Bigger Than a Bookshop: Why Plenty Bookshop Exists and What It Means for Our Community
- Ashley Michael
- Oct 27
- 4 min read
Step through the doors of Plenty Downtown Bookshop, and you’ll find something rare: a place where every purchase has a purpose.
Plenty is not a bookstore built to maximize profit. It’s a nonprofit bookshop. Formerly we retained a nonprofit status recognized by the state of Tennessee, and were under fiscal sponsorship, but now we are so pleased to announce that Plenty Downtown Bookshop is officially recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization- the first of our kind that we know of.
This milestone affirms what we’ve always believed: that a bookshop can be more than a business; it can be a mission. Our unique model allows every dollar earned to be reinvested into the mission of strengthening literacy and creating a culture of connection through books. In an age when reading rates are declining and isolation is on the rise, we believe the simple act of putting books into hands and letting them take root into hearts can change the trajectory of an entire community.
A nonprofit bookshop operates much like a traditional bookstore. We sell books, host events, and have plenty of cozy nooks for readers to sit and stay a while. But unlike a for-profit business, our bottom line isn’t revenue; it’s impact.
Instead of distributing profits to owners or investors, we reinvest all income back into our mission:
Expanding access to books and reading opportunities
Hosting free or low-cost events for families and readers of all ages
Partnering with schools, libraries, and nonprofits to bring curated books to the people who need them
Creating a gathering place that strengthens the social and cultural life of downtown Cookeville
Our success is measured not only in books sold but in readers reached, partnerships built, and lives enriched.
Why This Matters Now
Across the United States, literacy is in crisis. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, only 33% of fourth graders read at or above a proficient level, and those numbers have fallen sharply since 2019. The pandemic accelerated gaps that were already growing, and rural communities like ours have been hit especially hard.
Here in Middle Tennessee, the challenges are clear. Many children begin school already behind, households often have few if any books at home, and some counties don’t even have a library. A two-decade long study found that the mere presence of a home library (100+ books) increases children’s academic success, vocabulary development, attention and job attainment, yet many families in our region fall far below that benchmark.
The result isn’t just an educational problem, though; it’s an economic and emotional one. Low literacy correlates with lower wages, poorer health outcomes, and reduced civic engagement. In a state where nearly one in five adults struggles with basic reading tasks, the consequences are deeply personal and generational.
At Plenty, we believe we can help change that story one reader, and one community at a time.
Why Rural Middle Tennessee Needs a Place Like This
Bookstores and libraries are the cornerstones of thriving communities, but in small towns and rural areas, they are often fragile institutions. We are connecting less with our neighbors, using fewer words in daily life, and filling our schedules instead of our souls.
That’s why Plenty exists: to be a third space — a place that isn’t home or work, but feels like belonging. It’s a space where people can slow down, rediscover curiosity, and reconnect through stories. This bookshop speaks to solving a multitude of systemic problems that communities like ours face.
Through something as simple as a story time, a poetry night, or a writers’ workshop, we’re growing a small but mighty literary hub at the heart of our town. Our work blends education and literacy with wellness, and belonging; reading doesn’t just build vocabulary; it builds empathy, imagination, and resilience.
Bookshops are the medium for well-being.
How the Model Works
Our structure allows us to do what for-profit bookstores often can’t:
Offer mission-driven programming that’s free or donation-based
Partner widely with schools, nonprofits, mental health organizations, and local businesses
Reinvest earnings into new literacy initiatives instead of private gain
Engage volunteers and donors who want to be part of something bigger than a transaction
Every purchase at Plenty fuels that cycle — turning commerce into community investment.
What It Means for the Future of Bookstores
Independent bookstores across the country are finding that survival depends on more than sales- particularly those in rural areas, or in large cities where the cost of living is astronomical. The nonprofit model offers a way forward: by treating the bookstore not just as retail, but as cultural infrastructure.
When readers gather around stories, when children fall in love with books, and when local voices are celebrated, a town becomes a richer community, rather than a collection of people. Bookstores of the future will look less like isolated retail spots and more like hybrid spaces: commerce and culture, sales and service, local hub and community lifeline.
In the evolving retail landscape — where online competition and shrinking margins threaten many independent bookstores — our model points to a sustainable future. A bookstore anchored in mission, not merely margin, thrives by being indispensable to its community.
That’s what we’re building at Plenty: a sustainable, hopeful future for reading itself.
How You Can Help
If you believe in what books can do, there’s a place for you in this story.
Shop with purpose — every purchase supports literacy
Donate or sponsor — help fund story times, book-gifting, and community programs
Partner — bring reading initiatives to your school, church, or organization
Volunteer — join the team that keeps Plenty vibrant
Thank you for your love and support of Plenty. We're so excited to see what the future holds for our nonprofit bookshop and our community!
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