Karin Werner is the owner behind Whitefish Bay Books, the new independent bookshop that’s quietly grabbed the community’s attention. You may have already popped into the new bookstore on Silver Spring this July during its soft opening. The store’s official grand opening celebration kicks off next week on Tuesday, August 18th.
The WFB Buzz sat down with Werner to talk about how a lengthy legal career turned into a bookstore, what she’s stocking on the shelves, and what to be on the lookout for when you visit.
From the Courtroom to the Bookshelf
Werner practiced law for 25 years. Large firm work, her own practice, even some time teaching nonprofit law at Marquette Law School. But it was never quite a passion project.
“I never loved it,” she said. “It was fun. It supported the family. It was interesting.”
Books, on the other hand, have been a constant her entire life. Werner grew up near Seattle, where her mother ran a used bookstore for 30 years. She had opened it when Werner started kindergarten and ended up selling it around the time Werner had her first child. Werner worked there throughout high school, doing homework behind the counter while helping customers as they came in.
The path back to books came after a difficult stretch. Werner was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, spending much of the following year at home during treatment. As she came out of the other side, she found herself ready for something new.
“I decided I wanted to do something different, something that seemed a little more fun to me,” she said. She’d always been a voracious reader, typically finishing around 100 books a year, likely more in 2026 given how many new releases have caught her attention! Her husband, Teddy, has spent his career doing something he loved (17 years with the Brewers, which is what originally brought the family to Whitefish Bay 20 years ago), and Werner found herself wanting a similar version of that for herself.
“I’m at the phase in life where I don’t have to do this to pay the mortgage anymore,” she said. “It’s really about doing something that I will enjoy and love.”
Why Whitefish Bay, Why This Spot
Werner looked at several possible locations before landing on the current storefront on Silver Spring. She considered Cedarburg, which reminded her of the charm of the small town she grew up in, and looked north of Whitefish Bay specifically because that stretch lacked a bookshop of its own. She was intentional about location relative to other local bookstores to the south, wanting some distance rather than direct overlap.
Ultimately, being close to home won out. Werner lives close by and walks past the Silver Spring strip regularly as a part of her daily routine. Her husband stops by Starbucks a few times a day and can now pop into the shop to say ‘hi’ just as easily.
What’s on the Shelves
Walk in and you’ll find the store mainly organized by subject/genre. Fiction in one section, nonfiction on the narrower shelves along the side (with a bit of mystery and suspense mixed in at the bottom), a classics section, and a curated “new and noteworthy” table down the middle featuring some of Werner’s personal favorites. There is also a small children’s books section.
The selection skews intentionally toward what Werner knows best. “Women buy 75% of the books out there and read 75% of the books,” she said. “It’s intentionally a little more feminine selection…because I do think you’re more effective if you can talk to people about the books.” At the same time, she’s deliberately layering in genres outside her own wheelhouse (more mystery, suspense, and “masculine nonfiction”) reading widely herself and listening to audiobooks so she can speak knowledgeably to a broader range of customers. She described steering a friend’s husband toward a vacation read from that section recently, calling the recommendations “amazing” even though it’s not typically her lane.
Beyond books, the shop carries gift items including bookmarks, tote bags, gift wrap, and small treats, with an eye toward the holiday season. “I think books make the best presents,” Werner said, and she’s hoping shoppers will come in for a gift and leave with something for themselves too.
Meet Duke
Regulars can also expect a four-legged greeter. Werner’s younger dog, Duke, will be on-site most days — friendly, easygoing, and (per Werner) “a good draw.” She has a second adorable dog, though as we would say in the WFB Buzz household, this one doesn’t make the ‘travel squad’. Werner’s older dog is more prone to barking at people and other dogs, so she won’t be making regular appearances.
Hours, Grand Opening, and What’s Next
Whitefish Bay Books is planning to be open Tuesday through Saturday, 11am to 5pm. Werner has floated the idea of adding Sunday hours down the road, especially around the holiday gift-buying season. An early trial run on an Art Fest weekend Sunday turned into, in her words, “a tremendous day of business.”
The official grand opening celebration is set for the week of August 18th through 22nd.
Looking ahead, Werner is exploring ways to activate the space beyond normal retail hours. Book clubs may be in the plans, and she’s gathering community input on other ideas, from mahjong nights to writing groups. She’s also hoping to bring on part-time staff later this year, both to cover more hours and, eventually, to give herself more flexibility.
Welcome to the community, Whitefish Bay Books!
You can find Whitefish Bay Books on Silver Spring located at 322 E Silver Spring Drive, and follow along on Instagram at @whitefishbaybooks for updates.
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