Nashville is synonymous with music and has been home to songwriters for generations. It swiftly became the center of music publishing in America in the 1800’s. An equally booming industry that called Nashville home at this same time was printing and publishing.
In fact, the famous (and at times infamous) Printer’s Alley was established as Nashville’s hub for printing in the early 20th century housing several publishers and print shops. While it may look a bit different today, the publishing industry in Nashville is still vibrant and so is the independent bookstore scene.
In honor of National Independent Bookstore Day (April 26th to be exact), we are celebrating 9 of our most beloved independent bookstores in and around Nashville that offer the latest and greatest literary adventures along with some seriously cozy vibes.
Landmark Booksellers
114 East Main Street | Franklin
This family-owned bookstore was the backdrop for the popular Karen Kingsbury novel-turned-Hallmark-movie The Bridge as well as a very important battle during the Civil War: The Battle of Franklin. You will find the shelves lined with every literary genre you can think of including a local author section, rare books section as well as a cozy children’s reading room. Fun fact: Owners Joel and Carol Tomlin live just above the store which is located on Main Street in downtown Franklin.
Bound Booksellers
158 Front Street # 106 | Franklin
Cozy, quaint and catering to young readers, Bound Booksellers offers everything from picture books to young adult novels. In addition to books, Bound also offer toys, games, home decor items, teas and a special monthly subscription book club box for middle school readers featuring a new-release hardcover and extra goodies.
Duck River Books
12 Public Square | Columbia
This bookstore opened in 2012 before Columbia, TN became the up-and-coming destination it is today. Still housed in one of the beautiful historic buildings that sit along Columbia’s public square, each eclectic and cozy corner of this bookstore offers a different genre and a little something to spark your love of reading.
Parnassus Books
3900 Hillsboro Pike #14 | Nashville
Inarguably the most well-known independent bookstore in Nashville, Parnassus Books has been serving up books before Nashville became the destination it is today. It has been owned and run by international best-selling author Ann Patchett since opening its doors in 2011. Ann pays homage to local Nashville authors by offering plenty of her shop’s real estate to an extensive local author section. The children’s area is whimsical and will surely spark an interest in reading for any kiddo, especially their weekly Saturday storytimes. Check out their events calendar to see what fun and exciting literary affairs are around the corner.
The Happy Book Stack
1411 Mark Allen Lane | Murfreesboro
If you’re on a budget or just looking for some good second-hand reads, The Happy Book Stack is a great shop to visit. Its warehouse-style vibes offer room to peruse their lengthy, tall stacks and stumble upon some hidden gems.
Fairytales Bookstore
1108 Woodland Street unit G | Nashville
This is the cutest, and definitely the tiniest, children’s bookstore I’ve ever seen! Offering a range of books for kiddos 0-14 along with games, toys, art supplies and more it appears they must use a bit of magical fairy dust to make everything fit inside. The shops around this quaint bookstore add a bit of whimsy that make up Five Points Alley located in East Nashville.
Rhino Booksellers
4918 Charlotte Ave | Nashville
Books. A resident cat. Comfy chairs. This is the quintessential bookstore of your dreams and it literally has books lining the walls from floor to ceiling. You’ll find lightly used classics, rare reads and everything in between.
The Spine Bookshop
304 S Lowry Street #A3 | Smyrna
If you love finding hidden gems that are truly quirky and unique, then you will love The Spine. Nestled within the small town of Smyrna, this bookstore holds literary delights both new and pre-loved for all bookworms. The shop is home to banned books, workshops, book clubs and even a podcast.
The Bookshop
1043 West Eastland Avenue | Nashville
If East Nashville wasn’t already cool enough, The Bookshop adds even more cool vibes to this eclectic community. You’ll find new books for readers of all ages. A unique offering from The Bookshop is their “Lit Clique” – a monthly blind-date-with-a-book subscription service with each book carefully selected by owner, Joelle.
Whether you are in the mood for a steamy romance or a thrilling mystery, these local book stores are ready to help you discover your next good read.
Be sure to visit one of your local indie book stores on April 26th in celebration of National Independent Bookstore Day!
