Indie Bookstore Spotlight: Landmark Booksellers

Our May 2025 box is themed to the state of Tennessee and we collaborated with Landmark Booksellers. Located in Franklin, Landmark Booksellers open in 2005 and are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year. Congrats to Landmark Booksellers!

Landmark Booksellers is located in a Greek revival style historical building that was built around 1806. Originally called The Old Factory Store, this building has held many types of businesses over the years, including restaurants and an officer's club. In 1972, the building was placed on the Register of Historical Place. In addition to Landmark Bookseller's building being very special, the entire neighborhood is filled with historical buildings and has played host to famous people, such as President Andrew Jackson.

This story of how Landmark Booksellers came to be mirrors the dreams of many would-be bookstore owners. The store was founded by Joel and Carol Tomlin, who decided that when their youngest child graduated, they would start a business together, something that they both showed a passion towards. The Tomlins, life- long booklovers, naturally graviated towards owning a bookstore. On the store website, there are a few videos featuring Joel and Carol talking about the store and their love for books. These videos really capture their love of books and bookselling, you should check them out.

Joel and Carol's story was an inspiration for author Karen Kingsbury. Kingsbury wrote her novel, The Bridge, after a visit to Landmark Booksellers. The Bridge is set in Franklin and about a husband/wife team who owns a bookstore. Her novel has also been turned into a Hallmark movie.

Landmark Booksellers hosts author events and book clubs. One of their unique book clubs focuses on "Short Great Books." These are notable works that can be read in 2-5 hours, such as Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray or Medea by Euripides.

Interested in a book subscription? I know you are, because you are here! Landmark Booksellers has some really unique options for curated books delivered to your door. For example, they have a subscription series for someone who is interested in Shipwrecks. Take a look at their unusual and delightful subscription offerings.

Landmark Booksellers has new, used, and rare books in their inventory of over 35,000 books. They specialize in regional and local books, as well as postcards, maps, and similar objects. This is a very special and unique indie bookstore with so much history. We've included their logo sticker in the May Literarary Road Trip Box. Please visit Landmark Booksellers the next time you're in Franklin. You can support them from afar by shopping on their website and visiting their Instagram page.