Bound Booksellers - Franklin, TN

Bound Booksellers, Franklin, TN

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Every bookstore I visit has a different personality and character, each unique to itself.  What is less clear is where that personality comes from.  On the day of my visit to Bound Booksellers, it clearly came from their rock-star bookseller, Olivia R.  It is so refreshing to meet a young lady who is conversant and knowledgeable about books AND has the personality to deliver it.  I didn't meet the husband and wife co-owners, Kelly and Chad, but I know that they have a talent for hiring good help and they got a good one with Olivia.  She was the perfect person to leave in charge as the ambassador of Bound Booksellers.

Bound Booksellers is a brand new sparking bookstore, just over a year old.  This reaffirms what I'm finding with new bookstores continuing to open.  It is a small space on a lower level in the Westhaven Town Center, a new development that has lots of retail and residential opportunities, a great location.  Even though the store is small, it has a lot of inventory and is smartly organized and arranged thanks to Kelly's expertise and background in interior design.  The store offers all new books and several sidelines including greeting cards, journals, candles, mugs, and stuffed animals that you can buy and pair with the children's books it matches.  The greeting cards were very creatively arranged on the back of a garage door which was a loading dock for a previous business.  The store hosts occasional events, including an outdoor story time during the summer months in a great patio area.  But my favorite event they do is a visit from Santa who reads, Twas The Night Before Christmas.  He also autographs any books they buy.  I'm not surprised that Olivia told me this is a huge hit with the kids and I think this would be an event every indie could do.

The store's business is going very well and the sales during the holiday season were so good that they had to close for two days to regroup.  Good job, Bookbound, good job, Franklin.  

I'm sure there are people that haven't found Bookbound Booksellers yet.  You are in for a wonderful surprise when you discover this bookstore.  Enjoy your visit, browse, converse, and return again for a terrific bookstore experience at a place that will remind you that dynamite comes in small packages.  Go to an indie and buy a book.  Bonsoir.

JUST FINISHED:  See What I Have Done, Sarah Schmidt.  This book is historical fiction about the Lizzie Borden crime.  Even though it is fiction, the author did a lot of research and there is a lot of truth here.  I love the premise of this book, looking at the crime from the perspective of different people but I found the writing to be clunky and not easily readable.  It just didn't have a flow.    

CURRENTLY READING:  Slider, Pete Hautman.  

RECENTLY PURCHASED:  Scroll down to the last picture to see the hip Bookbound shirt I bought.

This is a portion of the beautiful patio area outside the bookstore.  This area is used for children's story time during the summer months.  

A nice large display window.  

View looking into the store and toward the right from the front entrance.  

This indie will see that Santa gets your letters.  

Just inside the front entrance and to the left, these greeting cards are arranged in the inside of a garage door.  Another wonderful example of the creativity you find at independent bookstores. 

Another picture of what I described above.  

Have a seat and try out a book on this neatly arranged couch.  

Attractive store display.  

Who needs paper and pencil to play tic-tac-toe!  Have a game here while you ponder more books.

It's always good to read a book with a nice cup of coffee or tea.  

Kids can get a book and then find a stuffed animal to match it.  

A portion of the children's section.  

If you come here looking for party ideas, there are lots of books and sidelines for that.  

The store keeps books on hand that match the reading lists from some of the schools.  

Have you ever seen a perpetual calendar?  They're pretty cool and they have them here at Bookbound.  

ALWAYS ask your bookstore about gift cards.  I think these are the best.  

Ask your independent bookstore about digital audiobooks, another way to support your local indie.  

Overview of the bookstore from the checkout counter near the back. 

With Olivia on the left, one of the fine booksellers at Bound Booksellers.  Thanks for a great visit.