Meet Carmichael's Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky

When did your store open and where are you located?
1978 Louisville, Kentucky

Tell us something interesting about your store. 
The name is a combination of the owner's first names, Carol Besse and Michael Boggs. When someone calls for Mr. Carmichael it's a dead giveaway that we can "take a message". 

Do you have a holiday tradition at the store
On Christmas Eve, a bunch of employees make treats and we put them all out on the front counter for customers. Harried shoppers love to be able to get a piece of homemade fudge as they wait for their gifts to be wrapped.

What's the most memorable event or moment at your store?
That's tough--we are filled with 40 years of memories! A great one is when Simon & Schuster called to ask if we could host Stephen King (of course!) and then told us the date. It was, literally, the only date in the history of the store we couldn't do it... the same date as Miranda's wedding (the co-owners' daughter and store manager!) After a bit of begging, we managed to switch dates with another store and so we hosted him the day AFTER her wedding. We were all tired and a bit frazzled but pulled it off.

What bookstore do you consider to be a hidden gem?
Birchbark Books and Gifts in Minneapolis. It’s such a lovely, locally flavored, beautifully curated store with quirky details that you could never replicate. We all strive for that kind of feeling and they do it perfectly. 

What is one book you would be embarrassed not to have?
To Kill a Mockingbird