Find Your Next Read at McKay’s, a Giant Used Bookstore in Nashville, Chattanooga, and Knoxville
Large chain bookstores might be having a difficult time, but the regional bookstore McKay’s is thriving in Tennessee. McKay’s is a used bookstore that’s technically more than just a bookstore as it also buys and sells records, CDs, games, toys, and much more. McKay’s is constantly packed with customers.
It should come as no surprise that McKay’s in Nashville is a frequent stop for my family and me!
Here’s what you need to know if you’re going to visit McKay’s.
Locations
McKay’s originally started in North Carolina, and the first Tennessee location opened in 1985. There are currently three TN stores: Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville.
The Nashville location is the one I’m most familiar with, and it is giant! The downstairs is packed with row after row of shelves, and there’s even more on the second floor which runs the perimeter of the building and looks out over the first floor.
What’s in Stock
McKay’s stock depends on what is sold and traded in. You really never know what you’re going to find. When it comes to books, McKay’s isn’t the place to find a ton of new releases. While there is a section for newer titles, it’s pretty small. You’d be better off going to somewhere like Parnassus Books if you want titles right off the press.
However, McKay’s is a good place to find older titles you wouldn’t come across as frequently. The books are sorted by genre, so I typically pick a couple of genres to browse each time I visit and see what I come home with. I’ve found some really fun titles in the cookbook, travel, and blank notebook sections that I love!
The prices are generally very good although there are still some books that are more than I’d like to pay. Since the Nashville Public Library is so good, I’m picker about which books I buy than I was before I moved to Nashville.
Of course, McKay’s has a lot more than just books. There’s an extensive record section, DVDs, board games and puzzles, video games, Legos, collectibles like Funko Pops, music equipment and musical instruments, and even a small section with children’s toys.
Navigating McKay’s
Because McKay’s is so large, it can be overwhelming when you first walk in. All the sections are labeled though, so it’s easy to find the areas you’re interested in. Prices are also clearly displayed on the items.
There are both stairs and an elevator leading to the upstairs, so it’s easy to access. However, I find that the aisles between the shelves downstairs are on the narrow side. McKay’s is usually busy, so it can be hard to get down some of the more popular aisles quickly. We’ve brought a large stroller in before, and it does fit through everywhere.
When possible I prefer going on weekdays rather than weekends because it’s more pleasant to browse when there are fewer people in the store.
The check-out line is usually long, but there are multiple registers open during busy periods. You shouldn’t have to wait too long.
Trading and Selling
If you’d like, you can bring in items to sell for cash or trade in for credit. We’ve taken items in a few different times and the credit is decent, especially if you are going to periodically cull your media collection anyway.
You’ll want to make sure you check the guidelines on McKay’s website to see what they take and what they don’t take.
When we trade in, we typically do the drop-off option, where you come back 1 to 5 days later. You can’t get any of the items back if you don’t like the price McKay’s offers for them, but that’s never been a problem for us.
There’s also an option to do a day order with an estimated turnaround time of 30-45 minutes. You’re able to get your items back with this option if you decide you don’t like the price offered.
McKay’s offers an option for larger quantities as well. This option has a 2-4 week turnaround time, and you can have the payment mailed to you. We’ve never tried this one out though because we’ve never had that much to trade in at once!
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Overall, McKay’s is a must-visit for book lovers, whether you’re in Nashville, Chattanooga, or Knoxville!
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