By Laurel Decker — Photos by Susan Ayer
This column is a look at brave souls who have taken a leap of faith to open their own businesses in and around Ann Arbor. Business owners who are following their dreams and thriving despite the odds.
Third Mind Books
118 East Washington Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
(734) 994-3241
thirdmindbooks.com • info@thirdmindbooks.com
Open Monday-Saturday 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Sunday 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Did you just ask yourself, “What is a third mind?” That was one of the first things I wondered when I first walked into Third Mind Books in downtown Ann Arbor. I also wanted to find out why this business, with over 13 years of online commerce, decided to open a brick-and-mortar store in June of 2022. By then, the danger of the Covid-19 virus seemed to be waning, but the full economic impact was still quite uncertain.
When I spoke with Arthur Nusbaum, owner of Third Mind Books, he explained that The Third Mind is a literary collaboration between novelist William S. Burroughs and artist/poet/novelist Brion Gysin that was first published in 1977. The book illustrates how a third mind is created when two people share their individual perspectives through discussion. Their openness of thought makes it possible for a third intelligence to emerge. Nusbaum gave an additional interpretation, saying “Personally, and this is what Burroughs said philosophically about it, an author and the book are two things. And the reader creates a third mind when they translate what the author says through the book. It’s the same with other forms of art.” He adds that his personal interactions with Burroughs inspired him to name the store as “a wink at Burroughs, just like our logo with his silhouette in a fedora.”
Along with Nusbaum, I spoke with Third Mind Books staff, Joe Provenzano and Rachel Braum. These two, both in their late 20s, were hardly the demographic I expected to be interested in the 1950s –1970s. But they were enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the store’s collection, which focuses on the Beatnik Generation. A collection that, Nusbaum adds, is becoming “Beat and beyond as we have an ever-blossoming array of items to include with the Beatniks as well as their predecessors and progeny.”
I asked them directly if they have a specific type of customer. Provenzano explained, “We have people who are curious and love bookstores in general, and people who are looking for something in particular. Others may know about us through the connection to the Beat movement. We’ve had people come in who have met Allen Ginsberg.”
Almost on cue, a customer approached the counter and Provenzano turned to ring him up. Because of the store’s proximity to U of M, I asked the young customer what he was buying and if it was for a class assignment. “No,” he answered. “It's just a little poetry. A collection of Russian poets that kind of caught my eye.” Immediately Provenzano offered, “If you like what’s in there, come back and we have some Mayakovsky. Kind of fun, kind of surrealism.” I was impressed by his knowledge.
Seeing how excited the college student was about the little book in his hand, and how excited Provenzano was about helping him find more of where that came from, I was understanding firsthand why one of the world’s foremost online resources for all things Beatnik took the leap into opening a physical space. There is satisfaction that comes from interacting with their customers in person. By providing a place to gather with other curious minds, they are able to host a version of what the Beatniks experienced in coffee shops and bookstores in New York City and San Francisco.
Laurel Decker: When did you first start planning to open the business and when did you actually open the doors?
Third Mind Team: We had been planning on opening a brick-and-mortar location since late 2021, but we wanted to be free and clear of the pandemic for the most part before opening the doors. We moved into the space and began setting up beginning early 2022, but our official opening was on June 4, 2022.
Laurel Decker: How have you, your staff, and your clientele dealt with the various mandates... stay-at-home, social distancing, masks, no masks, etc.?
Third Mind Team: Again, we opened after the mandates had been lifted, and we have not required any precautionary measures at any point. Covid has hit only one of our staff members, and they have self-quarantined according to guidelines. We are all vaccinated and agreed to be personally liable for our own health and well-being.
Laurel Decker: What is the most useful personal skill or trait that you, and/or your staff, have implemented to keep the business going?
Third Mind Team: Community building. We are trying to create an intellectual and creative gathering space for everybody who is interested by hosting events such as open mic nights, movie nights, book releases, and writer presentations.
Laurel Decker: Is there a memorable moment, good or bad, associated with having a business during such an uncertain time that you could share?
Third Mind Team: We were determined to behave as if the uncertain times were ending if they hadn’t ended already, but we were keenly aware that that attitude could have a polarizing effect for some who were still sensitive to the matter. We would not impede those who preferred to remain masked in public, but we would not require it either. We had a few patrons on both ends of that spectrum, hailing us for not restricting them or continuing to wear their mask regardless. It’s a point of individual personal comfort that is not our right to determine.
Laurel Decker: Is there anything you would have changed about how you handled business during the pandemic?
Third Mind Team: No, we are proud of the way we have gone about things.
Laurel Decker: Did you take any time away from operating as a business? Depending on that answer, was there a fundamental reason you took the break or not?
Third Mind Team: We have remained operational throughout the pandemic, though our brick-and-mortar store opened in mid-2022. Our previous online-only activity was not affected by the pandemic since it was a three-person operation and required very little if any public gathering.
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Laurel Decker: What keeps you motivated to persist through the challenges of business ownership?
Third Mind Team: We are passionate about the intellectual and creative endeavors that we hope to display and encourage through our unique offerings and community events.
Laurel Decker: What is the most unique or meaningful piece that you have in the store, or in your own collection?
Third Mind Team: Letters and books that Burroughs signed, including Naked Lunch 1st edition and 1st French edition.
After looking around the store, I had to wonder what the most unique item was they had for sale. Unable to name just one, Nusbaum reminds me that “long before I became a seller, I was a collector.” It would be hard to list all of the books, letters, posters, and illustrations Nusbaum mentioned, but I will say that if I had an extra $4,000 lying around, I would start my own Beat collection with the very first printing of On the Road, by Jack Kerouac. Nusbaum said, “It’s probably the most iconic of Beat collectibles and we have it in great condition. Both the book and the jacket.” And then, as if he already knew I might not have a few thousand dollars to spend on memorabilia, he reassured me that they have more accessibly priced versions of it, too.
If you are an avid collector or expert on everything “Beatnik and beyond,” Third Mind Books is a great place to visit with like-minded people and tell them about your collection. If you are more of a beginner, it’s a great place to start your collection. And everyone is invited to the live events. Browse “Third Mind Books” website for the schedule of Beatnik community gatherings such as Open Mic, book signings, and movie screenings.
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