I visited here twice so far and was able to enjoy the wonderful patio they have overlooking Lake…read moreBuffalo. The bookstore has a fun collection to look over with personal recommendations. They are even dog friendly (leashed)! The coffee selection is vast, creative, tasty and reasonable priced. It's a great place to stop in for a quick visit, chat and catch up, or even work. The staff was very friendly and extremely accommodating. The outside patio has two levels, I stayed on first level since it was super sunny that day. I look forward to stopping in when I can!

Cozy coffee shop with a bookstore! Great drinks and love the outdoor seating and view of the lake!…read more Friendly people and good prices!

I've been going to the Avant Garden since the late 90's, when I was working at the Courthouse…read more Good food, staff and the best Anoka Mocha !! All are welcome, fast service, and a bookstore, too!!

We were in the area and in the mood for a coffee. A quick google search brought us here…read more There is plenty of free street parking and some free lots in the area. Walking in this place felt cozy. Like you would want to be here on a cold rainy fall day with a book! This place is very LGBTQ+ friendly. This place did have spider webs in the windows and heavy dust around the windows as well. That was disappointing. You can still be cozy and clean. The staff here left us very underwhelmed. They were having a conversation and finished the conversation before helping us. So we stood there feeling stupid and awkward while they wrapped up their social hour... while taking our order, the person kept her eyes locked on the computer screen. It just didn't feel friendly at all. I expect that kind of service from a Starbucks but not a local coffee shop. My boyfriend got a latte which tasted burnt. Neither of us were a fan. I can't remember the name of the drink but I got a white chocolate cherry I believe latte. It was pretty good. I did order my drink with oatmilk and it was an extra $1.50! Are you insane!? That's literally crazy. That is by far the most expensive swap to oatmilk I have seen! That alone almost pushed this to a one star review, but the drink did taste good. Overall, there are so many coffee shops In the area, I don't feel we will be back to this one.

The Vintage Storyteller is a MUST VISIT on the 2024 Twin Cities Book Passport Route. From the cute…read moretable out front and bright green trim outside, we were excited. Upon entering we were met with an amazing maple scent (the candles are for sale!) and an offer to choose some songs from the jukebox (quarters provided). The books ranged from witchy, spiritual, cooking, self-improvement, and crafting. There even appeared to be some groups and upcoming events! I was honestly shocked when the owner mentioned that the store had only been open for about a year. She could have told me the store was passed down through generations and I would have believed it after seeing and feeling the vintage cozy of the shop. The owner was friendly, the books and curios were intriguing, and the vibes were cozy. A must-visit if you are looking for a hidden gem bookstore!

Went here for a puzzle competition with a few friends, and the event was very well run. I had no…read moreidea this place existed, but it is located in a little strip mall area. You walk into a huge gaming store and they have a few little hangout areas and a bar in the back where you can get wine, beer, sodas, and some small snacks. There is also a water fountain where you can fill up your own water bottle. The tables were pretty small, but worked out for a 500 piece puzzle - and lighting was perfectly fine. I think it was only $30 to sign up for the puzzle competition and you got to keep the puzzle at the end. I would come back!

They added a few new things since my last visit in November '24. It is still a welcoming place; run…read moreby a husband and wife duo. They added a few more things like I saw an incense station. My husband comes here quite a bit for MTG cards. Overall, still a great place to visit. I was here recently checking out their used books collection.

I loved to walk around and see cool things and books, but I would wish they could have books with…read morelarge print editions that people with vision impairments can enjoy to read books like I do.

My husband and I love coming here and spending time reading in the cafe with a nice coffee and…read moremaybe a bagel also. The cafe staff is very kind and makes really great coffee, however the bookstore staff are not very willing to help find books. While specifically asking about a book in the store I'll get a response like "oh it's in young readers" and not even as much as a point in the direction of the correct section. I never did find the book I wanted.

As we walked in there was a community of people playing games and having a great time. We stopped…read moreby to check out the comics and were able to find a few books to add to the collection. They have a large selection of back issues and new releases. If you are looking for graphic novels instead don't worry they've probably got what you are looking for. I do wish they had more $1 books and more expensive wall books, but overall a good amount of inventory to browse through. They also have Funko Pops, Board Games, Magic the Gathering, and other TCGs. This was a very welcoming space and the guy at the counter helped me out with a few questions I had. We will be back!

Y'all KNOW if there's a new game store in town I have to show up to scout out the situation…read more Spoiler alert: this one is a WIN. R - Really cool owner. I choose my game shops largely based on interactions with the staff. They can make or break your experience. Mikey was incredibly inviting and upbeat - definitely made us want to come back! O - Opportunity to meet other people that love to game. Rockhopper drew a pretty decent crowd for being open such a short time. Can't wait to see it on a busy day. C - Commander nights on Saturdays and Tuesdays starting at 4pm. Most places start later and make it tough to work into your schedule. This is a huge win for me. K - Knowledge. There is nothing worse than a game store owner that knows nothing about games. Mikey had all the information pertaining to games, sets, scheduling, and his clientele. He's a real one. H - Hangover commander. Yes. Sundays are the day for hangover commander, D&D, and whatever else people are feeling like after a rough Saturday night. We love to see it. O - Open to everyone. As they should be. Happy Pride Month! P - Penguin theme. Self explanatory. P - Pretty good selection of comics, singles, board games, and other various game related items. E - Environment. The location and the vibe were very cool to us. It's nice to have a gaming location outside of the cities that is doing everything right! R - Raffles. Always fun. To conclude: we were pumped to find this spot. I'm curious to see how they'll handle busy times as it's a bit on the smaller side - but I imagine they'll have it all figured out. If I can order singles to this store - it's game over. Go check it out!

Loved this bookstore. Great selection. Owner and staff were so friendly and personable. The books…read morewere priced amazingly. So glad I got to visit when I was here from Texas!

If you need some doll stuff no place else to go. If Mrs B…read moredoesn't have it no one will. My daughter was thrilled. If you are claustrophobic maybe send someone in for you, the place is packed.

We found so, so many many wonderful doll friends, babies, dolls, and dollies and exquisite handmade…read moredoll clothes and doll accessories! The selection here is ASTONISHING. It was our pleasure to visit with Mrs. B and she is a delight. We found a beautiful new outfit for our son's favorite doll and were thrilled with Mrs. B's artistry and expert craftsmanship. So talented. Such a wealth of knowledge and experience! What a valuable resource for anyone with a deep love for dolls, and baby dolls, teddy bears, plushies, doll houses, doll furniture, action figures and figurines, doll fashion, fashion dolls and doll collecting. Exploring the collections at Mrs B's Dolls -I saw dolls I've only ever seen in retro print ephemera advertisements... and dolls I've only seen at antique auctions ...or museums ... or PBS documentaries...and dolls I've only imagined in my wildest dreams!