Jellybean's continues to provide Flint, Owosso and the surrounding communities of Mid-Michigan with access to good reading, good music and plenty of affordable entertainment. We deal in current (used) and collectable books, magazines, comics, Cd's, cassettes, LP's, videos and video games.

Jellybean's is owned and operated by Ronald Samek and Teah Smith (now Teah English.) The first store was opened in 1977 and called Bonanza Jellybean's, a reference to a character in the Harold Robbin's book "Only Cowgirls Get the Blues." It was housed in the lobby of the old Reid Hotel in Downtown Flint at Kearsley and Harrison. 

After a few years, the store moved to a location on Dort Hwy near Lipponcott road. (The old Reid Hotel was later torn down, and the first Jellybean location is now a parking lot.) Noticing that many people often left the 'Bonanza' off the store name, it was decided to shorten it to just 'Jellybean's.'

Soon after moving to Dort Hwy, Jellybean's added a second branch at Pierson and Jennings. The third store opened at Fenton Road and Hill. At that time, the Dort and Lipponcott operation was moved to a larger location on Dort Hwy at Court street.

Also during the early 80's, another branch called "The Great Escape" was started in East Lansing, across from Michigan State University. After a few years, and many long commutes, this store was closed.

In recent years, a franchise Jellybean's was sold which set up operation in Saginaw. This store had different owners, however, and closed in 1999.

In the last ten years, Jellybean's has expanded to fill the entire building at Dort (the former Martorelli's half) and began their sale of vintage, collectable and hard-to-find material out of that location.

The small Pierson and Jennings store was closed, and moved to a new spot in Owosso, near Meijers. This location has it's own store mascot, a cat named Isis, who is the darling of the Owosso patrons.

Jellybean's soon hopes to have more affiliated locations in other nearby cities.

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