BUHL, Idaho — A bookstore on Broadway Avenue in Buhl has become more than just a place to browse titles. Bookhaven, which has operated as a combined bookstore and coffee shop since 2020, is drawing new customers under fresh ownership — and an expanded menu that now includes homemade pastries, crepes, and lotus energy drinks.
Mischelle Millwee took over Bookhaven in August with her family, and she has been steadily growing what the shop has to offer ever since. The store carries everything from classic novels and nonfiction to biographies and children’s books, and the coffee shop side of the business has seen significant additions in recent months.
“We have a big selection,” Millwee told KMVT. “There are people that come in specifically for the books, and people that come in specifically for the coffee.”
A Menu That Keeps Growing
Since Millwee took ownership, Bookhaven’s food and drink offerings have expanded considerably. The shop began serving crepes at the start of the year and has added lotus energy drinks to the menu. Homemade baked goods — including cookies, scones, cupcakes, muffins, and brownies — round out a lineup that has given some customers an entirely new reason to stop in.
“We have had fun coming up with different drinks to add to the menu,” Millwee said. “We have had people just come in for the pastries, too!”
The expansion reflects a broader approach to the business — one that treats the bookstore and coffee shop not as separate draws, but as complementary experiences under the same roof. For a small community like Buhl, that kind of locally owned gathering spot fills a role that chain retailers rarely can.
Check out Magic Valley community events happening the week of April 8 in Twin Falls, Idaho for more local activities and small-business happenings across the region.
Blind Dates, Children’s Books, and Community Connections
One of Bookhaven’s more creative offerings is its “blind date with a book” option — a wrapped mystery selection designed for readers who aren’t sure what to pick up next. The packages include stickers, bookmarks, and other small extras, and cover genres ranging from mystery and true crime to young adult and romance.
“It’s just a surprise book. The way that we do it here is, we choose books, we wrap them up, put stickers, bookmarks and other goodies in with it,” Millwee explained.
The children’s section has also been a draw for local families. Millwee recalled one mother and daughter who visit regularly — the mother picking from the adult selection while her daughter browses the kids’ titles. It’s exactly the kind of family-friendly, community-centered business that reflects the values of smaller Idaho towns like Buhl.
Millwee noted that many customers find the shop simply by walking past and noticing the books in the window. “People just come by and they notice the books and several times, they will peep their head in and say, ‘I didn’t know there was a bookstore here,'” she said.
As spring activities pick up across Magic Valley, independent businesses like Bookhaven are a reminder of what makes small-town Idaho distinct. Buhl residents looking for more local events can also find out what’s happening on the diamond — the Wood River and Filer baseball teams recently finished in a rare tie at the Buhl Mid-Season Classic.
What Comes Next
Millwee is still in her first year as owner of Bookhaven, and by her own account, the experience has been rewarding. “It has been great getting to meet people in the community around Buhl. It has been great,” she said. She added that working alongside her family has been among the most meaningful parts of the journey so far.
Bookhaven is located on Broadway Avenue in Buhl. Residents interested in visiting can expect a rotating menu, a wide range of reading material, and — if they’re up for it — a blind date with their next favorite book.
For more community news from across Twin Falls County and Magic Valley, visit Idaho News for statewide coverage and IdahoNewsNetwork.com for the full Idaho News Network.