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When you enter Landmark Booksellers in downtown Franklin, TN, be prepared to experience the old world at its finest hour. The building itself, built in the 1820’s, is a beautiful reminder of Franklin’s impressive history, despite its ghost stories.
I passed Landmark Booksellers many times, appreciating the architecture and wondering what treasures it may hold, but never went in until last week.
If you have made the mistake I have, thinking that it isn’t your sort of place, I urge you to reconsider! The collections of rare and antique books, art and warm atmosphere make it a wonderful place to spend an afternoon.
If you have not yet checked out Landmark Booksellers, here’s an inside look!
First Impressions
I was nervous, at first, because I had all 3 of my children with me — as usual!
I knew before going in that this was not your typical Barnes & Noble.
This particular bookstore is a dream come true for the avid book lover, but it had the potential to be a nightmare with a 2-year-old, 9-year-old, and 12-year-old in tow. However, we were welcomed warmly, all 4 of us (even the one already crying!), as soon as we walked through the door.
I began perusing the first books I came to in the store front and was fascinated by the sheer volume of first editions and leather bound books. The topics in this first room vary from local authors to the Civil War.
Plush leather couches in the front room create the intimate feeling of walking through someone’s personal library. Great literary authors are framed in black and whites above those couches. Stand and try to guess who they are for long and you may meet Joel Tomlin, the owner of Landmark Booksellers. While I was there, he had people guessing whom the portraits were of.
What’s Upstairs?
The oak staircase leads upstairs, which happens to be the preferred location of Landmark’s resident ghost.
Aside from the ghost, you can also find these collections upstairs:
- Vintage cookbooks for the discerning chef or stay at home mom.
- Books about collecting, antiques, and repairing.
- An art gallery filled with works on music and the arts, architecture, photography, and Hollywood.
- A hallway that is lined with books on literary authors.
- And a room full of fiction novels, complete with a 2nd floor balcony.
The Best Part
My favorite part of Landmark Booksellers is the children’s room in the very back of the first floor.
This whimsical room is lined with classic children’s books that have been cherished by many throughout the years. You will find first editions in this room as well, so take care with your children. Luckily, there are some toys in the middle of the room to keep them occupied, if you wish.
The books are balanced with a big chair that looks as though it is straight out of Alice in Wonderland. There is also adorable artwork on the walls of the children’s room.
Landmark Booksellers should not be missed by anyone, whether you are a book collector or not!
If you visit, let me know what you think…
Landmark Booksellers
114 East Main Street
Franklin, Tennessee 37064
(615) 791-6400
A must-read: Independent Bookstores Aren’t Dying Like Traditional Bookstores
I’m a stay-at-home mother of 3. Our family of 5 lives in Franklin, Tennessee. I love it here!
i walked in here too & thought it was so precious. i hate feeling pressured to buy stuff in non-chain stores & didnt feel that way here which was a huge relief. i walked out without buying something without feeling bad the way some store keepers make me feel.
I had often times passed landmark booksellers on my way through the bustling boulevards of Franklin and recently on an unseasonalably-warm early springtime afternoon decided to succumb to my curiosity and patronize the local book seller.
Upon entering we were gruffly greeted with “Have you ever been here before?”
I relayed to the shopkeeper that we had walked past on many occasions and that we had decided to quench our curiosity and gaze upon the contents of there within.
She asked again if we were looking for something and I told her we would probably just browse around a bit. She looked very skeptical and then told us to leave our personal items in the front of the store all the while relaying very ineloquently that she was the only person in the store so that we would not be able to go to some parts of it, as well as that the books were out of our price range.
The woman working the store then alternated between following us around the store and mindlessly chattering with the other lone customer in the store. I had had fears of pretension and closed mindedness coming to this store and the proprietor did nothing but cement my pre-held beliefs and expand upon them.
Instead of browsing through the books and having an enjoyable experience I quickly
glanced through the store and left.
If you want to feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, completely distrusted Landmark Booksellers is for you.