About Us

The Early Years 

Our founder, Herman Baker, was only 14 years old when he and his family emigrated to Grand Rapids, Michigan, from the Netherlands. Shortly after their arrival, young Herman found a job working part-time in the bookstore owned by his uncle. Those days working in the bookstore fueled Herman’s love for religious classics and jump-started his dream of beginning a book business of his own.

The Birth of Baker Book House 

In 1939, at age 28, Herman Baker opened his bookstore at 1019 Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids. He filled the space with homemade shelves that displayed almost five hundred used books he had collected over the years. The demand for used religious books soon exceeded expectations - Herman expanded his business into several ground-floor rooms, then into the basement, and soon into new buildings.

Today at Baker Book House
For over 80 years, Baker Book House has been more than a bookstore—we’ve been a destination for readers and believers alike. As one of the largest Christian booksellers in the nation, we offer over 120,000 products, from books and Bibles to gifts and resources for every season of life.

Proudly family-owned since 1939, we remain committed to the motto of our founder, Herman Baker:
“We love to sell a good book.”