Local Business Spotlight: Drury Lane Books

In downtown Grand Marais, Drury Lane Books has been a steady presence for both residents and visitors to the North Shore. For some, it’s a ritual stop on a vacation. For others, it’s a refuge, a quiet seat by the window with a view of Lake Superior, and a story to get lost in.

“This is my happy place when I’m having a bad day,” one visitor recently told co-owner Kelly Kager.

Founded in 2002 by author and publisher Joan Drury, the independent bookstore is now owned by her children, Kelly and Kevin Kager, who took over operations after she passed away in 2020. They continue to run and shape the business alongside manager Gwen Danfelt.

Throughout the years, Kelly Kager said the “little cottage bookstore by the lake” has become a literary anchor for the community and a destination for readers from Duluth, the Twin Cities, and beyond.

“We feel like it’s such a vital part of this community,” said Kelly Kager. “We hear all the time how much this bookstore means to people from further afield like Duluth and the Twin Cities now.”

With more than 6,000 thoughtfully curated titles on the shelves, most visitors can find something that fits their taste in almost any genre.

Danfelt said while every genre is represented, the bookstore shelves lean into what readers often come looking for in Cook County, including titles by local and regional authors, North Shore history, and field guides to Lake Superior.

Interior of Drury Lane Books | Photo by Laura Muus Photography

“People come to us because they want to learn more about this area,” she said.

In addition to the thousands of books on its shelves, the bookstore hosts author talks, story hours, readings, and other events throughout the year. On Saturday, Feb. 21, the bookstore will host an author reading and book signing with author Amy Timberlake. The event will occur from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and feature Timberlake’s newest book, Skunk and Badger.

The following Saturday, on Feb. 28, Drury Lane Books will host regional author Sam Tschida, in partnership with Authors for Minnesota Day, from noon to 4 p.m. The event, organized by authors Jess Lourey and Kristi Belcamino with Authors of Minnesota Day, aims to raise funds for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota and the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota, and to support local bookstores. On Feb. 28, 24 bookstores across Minnesota will participate, with over 50 authors donating their time and books to support the effort.

In the coming months, Kager said the bookstore will begin a construction project to expand and improve the back portion of the building.

“It’s not going to impact the footprint of the sales floor, but it will impact the back end of the bookstore, which will allow us to serve our customers better by having more storage space,” Kager said.

Danfelt said the bookstore’s steady growth in recent years led to the decision to move forward with the small expansion project. “We’ve been operating out of the same footprint in terms of the back area, and we have vastly outgrown it.”

WTIP’s Kalli Hawkins spoke with Drury Lane Books co-owner Kelly Kager and manager Gwen Danfelt for the latest edition of the Local Business Spotlight. Audio is below.

The Local Business Spotlight highlights our local business community’s economic strength and innovation. This feature is brought to you in partnership with Visit Cook County and the Cook County Chamber of Commerce.

Kalli Hawkins February 21, 2026