Retail & Shops in Tennessee

Parnassus Books

Nashville, TN

Welcome to Parnassus Books, the independent bookstore for independent people. We opened our doors in Nashville's Green Hills neighborhood in 2011, when novelist Ann Patchett teamed up with bookseller Karen Hayes to make sure our city would always have a great place to browse, discover, and talk about books. Ann has been the store's sole owner since the summer of 2022, and her love of reading still sets the tone for everything we do. Step inside and you will find warm wooden shelves that climb from floor to ceiling, rolling ladders for reaching the top rows, and staff picks tucked into every section, from fiction and local interest to children's books and beyond. Our booksellers read widely and recommend generously, so ask us what we are loving right now. We are proud of our deep local-author shelves and our knack for matching the right book with the right reader. Then there are the shop dogs. From Lexington the dachshund who started it all to beloved regulars like Sparky and Opie, our four-legged staff greet browsers, pose for photos, and occasionally offer a recommendation in exchange for a scratch behind the ears. They are as much a part of Parnassus as the books on the shelves. There is almost always something happening here. We host author events, book clubs, and children's storytimes throughout the week, bringing writers and readers together the way a good bookstore should. If you cannot make it in person, we will happily ship a signed and personalized copy from one of our visiting authors, and Ann's own books are always available signed. Whether you are a lifelong Nashvillian or just passing through town, we invite you to slow down, wander the aisles, and let one of our booksellers point you toward your next favorite read. Pull up a chair, say hello to a shop dog, and stay awhile. That is what a neighborhood bookstore is for, and it is exactly what we set out to build at 3900 Hillsboro Pike in Green Hills. We look forward to seeing you soon.