The Bird and The Book: A Used Bookstore Worth Visiting in Maryville, TN
One of our favorite bookstores to visit in Knoxville, TN, has always been McKay Used Books. But recently, they closed their store. That means we are on the hunt for another used bookstore whenever we visit family in the Knoxville area.
On our most recent trip, we found a great little stop. If you love the feel, smell, and atmosphere of a real used bookstore, you’re going to want to check out The Bird and The Book in Maryville, TN. And while you’re there, make sure you go around back and visit The Dungeon for all the vinyl, VHS tapes, retro video games, and other nostalgic media.
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The Bird and The Book: A Used Bookstore Worth Visiting in Maryville, TN
When I say this is the cutest used bookstore, I mean it. If you’ve ever visited a true vintage used bookstore, then you know exactly the smells and atmosphere I’m talking about. One thing that makes this place even more fun is that The Bird and The Book has a restaurant attached. So you get the classic feel of browsing shelves full of old and new books while catching the delicious smell of lunch cooking just a few feet away.
I enjoy a new bookstore as much as the next person, but my favorite bookstores have cardboard signs listing categories, books stacked on top of each other, and shelves that stretch from floor to ceiling.
When you enter a good used bookstore, everyone seems to know the rules. You split up almost immediately, and each person heads to their favorite section to start browsing. My husband went looking for outdoor books, westerns, and art books. My mother-in-law headed for the classic literature section, and I went straight to the quilting, crafting, and gardening shelves.
Once you’re done shopping in the bookstore, it’s time to go around back and browse The Dungeon.
My youngest son loves retro electronics and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so we’ve been looking for a TMNT VHS tape. Sure, we could order one online, but half the fun is in the hunt!
The Dungeon has an eclectic mix of old and new, retro and modern. You’ll find vinyl records, VHS tapes, video games, DVDs, CDs, and all kinds of collectibles. You never know what treasure you’ll discover, and that’s exactly what makes it so much fun.
This is definitely a place we’ll visit again the next time we’re in Maryville.
What is your favorite used bookstore to visit? I’d love to add it to our list so we can check it out the next time we’re traveling to your city!
