Nashville is known more for its music than its books, but it has a thriving literary community. With a handful of excellent independent booksellers throughout the city, Nashville has some wonderful places where bookworms can browse and purchase new, used, and rare books. So if you’re a music city book lover looking to bury your head in a good book, here are some of the best Nashville bookstores to visit.
the 7 best bookstores in nashville
1. old people’s bookstore
The Old People’s Bookstore opened in 1930 and claims to be Nashville’s oldest continuously operating general bookstore. Located on White Bridge Pike, the bookstore is a quiet retreat from the city with a sense of calm and peace within. is the place to come if you’re looking for used, rare, signed first editions, and collectible books. The Elder Bookstore has a sizable collection of Tennessee, Southern, and Civil War titles, as well as genealogy and family history material, and children’s books.
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2. story bookstore
fairytales is a family-owned, independent children’s bookstore located in the Five Points area of East Nashville. With a wonderful array of titles on its shelves, this is the place where stories come to life, children come to read, and parents and carers come to relax. You can also stock up on educational toys and games and craft supplies. fairytales supports local artists and puts the local community at the center of everything it does. It is a magical place.
3. by mckay
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mckay’s on old hickory boulevard in nashville is a huge bookstore that sells secondhand books, audiobooks, movies, vinyl and cd’s. Get ready to spend hours exploring row after row of bookshelves and racks collecting secondhand gems as you go. If you have albums, books, instruments, movies, action figures, video games, gaming systems, board games, or comics that you no longer need, you can redeem them at McKay’s for cash or store credit.
4. the bookstore
A warm welcome awaits you at this cozy independent bookstore in East Nashville. Owner Joelle Herr uses her experience as a book editor to carefully curate a selection of interesting reads for the store’s shelves. The books cover a wide range of topics and genres including, but not limited to, literary fiction, science, history, cooking, art and design, poetry, music, memoir, and children’s books. This beautiful bookstore is easy to navigate and there’s always a friendly face nearby ready to chat about books.
5. books of parnassus
Mount Parnassus in Greek mythology was the home of the Muses and the land of poetry, music and learning. is an apt name for this independent bookstore on Hillsboro Pike in the Hillsboro West End neighborhood. parnassus books has a great selection of literature, nonfiction, children’s books, and books on local interests and the arts. parnassus books is co-owned by bestselling author ann patchett and publishing veteran karen hayes, so you know the books on the shelves will be interesting and selected with care and consideration.
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6. rhinoceros booksellers
This Charlotte Avenue bookstore sells used and rare books. it is well stocked with titles covering a wide selection of genres. there is also a remarkable collection of rare volumes. But here it is not only limited to books, since the store also sells musical instruments and vintage vinyl. this old school neighborhood bookstore feels very intimate and personal. there is a lovely sense of calm throughout and big soft armchairs where you can rest and read for a while. owner fred koller is a legend around here. a conversation with him about books, music and movies reveals his passion and love for the creative community this bookstore serves.
7. missing books
defunct books is a tiny bookstore in the five points neighborhood of east nashville. you’ll find outdated books at the ideas hatchery across from the post office. The store specializes in used, out-of-print, rare, and collectible books on all subjects. You can also trade and sell your used books. the book selection is quite eclectic but there is a focus on antiquarian, art, the classics, history and poetry. the owner is knowledgeable and loves to chat with customers over books. customers rarely leave here empty handed.
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