Knoxville is losing a legendary local spot.
McKay’s — the massive bookstore on Papermill Place Way — will permanently close after 40 years of buying and selling secondhand books, music, movies, collectibles, and more. Its final day of business is Sunday, May 3.
According to Knox County records, Turkey Creek Hospitality, a local developer that owns at least 10 hotels, purchased the store and its adjacent parking lot for $4.25 million.
“It has been an honor to be part of the Knoxville community for the last four decades,” the staff wrote in a statement. “If you bought, sold, or traded with us, you helped keep books and media on the shelves of people who appreciate it.”
The silver lining? McKay’s locations in Chattanooga and Nashville will remain open, so customers can still use trade credit and gift cards at other Tennessee stores. The company will also continue operating in North Carolina, where it was founded in 1974.
