About Addison’s Bookstore
An old and rare bookstore in the heart of historic downtown Knoxville.
About the Owner: Brian Worley
Addison’s is the realization of a long-held dream for native Knoxvillian Brian Worley.
Before opening the bookstore, Brian spent 37 years working in nuclear engineering at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and later owned a data analysis company. That analytical background eventually gave way to a different kind of work: preserving history, literature, and the stories carried through old and rare books.
The name Addison’s reflects Brian’s family history. It honors generations of men named Addison and is now also shared by his daughter and granddaughter. That sense of lineage is reflected throughout the bookstore, where books are valued for their history, ownership, craftsmanship, and the lives they have touched.
Working alongside curator Jeff Johnson, Brian sources used, rare, and antiquarian books ranging from early Latin texts to signed first editions by East Tennessee writers such as James Agee and Cormac McCarthy. One of the bookstore’s most memorable sales was a 1538 edition of Caesar’s Commentaries that included the ink-stamped names of owners who had cared for it across five centuries.
Brian’s vision for Addison’s extends beyond buying and selling books. He wants the bookstore to serve as an anchor in downtown Knoxville—a place where book lovers can slow down, browse, gather, and enjoy being surrounded by bricks and books.
The store hosts book clubs, presentations, private celebrations, murder mystery parties, meetings, and receptions. Visitors are also welcome to bring in a coffee, settle into the space, or enjoy a game on Addison’s signature chess set.
Brian’s interest in preserving local history continues outside the bookstore as well. He is currently researching and writing a book about the 100-year history of the Smoky Mountain Hiking Club, documenting its members, experiences, and conservation efforts since 1924.
Whether he is evaluating an estate collection, studying Knoxville history, or talking with visitors about a book on the shelf, Brian’s goal remains the same: to help preserve the intellectual and literary life of Knoxville and give it a place to continue growing.
“Addison’s is meant to be a place where people can slow down, feel at home, and enjoy being surrounded by bricks and books.”
Article Credit: Portions of the “About the Owner” section and images were informed by the City Lifestyle feature, “Brian Worley’s Antiquities: Addison’s Bookstore.”
Read the full article: Brian Worley’s Antiquities: Addison’s Bookstore
About Us
Addison’s is an old and rare bookstore in the heart of historic downtown Knoxville. The Commerce Building, built in 1891, is an intimate, old-world setting for our ever-changing collection of historic knowledge and great literature.
The main floor has antiquarian, first edition, and vintage books ranging from classic literature to science fiction to history. Downstairs is an eclectic collection of books and magazines.
Meetings and Events at Addison’s
Our beautiful space is uniquely suited to meetings and events. The conference room can be rented during store hours for up to 16 people, and the entire store can be rented after hours.
Corporate meetings, murder mystery parties, and celebrations for birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, baby showers, and even a wedding have occurred here among the bricks and books.
Book Clubs, Writers, and Presentations
Addison’s also hosts monthly book clubs, the Knoxville Writers Guild, and presentations ranging from the history of the 100 block of Gay Street to the critical connections between the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge.
Addison’s serves people who love books in many different ways.
Some visitors come in looking for rare books or collectible editions. Some are searching for used books, reading copies, literary classics, regional works, or thoughtful gifts. Others come in to attend a book club gathering, join a literary event, or spend time in a bookstore that feels personal and memorable.
Addison’s is a place for:
Rare book collectors
Used book readers
Antiquarian book enthusiasts
Downtown Knoxville visitors
Local readers and writers
Book club participants
Literary event attendees
Gift buyers looking for something meaningful
Anyone who loves old books and independent bookstores
Whether you are building a collection, looking for your next read, or simply wandering through downtown Knoxville, Addison’s offers a place to slow down and look closer.
What you’ll find at Addison’s
Rare, Used, & Antiquarian Books
Browse shelves filled with rare books, used books, old editions, collectible titles, and literary works chosen with care.
Addison's Book Club
Join Addison’s for monthly book club gatherings, classes, presentations, workshops, and thoughtful conversations around books.
Books of Note
See a rotating selection of notable books chosen for their condition, character, scarcity, authorship, or literary interest.
Event Rental Space
Host your gathering in a downtown Knoxville bookstore surrounded by shelves, stories, and a setting that already feels meaningful.
The Story Behind Addison’s
Addison’s was created as an old and rare bookstore with a strong sense of place.
Housed inside the Commerce Building, built in 1891, the store carries the character of historic downtown Knoxville into every part of the experience. Exposed brick, intimate lighting, old books, and carefully chosen details create a setting that feels more like stepping into another time than entering a typical retail bookstore.
The name Addison’s carries family meaning, but the bookstore itself has become a place for many kinds of stories: the stories printed inside the books, the stories of the people who owned them before, and the stories still being formed through book clubs, events, conversations, and quiet afternoons spent browsing.
The collection is always changing. On the main floor, visitors will find antiquarian, first edition, and vintage books ranging from classic literature to science fiction to history. Downstairs, the shelves hold an eclectic mix of books and magazines waiting to be discovered.
Addison’s exists to give old books, historic knowledge, great literature, and thoughtful community a meaningful home in downtown Knoxville.
Why a Bookstore Like Addison’s Still Matters
In a world where almost anything can be searched online, independent bookstores still offer something different.
They help people discover books they did not know to look for. They preserve old, unusual, rare, and historically significant titles. They create space for conversation, curiosity, and community. They give readers a place to hold a book, notice its details, ask questions, and experience the shelves in person.
Addison’s is part of that tradition.
Located on the historic 100 block of Gay Street, the bookstore offers more than a place to buy books. It is a place to browse slowly, gather for book clubs, attend presentations, host meaningful events, and enjoy being surrounded by books in a setting with history.
It is a bookstore for people who believe books are more than objects to buy. They are things to read, collect, discuss, gift, preserve, and pass along.
The bookstore sits in the heart of downtown Knoxville, surrounded by local shops, restaurants, galleries, and places worth visiting before or after you browse.
For locals, Addison’s offers a regular place to return to. For visitors, it offers a memorable stop in downtown Knoxville. For readers and collectors, it offers shelves that change, invite attention, and reward curiosity.
Parking Near Addison’s
Planning your visit to Addison’s? Downtown Knoxville has several nearby parking options depending on how long you plan to stay.
For visits under 2 hours, metered street parking may be a good option. If you plan to be downtown for more than 2 hours but less than 4 hours, metered parking on the bridge at the end of the 100 block may be a helpful option.
The Jackson Avenue Lot, located at 401 W Jackson Ave, is also a convenient nearby option with 190 spaces.
The Jackson Avenue Lot is $1 per hour on weekdays, with a $7 daily maximum. Parking is free on weeknights after 6:00 PM and all day Saturday and Sunday.
Please remember to account for your entire time downtown, not just your time inside the bookstore, when choosing your parking option.
Your Questions, Answered
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Addison’s is an independent rare, used, and antiquarian bookstore located in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee. The bookstore carries old books, collectible titles, literary works, Books of Note, and hosts book club gatherings, events, and private rentals.
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Addison’s is located at 126 S Gay Street in downtown Knoxville, Tennessee.
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Addison’s sells rare books, used books, antiquarian books, old books, collectible editions, literary classics, signed books, first editions, regional works, and other notable titles.
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No. Addison’s welcomes collectors, casual readers, gift buyers, downtown visitors, book club participants, and anyone who enjoys old books, used books, independent bookstores, and literary spaces.
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Yes. Addison’s hosts literary events, book club gatherings, classes, workshops, presentations, First Friday events, and community-centered gatherings inside the bookstore.
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Yes. Addison’s offers event rental space in downtown Knoxville for private gatherings, literary events, workshops, meetings, showers, small celebrations, and other events that fit the bookstore setting.
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Addison’s combines rare, used, and antiquarian books with a warm downtown Knoxville setting, literary events, book club gatherings, Books of Note, and a bookstore atmosphere designed for slow browsing and meaningful discovery.