The Story of Chester Creek Books

Chester Creek Books began in 2004 when book lover Mark Kilen transformed a former church overlooking Lake Superior into a used bookstore. In 2025, longtime bookseller Tina Higgins Wussow became owner, continuing the shared vision of preserving this beloved local treasure.

Mark Kilen and his wife, Kay, are avid book collectors. For many years, after retiring as a radiologist, Mark managed Old Town Antiques in downtown Duluth. One day, in 2004, he drove by the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Superior Street and saw that it was for sale. He thought, “That would make a great bookstore.” So he bought the building and spent the next year constructing bookcases and filling the shelves.

Tina Higgins Wussow started helping Mark at the shop part-time in 2008. She had worked for many years at Midway Books in St. Paul and so had experience in the used book world. As the years went on, Tina got married and taught writing at the University of Wisconsin, Superior; Mark went on fly-fishing trips (although not as many as he would have liked) and life at the bookstore pretty much stayed the same. But Mark was dealing with a diagnosis of macular degeneration. Slowly, his sight was failing. They both knew that, eventually, Mark would have to give up the store.

With the shared goal of keeping the space a used bookstore, they were able to negotiate a transition. Tina purchased the business on January 1, 2025. Mark and Kay are still dealers in the store. Kay has an extraordinary collection of vintage children’s books! Stop by in the afternoon and you will likely run into one or both of them.

Chester Creek Books is a vast used bookstore with a high vaulted ceiling, rich red carpet, and the warm glow of sunlight coming through stained-glass windows. The old choir loft houses The Rainbow Room, a vintage clothing shop owned by Isabella Taylor. The former pulpit is filled with antiques and collectibles and the basement rooms, where there once was bible study, are filled with nature books, kids books, cookbooks, and vintage magazines. Some folks call it Book Church.

Tina is committed to keeping this local gem open for years to come. Mark’s young grandson has aspirations to run it one day, so when Tina is ready to retire, he’ll be waiting in the wings.

Chester Creek Books is one of the largest bookstores in the state and it is the last completely used bookstores in Duluth. There is truly something for everyone, from rare manuscripts to a free book for every child that visits. Chester Creek Books is a treasure and a destination.