Neillsville man to open bookstore south of Marshfield

By Kris Leonhardt

MARSHFIELD – What started as a passion for a Neillsville man has grown into a way of life, and now, a new store just south of Marshfield.

Kent Genteman said that he buys a lot of the antique books online, but also obtains books from local auctions, bookstores, garage sales, and antique stores. Submitted photo

“I started selling books online as my full-time job in 2013. I sell exclusively on Ebay,” explained Genteman.

“I moved to Neillsville in 2014 and have been selling books from my home since then – nine years.”

Genteman grew up in Granton, graduating from Granton High School in 2009. In 2013, he graduated from UW-River Falls with an associates degree in business administration. He started his career as an antique book dealer by collecting old agriculture books, buying and selling books online to make a little money while in college.

“I started collecting agriculture books in high school and have wanted to open a bookstore since then,” he recalled.

“I have been able to hoard enough books over the last several years to fill a bookstore. It was just a matter of finding the right building for a bookstore.

“I closed on the purchase of the building at 9644 US Highway 10 on March 1, 2022. I will be opening the business on May 6.

“The bookstore in Marshfield will be my first brick-and-mortar store. There aren’t many bookstores in central Wisconsin. Some of my favorite local bookstores have closed in the last several years. Bookstores are a tough business to make a living in and a lot of book buying is done online now. I have been able to build my online sales enough to afford opening a physical bookstore. I look forward to meeting local book-lovers and providing them with a place to shop.”

Genteman said that he buys a lot of the antique books online, but also obtains books from local auctions, bookstores, garage sales, and antique stores.

His Marshfield store – KG’s Unique, Rare, and Antique Books – will have hours Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. The shop will carry new, used, and antique books.

For more information, find “KG’s Unique, Rare, and Antique Books LLC” on Facebook.