More than a Bookstore

Cedar’s The Folded Leaf offers new and used books, community concerts, and "snuggery" vibe

By Marla Miller | Aug. 30, 2025

Rachel Zemanek looked through the window of a vacant building in Cedar on a snowy day in February and knew it was the perfect spot for her bookstore concept, The Folded Leaf.

The space at 9044 S. Kasson St. was a former art gallery with a “for lease” sign in the window. Zemanek called the owner and presented her business plan, signing the lease in early March and opening the store in late April.

The Folded Leaf is an independent bookstore that sells a “carefully curated selection” of new books as well as used books that have been largely donated by the community. The intimate space hosts concerts and other events—a movie night is in the works for the winter—on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

The business was born with help from Zemanek’s family, her business partner Kimberly Robinson, and community supporters.

“It felt right. It felt like this was supposed to be The Folded Leaf,” she says. “Having it in my hometown made everything fall together.”

What’s behind the name? The Folded Leaf combines Zemanek’s “love for nature and love for books into one amazing bookstore,” she says. It’s subtitled “A Leelanau County Snuggery”: per Merriam-Webster, a “snuggery” is a British term that means “a snug cozy place.” The store is meant to act as a “third space,” where customers feel like they are walking into their living room.

“It’s like an extension of your home, where you feel comfortable and at home and joyful,” she says. “We wanted the snuggery to be everyone’s third space.”

A Dream Comes True Early

Zemanek, 33, always dreamed of opening a bookstore in retirement—and never in her hometown of Cedar. But life has a funny way of coming full circle, and The Folded Leaf offers the safe, inclusive space that Zemanek always longed for as a teen.

“I didn’t know where it was going to be, but I knew it wasn’t going to be in Cedar and look at me now,” she says.

Zemanek, openly bisexual, recalls growing up in Cedar and feeling like she could not be her true self, especially going to a small Catholic school. “I wanted to create a space that felt needed and a space I needed as a kid, a place where I felt accepted and loved and not judged,” she says. “If I prevent one kid from harming themselves, I will have met my goal.”

After living in several other states, Zemanek returned to the Leelanau Peninsula in 2024 to be closer to family. She also retired in February 2024 from her job as a paramedic/EMT due to injuries, which accelerated the bookstore idea.

Zemanek realizes owning an independent bookstore in a small town presents its share of challenges. She is learning as she goes and working on multiple revenue streams.

“I didn’t get into this business with the intention of making money,” she says. “I got into this with the intention of creating a community space where people feel love, accepted, and welcomed.”

Zemanek is still juggling a full-time remote job and has a passion for supporting the mental health of first responders. She’s active with the Northwest Michigan Peer Network, a group of first responders who support each other’s mental health concerns and debrief after crisis situations. In September, The Folded Leaf will highlight and donate a portion of the proceeds from special events to the Peer Network, but year-round the store gives back to other nonprofits, especially those supporting mental health and LGBTQ+ youth.

Cedar at the Center

The Folded Leaf is in the downtown business district between Bunting’s Cedar Market and Blue Moon Ice Cream Shop, so the location attracts foot traffic as well as provides a place for locals to read, work, or simply relax.

“Cedar is in the center of Leelanau County,” Zemanek says. “If you live in Maple City or Glen Arbor or Northport and you don’t want to drive all the way to Traverse to see a movie or go to a concert or find a good book, we have it here.”

The first thing you’ll see is an outdoor patio area with seating and picnic tables where “we’re going to be doing some really cool landscape architecture.” When you walk into the store, it’s an open concept with large bookshelves that line the walls, art from local artists, a small stage, and a couple of couches and “a really awesome rocking chair,” Zemanek says. If you’re very lucky, you’ll even see the neighborhood cat, Honey, snoozing among the books.

The Folded Leaf carries mostly used books, and 90 percent of them have been donated by people in the community. The bookstore also sells books through its website, and through a partnership with Libro.fm, patrons can buy audiobooks directly through the bookstore. This allows locals and online shoppers to browse the catalog of over 400,000 audiobooks and discover hidden gems curated by expert booksellers.

“The community came out in droves,” Zemanek says of her first few months in business. “It was completely unexpected and a delightful surprise to have the community rally around something that had always been my dream.”

Community Music

The weekly music series has also been a hit so far. The events have a fundraising element and support local nonprofits or charitable causes.

“You can come and enjoy the space, enjoy the community, and enjoy the music,” she says. “Our music nights are incredible. The community comes together in the intimate space and the deep connection you get with the musicians…it really just radiates love.”

Rolf von Walthausen, a Leelanau local who lives in Centerville Township, also inquired about the space, so the building’s owner connected him with Zemanek and they quickly hit it off. He has since become a friend, supporter, piano tuner, and helps with the music series.

“She had this plan and these ideas that weren’t just hatched overnight,” Walthausen says. “They have sort of evolved on her life’s journey to the point it embodies who she is,” he adds. “It’s unbelievable what she’s done in three months.”

Walthausen also connected Zemanek with Traverse City’s Jeff Haas for some pointers on launching a successful music series. Walthausen praises the acoustics in the venue and says it’s really unique to listen to live music without any amplification.

“I talk it up. I tell everybody I know, ‘hey you should check this place out because it’s amazing,’ because it is,” Walthausen says. “I don’t know any other place like it in northern Michigan.”

What’s Next

The Folded Leaf also sells artwork and other Leelanau items, Fiddleheads premade sandwiches, and local cheese and sweet treats. Zemanek is trying to obtain a beer and wine tasting permit to offer tastings in the store. In the meantime, customers can buy local beer, wine, and premixed cocktails for carryout. She also has other snacks and nonalcoholic beverages that can be consumed at the store.

“We’re working on getting some coffee and tea that people can have to drink there,” she says. “People are welcome to come and sit and enjoy the space.”

But the dreams don’t stop there. Zemanek’s parents live on a nearby farm and her mom has the “world’s greenest thumb.” Her goal for the 2026 season is to sell fresh-cut native northern Michigan flowers and plants. “We would like to be able to sell those at the shop, not necessarily thinking of it as a way of making more money but a way to support the local ecology and pollinators,” Zemanek says.

In the winter, she has plans for a couple of igloos with cozy blankets and chairs inside, so people can sit outside and be surrounded by the snow and feel like they are in a “little snow globe snuggery.”

Zemanek is thankful for the support so far and says her overarching goal is to make the space and books financially accessible to the locals and give vacationers a reason to visit Cedar.

“It’s just been incredible to experience the love and support and general joy that people feel when people come in the store, and they keep coming back every single week,” she says. “I would like to give a huge thank you to the community for making my dream a reality and letting me create a space that not only healed a part of me but helped the community grow.”

Fall Book Recommendations

The Folded Leaf owner scoops on her top book recommendations for the fall:

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
The Lilac People by Milo Todd
The Elephant Keeper by Christopher Nicholson
The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho
The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst
The Lost Bookshop by Evie Woods
On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

“All of these books are great stories that also hold deep meaning and offer lessons on how to be a more loving, open, and generous person, both in one’s personal life and in society,” Zemanek says. “We can all learn something from the pages of a book. These titles offer incredible insight into the ideas of bettering oneself and the world we interact with.”

Find The Folded Leaf at 9044 S. Kasson St. in Cedar. (231) 714-0384; thefoldedleafleelanau.com