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.
The Plenty Founders: Lisa Uhrik, Dave Uhrik, Ashley Michael
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.
The statistics these days are staggering. Kids are spending more time on the phone while literacy rates drop. Only 2% of families read with their kids. Something's got to give. So we're partnering with the first public preschool in the county. Our commitment starts with parents reading to their kids and lasts a lifetime.
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.
