They faced the rise in big box retailers and Amazon's disruption of the bookselling industry. Still,more than 16 months into the COVID-19pandemic, some of Kentucky's oldest independent bookstores are still standing.
Five of them have a combined 210years in operationand today are run by the original owners— ora second generation carrying on the family business.
While not a complete list, here's a look at some of Kentucky's longest-running independent bookstores and when they opened:
Black Swan Books, 505 E. Maxwell St., Lexington —1984
Mike Courtney sells used and rare booksas well as a small selection of new books that are typically either written by a friend or published by theUniversity Press of Kentucky.
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In nearly four decades of business, Courtney said he's seen a change in what his customers are reading.Whilebooks about Kentucky and military history still sell well, they're not as popular as they once were. Poetry and literatureare becoming more popular.
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Like all the independent bookstores on this list, his business has changed over the decadesand has been challenged by the rise ofbig box stores and Amazon. But Courtney said stores selling used books have fared better because they cater to a different market.
"The collectors are dying out, the hardcore collectors, the people who would collect every first edition of F. Scott Fitzgerald," Courtney said. "But people like older books."
That's why he believes there will always be bookstores like his.
"It's obviously a labor of love, so to speak," he said.
Go toblackswanbooks.netor call859-252-7255.
Blue Marble Books, 1356 S. Ft. Thomas Ave.,Fort Thomas— 1979
The second floor ofBlue Marble Books in Fort Thomas has green walls and a fireplace, meant to transport customersfrom theCincinnati suburb to the pages of "Goodnight Moon."
It's fitting decoration for the children's bookstore, which Tina and Peter Moore first opened more than 40 years ago in a different spot in Fort Thomas.Tina Moore, an immigrant from the Philippines, died in 2016, but her husband keeps the store running.
In itsearly years, the Moores soldchildren's books and toys that didn't require batteries, said General ManagerCaroline Stine.
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"The focus has always been on promoting literacy for children and children’s imaginations," she said. "That goal has not shifted over the years."
To that end, the store has a large selection of books in foreign languages, including Spanish,Italian, German, Japanese and more.
Go tobluemarblebooks.comor call859-781-0602.
Carmichael's Bookstore, three locations in Louisville—1978
Carmichael's Bookstoregets its name from the original owners,Carol and Michael Carmichael. Today, it's run by asecond generation, cousins Kelly Estep and Miranda Blankenship.
The first location,Estep said, openedat the intersection of Bardstown Road and Bonnycastle Avenue. In the early 1980s, it moved about a mile downBardstown Road to what is now one of three locations.
A key to the store's success for more than 40 years,Estep said, was being deliberate about the communities they chose and way the stores are set up.They curate books to reflect the owners and staff and design the stores to evoke a sense of comfort and community.
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"I think it has worked," Estep said.
The pandemic forcedCarmichael's to shiftmore to online sales and offer shipping to all parts of the city. It paid off,Estep said, as online sales went from about1.5% of thebusiness two years ago to about 11% in the first half of 2021.
So the book delivery aspect will stay, she said.
Go tocarmichaelsbookstore.comor call502-456-6950for theBardstown Road location,502-896-6950 for theFrankfort Avenue location or502-709-4900for theCarmichael's Kids location.
Glover's Bookery,862 S. Broadway, Lexington— 1976
There were many days early on that John Glover started the day with a co*ke and a copy of "AB Bookman's Weekly"—a publication that served as a marketplace forout-of-print books before the internet—in search of books to stock his shelves.
In the decades since he opened his shop, that search shifted online and tobook fairs. But 45 years in,Glover's Bookery is still in business selling used and rare books.
"As far as I can remember, I’ve had a love of old books," Glover said.
As a boy growing up in Florida through his graduate student days at the University of Kentucky,he'd go hunting for them.
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"It was a treasure hunt every day," he said
He moved the store to itscurrent location on Broadway in the early 1980s and bought the building, which he creditswith helping him stay in business for so long. He and other bookstore owners said renting space can be problematic becausehaving to pack up andmove thousands ofbooks if rents get too high could sink a business.
Glover estimates his 3,000-square-foot store has about 80,000 books, plus tens of thousands more in warehouses.
At 69 years old, the pandemic forced him to partially retire and lay off his staff, meaning some days he'll hang a sign on the door without notice to let customers know he took a break— to go hunting for books once again.
Go towww.gloversbookery.comor call859-253-0614.
Poor Richard’s Books, 233 W. Broadway St., Frankfort— 1978
Lizz Taylor didn't want to live in a town withoutbookstore.
So in 1978, she openedPoor Richard’s Books in downtown Frankfort to make sure there would always be at least one.
Named after"Poor Richard's Almanack" published by Benjamin Franklin, the county's namesake, her store is about 2,800 square feet.Taylor estimates it containsabout 50,000 books.
In more than 40 years,Taylor, like other store owners, hasseen the rise in big box retailers and the internet shake up the industry.
"We’ve had to adapt numerous times," she said. "I'm kind of used to doing that."
When big box retailers started to take hold,Taylor said, she hoped they wouldget bigger and bigger. She figuredthe larger those stores got, the larger her advantage. Manycustomerswantan intimate setting with a personal touch,rather than corporate buyers elsewhere ordering books for the chains.
She proved herself right.
During the pandemic, her online sales began takingoff. Taylor said she'ssurprised bythe number of orders fromformer Kentuckians or visitors from out of statewho remember the store and choose to support it.
"I think that the independent store is a snapshot of the community," she said. "So if you really want to know what Frankfort is like, step in here."
Go topoorrichardsbooksky.indielite.orgor call502-223-8018.
Reach reporter Matt Mencarini: 502-582-4221; mmencarini@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @MattMencarini.
