The James & Mary Laurie Booksellers, a member of the Antiquarian Booksellers’ Association of America since 1982, was founded in 1969. This unique shop, located on Nicollet Mall in downtown Minneapolis near the Orchestra Hall and Peavey Plaza, showcases an impressive collection of more than 120,000 volumes of book with specialization in liberal arts, architecture, literature, antiquarian prints and maps, and private press books. It also has more than 30,000 classical and jazz vinyl records.

O'Day Caché, a boutique shop owned by Scott Johnson located right next to James & Mary Laurie Booksellers, specializes in Fine Asian antiques, Art, and handcrafted jewelry. The four big Chinese characters in the red banner can be roughly translated as "NEVER-EVER GIVE UP," which delighted me like a just-in-time chocolate chip cookie when I visited the shop for the very first time.  An interesting name for an independent boutique shop, I thought.  After labeling this fine boutique as the oh-so-cool "NEVER-EVER GIVE UP" shop in my little sparkling universe for few months, the very foundation of my fancy was finally challenged by a close friend who lived in Minneapolis.

"NEVER-EVER GIVE UP shop on Nicollet Mall?" She sounded so very confused. "Huh?"

Oh, my!