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Our Story

Fri, 07/08/2011 - 2:40pm — laurelwood

MORE ABOUT OUR STORE…
Opening Date: January, 1985
Square Footage: 27,000
Titles Carried: 75,000
Events Per Year: 200+
Email Subscribers: 10,000+

With a loyal customer base and a veteran staff—   many employees with over 10 years of bookselling experience—The Booksellers at Laurelwood is proud to serve as the premier independent bookstore in Memphis.

Memphis plays host to many great southern authors, and is the largest city within driving distance of four states (Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, & Missouri). Many mystery/thriller fans are located in the Mid South region, and mystery guru Scott Graves frequently hosts book clubs in-store to showcase the best new and upcoming books of the season.

Our children’s department hosts 4 story time programs each week, averaging 30-40 kids/parents. We have strong partnerships with over a dozen schools within a 5-mile radius, and have hosted great events with such children’s authors as Mo Willems, Kevin Henkes, Laura Numeroff, John Grogan, Erin Hunter, Mary Pope Osborne, Kate DiCamillo, Tony DiTerlizzi, among others. We have also hosted Young Adult authors such as Meg Cabot, Lauren Conrad, Ann Brashares, Justine Larbalestier, Melissa de la Cruz, and many others.  

The Booksellers at Laurelwood plays an active role in the community, and maintains numerous partnerships in the non-profit, academic, business, and philanthropic arenas, including work with the public libraries, area churches & synagogues, LeBonheur Children’s Medical Center, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Theatre Memphis, The Orpheum, Literacy Mid South, Children’s Museum of Memphis, Rhodes College, the University of Memphis, FedEx, Kemmons Wilson Foundation (Holiday Inn), and the Junior League of Memphis.  

We have hosted large, successful author events with Jimmy Carter, Paula Deen, Al Gore, Julie Andrews, Buzz Aldrin, Max Lucado, Jan Karon, Taylor Hicks, Mitch Albom, Mary & Carol Higgins Clark,  Hampton Sides, Kathryn Stockett, Sebastian Junger, David Sedaris, Jodi Picoult, Alton Brown, Mike Huckabee, George Rodrigue, Tony Dungy,  Marlo Thomas, Kimberla Lawson Roby, Rebecca Skloot, David Wroblewski, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy, Michael Oher, Pat Conroy, Dr. Condoleezza Rice,  and many more!

Greetings from The Booksellers!

Thu, 07/07/2011 - 2:45pm — laurelwood

The Booksellers at Laurelwood.   How appropriate.  There is much to be excited about and I want to personally thank you for your support, especially over the past 6 months.  As we move to the next chapter in bookselling and the challenges attendant to our industry, we are compelled to step back and take stock of what has truly made our store great.  And of course it starts with the people you have come to know so well over the last 31 years.  We count 6 booksellers who have been with your store for over 20 years, headed up by Eddie Burton our store manager.  Another 9 have been with us over 10 years.  Collectively we have over 300 years of bookselling experience- A count unparalleled in the bookselling world.  We all stand committed to continue providing you with an outstanding selection of books and gift items we know you will love.  Our eye will continue to be on supporting local authors and artists as we evolve our merchandise selection.  And all this will be supported by a stellar lineup of author appearances and events to make shopping at your store all the more entertaining.  The topping on our bookselling sundae- a complete remodeling of the store and Bistro later this summer. I promise the best is yet to come!
Neil Van Uum
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by Dr. Radut.