Keep a bookstore in East Nashville!

Update: We didn't get the funding we needed, so we will be leaving our space at 118 S 11th St. at the end of June. However, we're going to try one more time to see how much support there is in the East Nashville community (and, really, in the entire city of Nashville) for used bookstores. For business purposes, we need to keep our overhead low, so moving the bookstore online would accomplish that. NEVERTHELESS, we would like to remain open as a brick and mortar store that customers can browse through, so we are asking for help with moving expenses into a smaller (but still browseable) retail space in East Nashville. Please consider showing your support for used bookstores and actual physical books while we look to establish a more business-friendly space that still serves the community. In other words, if you would like to see us maintain as an actual bookstore, give now; otherwise, we'll be forced to become an online-only bookselling business. If you can't help by donating, please consider coming in before we close to buy books and/or bookcases. Even if we move to a new location, it will be smaller, so we won't need as many of either.

Our original funding request: 

Defunct Books needs your help in order to expand into the back room so that we can stay open and sell more books! I’m seeking support for bookshelves and book-moving expenses to expand into the back room of my store in Five Points in East Nashville.

I moved my used bookstore from Iowa City to East Nashville in August of 2015 because I fell in love with Nashville and because East Nashvillians expressed a strong desire for a used bookstore in their neighborhood.  But without the help of our book-loving friends, we won't be able to maintain our physical store.


While spaces in East Nashville are difficult to find, particularly charming ones, I located an inviting space in the Five Points neighborhood and was able to set up shop in the front three rooms. Given how limited this space is, however, I was only able to fit half of the sections into the store with the remainder of the books sitting in storage.


The only way that the bookstore will be successful is if we open the backroom/kitchen in order to be able to display more of our books. If we’re able to open this space, we’ll be able to add our large theology section, as well as popular sections such as psychology, business/economics, Eastern philosophy, world religions, health, foreign languages, medicine, sociology, cultural studies, law, education, literary criticism, Judaica, antiques & collectibles, anthropology, hunting & fishing, nature, pets, gender studies, biography, do-it-yourself, family & childcare, as well as large parts of the poetry section, art, transportation, military history, reference, and young adult. Literally, it’s like half the store. If we are unable to open the back room soon, I fear that we won't be able to stay open. 

In order to open the back room, I need funds to purchase additional bookcases as well as to be able to move/set up the books. Any funds beyond that will be used to move additional books that are still sitting in storage in Iowa. These are trying times for independent bookstores. The closure of the venerable BookMan/BookWoman after 20 years is testament to that. I would like to be able to continue to serve the community both as a charming physical space to buy books as well as to host literary and music events for the public.

Defunct Books is and always has been a labor of love, but to make the bookstore viable into the future, expanding into the back space is imperative. I would appreciate any help you can provide, and I hope you make great use of the donation rewards offered, either for yourself or for friends and loved ones. The gift cards make excellent gifts! And either way, please support local, independent bookstores by buying books! But please, help us stay open!