About PLENTY
your nonprofit bookshop in Cookeville's historic downtown
At Plenty, we love stories. We are in the business of stories, after all, and love them in all shapes and sizes: True stories, fiction, and everything in between.
But our favorite story is the one we're writing right here in Cookeville, Tennessee, with friends and neighbors even beyond our state borders. It’s a story that you, even as you’re reading this, are invited to join in and take part.
Built on the idea that books can change lives, Plenty is a nonprofit bookshop dedicated to improving literacy and elevating book culture in the Upper Cumberland. To put it simply, we have seen lives change through books. And 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. (Read more about our mission here.) 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.
Since we first opened our doors on Spring Street
(and survived a bookshop flood)
(and moved to Broad St.)
(and then moved again because we outgrew the space),
our community has embraced that story.
From the out-of-towners who are excited to see our cute little bookshop to the midnight release party-goers who dress in costume and celebrate with us at 11:59 on a Monday night, we are grateful to see and meet each of you, honored that you chose to spend part of your day with us and with the books.
You've helped us welcome bestselling and nationally-renowned authors like Ruta Septys, Annie Hartnett, Kevin Wilson, and so many more. We've hosted midnight release parties with authors Hannah Whitten and Kristen M Long in attendance.
We've fallen in love with the Nashville Authors: Lauren Nossett, Jennifer Moorman, Rea Frey, and Melissa R Collings, so much so that Plenty may or may not make an appearance in forthcoming collaborative novel.
We partnered with Restoring Childhood, on a community read of The Anxious Generation led by Ryan Dalton. Teachers, parents, community leaders, and more came together to read how cell phone addiction is hurting our kids.
You've helped us fill (and empty) over a dozen little book libraries around the region.
Soon we'll be providing books to kids going through cancer, in a partnership with Rally Foundation and our friends, the Lunas. Ellie's Bookshelf, named after Ellie Luna, is an initiative to give kids books as a means of escape and comfort while they face something incredibly difficult at a young age. Ellie credits books as helping her, and is still a frequent visitor at Plenty, so we want to help other kids going through the same thing.
Hundreds of people came together for a discussion on the founding principals of our country when Jeffrey Rosen stopped by, and now Plenty is leading a Constitutional study in honor of our country being 250 years young.
Every month Sawmill Poetry hosts poets and open mics in a wildly popular event. And we also are entertained by stories in the form of lyrics in Booked & Unplugged, hosted by local musical artist, Raniece.
We've partnered with schools, nonprofits, and other organizations to distribute books at low or no cost, because we believe that reading really matters.
Plenty hosts a couple of round table book discussions every month where we simply sit and talk about the books we've loved, but we also partner with a variety of book clubs that meet at the bookshop or around town. We love seeing photos of any sized group gathering to discuss a book, whether that's a couple of friends meeting over coffee to Books & Brews' 40+ regular members gathered at Red Silo each month.
Plenty may have been founded by three individuals, Lisa and Dave Uhrik, and Ashley Michael, but being a nonprofit we belong to this community. You are a huge part of our story, and we can't wait to see what we write together.
The Plenty Founders: Lisa Uhrik, Dave Uhrik, Ashley Michael
