Baker Book House
Equipping the Church to Live and Grow in Faith
Our retail story is both unique and enduring.
Our founder, Herman Baker, emigrated from the Netherlands to America with his family in 1925. His work in his uncle’s bookstore steered his heart toward strong theological classics and a dream of opening his own bookstore. In 1939, that dream became a reality; he even launched his own publishing house in 1940. God planted a vision in Herman Baker that has been carried out over the decades through the Baker family and dedicated employees.
The Baker Book House encompasses a deep trust from the Church as a resource for good books. This is foundational to who we are. We serve the diversity of the whole body and is not doctrinally isolated. We are known for our knowledge of books, being readers of Christian books, and carrying a wide breadth of selection.
-Sue Smith, Former EVP of Retail, Baker Book House
"We love to sell a good book."
- Herman Baker
Our Vision
We envision a world living in Christ, where the message of God's love is provided to all who seek it.
Our Mission
Baker Book House equips the Church to live and grow in faith, guiding her to engage quality Christian books, products, and community.
Our Shared Values
Baker Book House is committed to serving Jesus Christ and His Church, and to working in a way that honors God. Therefore, we share the following values:
- Integrity
Following through on our commitments and upholding the highest ethical standards in our work. - Excellence
Maintaining a high level of quality, so that everything that we do reflects well on our company and our work. - Innovation
Seeking creative ways to publish effectively and work efficiently in a changing marketplace. - Respect
Treating authors, customers, and colleagues with respect in our words and actions. - Teamwork
Working together and communicating clearly within and across departments to better serve our authors and readers. - Service
Using our God-given talents and resources to benefit our communities, our customers, and one another.
Our Commitments
Recognizing the inherent diversity in the kingdom of God, Baker Book House Company is dedicated to the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) in the books we publish, in our community of employees, and in the way we conduct ourselves in our workplace and in the marketplace. Through our DEIB Advisory Council, we are actively seeking opportunities to advance the work of DEIB within our company, creating a more inclusive, representative, and welcoming workplace. We intentionally seek to publish underrepresented voices in our books and to build strong relationships with our local community and the wider publishing industry.
Visit Our Grand Rapids Bookstore
Current bestsellers, backlist titles, and a deep academic section draw casual readers and scholarly experts. Customers come from around the world to shop the store’s 90,000 used books and bargain area; authors—from Ted Dekker to Liz Curtis Higgs to Charles Stanley—are eager to do events at the store; and the community has found a meeting place replete with private conference rooms, Wi-Fi, a café, event space, and comfortable seating. A must visit for fellow book lovers of quality Christian books.
Used Books
Baker Book House also offers our customers access to 90,000+ used books in the largest used Christian book department in the United States. Our staff carefully curates the selection as they buy used books from readers like you, as well as whole libraries from retiring ministers, professors, and scholars. Serious readers nationwide make their way to us to get lost in the stacks of rich readership.
Our History
In 1939, A young Dutch immigrant opened a used-book store in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Herman Baker filled his store with five hundred books he had collected over the years, displaying them on homemade shelves. More than eighty years later, his company has grown into one of the most influential Christian publishers and retailer in the world.
