5 Local Bookshops Where You Can Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day

By Sydney Catinna on Fri, Apr 26, 2024 at 10:15 pm

Louisville- the birthplace of Hunter S. Thompson- is home to an impressive roster of small, specialty bookshops building close-knit communities.

Here are 5 local bookstores where you can find your next page-turner.

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Urban Wyatt

Carmichael’s

1295 Bardstown Rd. & 2720 Frankfort Ave.

No list would be complete without Carmichael’s, Louisville’s oldest and most well-known independent bookstore. Join the Banned Books Book Club or head to the Highlands’ Carmichael’s Kids to grab a book your young ones will love! This year, Carmichael's has partnered with the Jack Harlow Foundation to donate $5 for every book sold to the Education Justice non-profit.

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Butcher Cabin Books

990 Barret Ave.

If horror and true crime are more your thing, Butcher Cabin Books has a collection so good it’s scary. Along with themed holiday events, this shop has curated gift guides for everyone from young readers to Stephen King diehards. Don’t forget to check out the Kentucky author's table, which features both fiction and non.

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The Rosewater

4634 S 3rd St.

What’s better than a good book? A good book that benefits a great cause! Located in Beechmont, The Rosewater is a 100% volunteer-run used bookstore that seeks to empower the local community. Sign up to volunteer or attend Craft Nights every 1st and 3rd Thursday.

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A Novel Romance

11610 Main St,

A Novel Romance is an inclusive destination in historic Middletown for lovers of, well, love. This independent bookstore is a charming haven for romance fans selling steamy reads and bookish gifts.

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Foxing Books

1314 Bluegrass Ave.

What started as a mobile pop-up with an eye-catching vintage book truck now has a brick-and-mortar home in Louisville’s South End. Grab up to 5 friends and participate in Foxing Books’ Battle of the Book Clubs Trivia Saturday, Feb. 3 at Shipping Port Brewing.

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