About PLENTY
your nonprofit bookshop in Cookeville's historic downtown
Plenty Downtown Bookshop is an independent, nonprofit bookshop
founded on the belief that books can change the world.
And we’re determined to make that happen.
Our Story
Plenty was founded by three people: Dave and Lisa Uhrik, owners of Franklin Fixtures, and Ashley Michael. Franklin Fixtures makes shelving and displays for independent bookshops and other specialty retailers. (If you’re a fan of 90’s romcoms, you’ll have seen their handiwork before, on display in The Shop Around the Corner in You’ve Got Mail.)
After years of helping independent bookstores get started all across the country, Lisa and Dave were ready to start a bookshop of their own. They joined forces with Ashley, who had long dreamt about running a bookstore and magic was born.
Dave, Lisa, and Ashley at the 2024 Plenty Gala
One Bookshop. Two Moves.
In September of 2022, Plenty on Spring opened its doors to the population of Cookeville, Tennessee. The space was warm and welcoming and cozy. And it kept flooding.
So when a space opened on Cookeville’s walkable west side, the decision was made to move not even a year into the journey.
Plenty Downtown Bookshop opened its doors at 48 W Broad in May of 2023. The location was stunning, and situated in Cookeville’s historic downtown, staff and customers alike thought we’d struck gold.
But then Lisa’s dream location opened. Formerly home to Harper’s Rare Books and long before that the store where her two great aunts once worked, 41 W Broad provided twice the space and a final landing place.
So we moved again, across the street, in a space even more magical than the last.
And we’re here to stay.
A Greater Mission
As a nonprofit, we like to believe that the bookshop belongs to the community. Every dollar invested or spent at Plenty supports our goals to improve literacy and elevate book culture in the Upper Cumberland.
We partner with schools and nonprofits to get books where they’re needed the most. We’re building a network of little book libraries across the region to allow people to grab a book while they’re at the park or on a walk around the neighborhood. We host hundreds of events each year, ranging from small book club discussions to a Wine and Words festival that brought in a dozen authors and hundreds of visitors to celebrate books.
We believe a community engaged in book culture is a healthy community.
Books help with anxiety and depression. They improve our concentration, help us sleep, and teach us about places we’ve never been. They encourage empathy and allow us to connect with other people.
In a world increasingly divided, that connection is more important than ever.
Plenty is a place where everyone is welcome, nonreaders and bookworms alike. Whether you haven’t touched a book since school or your to-be-read pile is an entire library, we can’t wait to help you find a book you’ll love.