Chelsea Community Guide

Michelle Tuplin, owner of Chelsea indie bookstore Serendipity Books, took a novel approach to moving 9,100 books and hundreds of boxes; she asked customers and the community for help. In response, 300 Chelsea residents of all ages (and one good dog) arrived on April 13, 2025, forming a two-line, all-volunteer “book brigade.” Books passed from person to person, starting at Serendipity’s old Middle St. storefront and traveling a block away and around the corner, to its spacious new location on Main St. Exchanges of lively conversation, laughter, singing, and book recommendations took place as books made the journey to their new home. In less than two hours, the books, still in alphabetical order, were neatly arranged on the shelves. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed cookies and lemonade. Small-town Chelsea’s heartwarming story made big-city news: the New York Post, the Detroit Free Press, AP News, CBS Evening News, NBC, and more all ran stories.