Saturday, August 2, 2008

McKay's Used Books

Anyone traveling through Tennessee might want to consider stopping at McKay's in either Knoxville or Chattanooga. Unlike many other used bookstores, McKay's is well organized so it's much easier to find what you are looking for. The stores themselves are huge. Knoxville has a two-story cavernous warehouse sized building with an elevator which goes to the music loft. Because of the huge selection, traffic is high at both stores, even at midday when you'd think people would be at work or school.


















So why do these interior McKay's photos show a nearly empty store? Knoxvillians and Chattanoogans would assume they were taken before the store opens as it is pretty much crowded at every other time. The pictures were actually taken at about 4pm, when the store should be in full swing.

That's because this is the new Nashville store! Nashvillians have not yet discovered McKay's leaving lots of good stuff still on the shelves not yet picked over by bookaholics, musicholics, and movieholics, looking for a good bargain.

I traded in old CD's, audiobooks, and DVDs and earned enough in trade to get the latest David Sedaris book and one other, both on CDs and unabridged, for the $40 in trade that I earned.







11 comments:

mrscrumley said...

How neat! I love McKay's here in Chattanooga. It can be a bit cramped with a 3 year old, so going has become a special treat for me.

alli for cumleyblog.com

tut-tut said...

I'm ashamed to admit this, but I've never been to McKay's!

DineometerDeb said...

Hello Alli. Nice to meet another Chattanoogan blogger. If you happen to stop back by, what is your blog address? The one you listed is not working.

tut: You know I was just thinking this morning that I feel guilty FOR going to McKay's sometimes because the authors get no share of my purchase. I debate this back and forth. Good for the environment because people would just throw them away if they couldn't resell, but bad for authors and artists. Such a dilema.

ChattanoogaGreen said...

Now I am confused. How is reselling used books bad for authors and artists ?

DineometerDeb said...

If you buy books and CDs new, the authors and artists get a portion of the profit. If you buy used, they don't. So someone is making a profit off their work but they aren't. That doesn't seem completely fair to me.

Arika said...

I've never heard of McKay's, it must be a mid-west east coast thing... I feel very blessed to have the countries largest Powell's book store really close! It's so fun to hunt for stuff and considering the store is an entire city block it's a days adventure!

DineometerDeb said...

Oh stop bragging Arika. ; )

I have heard about your bookstores in Oregon. My friend sent me a postcard from a place called Three Monkeys or something?

bobw said...

yes, McKay's rocks. I've never understood why they call it McKay and EVERYone else calls it McKay's...

DineometerDeb said...

Yeah they need to just go ahead and change the name ; )

Kiva said...

Oh, wow... a brand new bookstore with lots of books! I'm salivating. How lucky you are to get there first before the shelves are picked clean. Now Nashville not only has the lure of the Union Station hotel and the honky-tonks on Broadway,but a real-live book store for booknuts! Ya-hoo!

DineometerDeb said...

Except, Kiva, that I am on a book and media diet right now since I have so many unread, unwatched, and unlistened to. I allow myself a few audiobook purchases for long drives but that is pretty much it. It was very difficult to resist.