they are no longer with us.
Weren’t they great. Plus they had first class seating on the whole plane.
I’ve only been to MKE once but loved the “Recombobulation Area” sign just past TSA.
Ha! I almost took a picture of that sign!
We’ve been through MKE on numerous trips to visit our son. It’s a very nice airport, and there is one feature that brings a smile to my face every time: The “Recombobulation Area.” Right after security screening, in the area where folks put their belts & shoes back on, and get generally put back together, there are signs that call that space the “Recombobulation Area.” Because folks get very “discombobulated” going through security. So clever, and very Wisconsin.
This is a great post Matthew. I’ve flown through MKE but didn’t notice the museum or bookstore. Actually looking forward to my next trip now.
I don’t remember getting to sit in F back in those days on midwest express, but I do remember those freaking awesome cookies.
MKE used to be my favorite airport when flying to or from DCA but needing to connect — but that was in large part entwined with YX. YX was a league better than what I would get when flying AA, UA, DL, NW, CO, TW and the rest of the US airlines at the time.
Always glad to have somebody discover us at Renaissance. I’ve worked at that branch since August 1979, and show no signs of stopping.
— “Orange Mike” lowrey
Your bookshop is a treasure to every traveler at MKE!