Getting Lost in the 32 Rooms of German Town Book Loft

On July 27th, 2020 I sadly said goodbye to my friends and family in Pittsburgh and set off on a journey across the United States. I was accompanied by my friend Amanda, who I have extensively traveled with the past two years. She’s my yes girl, so when I told her I was taking a cross-country road trip, she was obviously down to join me.

Per usual, the trip didn’t begin as planned. The GPS took us 35 minutes in the wrong direction so we decided to stop at Starbucks. This “quick” stop turned into 25 minutes because they forgot to make my bagel… twice. This whole ordeal added an additional 1 hour and 45 minutes to the already 8 hour drive to Chicago.

After driving 182 miles in 2 hours and 50 minutes, we finally arrived in Columbus, Ohio! There were barely any cars as I drove into the city and even less people walking around. I parked outside the North Market while Amanda ordered food for us at Bareburger.

As we got out of the car, a lady complemented my tattoo. She then asked us if we could give her money for food. We didn’t have any cash so we said no. She then proceeded to FOLLOW us as we walked to the restaurant and wait outside as we got our food. I’m all about helping people out when I can, but she was being overly aggressive and rude about us not having cash to give her. Be safe while traveling, the pandemic is bringing out both the best and worst in people.

We ate our food outside the North Market Downtown on one of the metal tables. We unfortunately were unable to explore the market because it is closed on Mondays and Fridays.

Next stop: German Village! This charming community is know for it’s preservation of the historic 19th-century brick sidewalks and buildings along with the local shops, restaurants, and businesses located in the area. Walking through the neighborhood is like stepping back in time.

I recommend grabbing some coffee at Stauf’s micro-roaster. It is known for selling high quality, Arabic coffee. An added bonus is that they offer oat milk!

Wine lover’s can’t pass up Hausfrau Haven. This Boutique Wine Shop was established in 1972. The shop offers a variety of selected label and obscure wines from around the world. While browsing the shelves of wine, be sure to pick out a unique bottle you’ve never heard of before!

The number one thing you need to visit in German Village is The Book Loft! This book store is a labyrinth of 32 rooms filled with a variety of books from every genre. All the books are new and discounted at 50% – 90% off the original price. I walked along a brick path through a courtyard surrounded by colorful flowers. At the center of the courtyard stood tables of discounted books. This is a sneak peak as to what is inside The Book Loft.

I walked into the main entrance and was amazed at the amount of books I saw! Book shelves from the floor to the ceiling were stacked with books. I spent an hour wondering around the store. I made my way through a maze of different hallways and floors. The Book Loft does have a map of the store, but where’s the fun in that?

I wish I could have spent more time exploring The Book Loft and the other businesses in The German Village. Next Stop: Spending One Day in Chicago During the COVID Pandemic !