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I recently had the pleasure of interviewing David Jacobs, owner of The Happy Book Stack, an independently owned bookstore with locations in Middle Tennessee and Pleasant Grove, Utah. Every town deserves a bookstore like this, and David gave me a fascinating peek behind the scenes of running a thriving local bookshop.
The Origin of The Happy Book Stack
Q: What’s the story behind your store – how did it begin?
David and his wife started as resellers, first selling clothes and eventually books. With a college degree in English and a love for reading, David found it “fun to sell things that you actually like.” While teaching English to foreign students, he had the flexibility to thrift books and sell them online.
Around the time of COVID-19, the building that now houses The Happy Book Stack became available through David’s church connections. Handling 10,000 pounds of books a week, he decided to open a brick-and-mortar bookstore, seeing less competition and more profit locally. Starting with just one employee, bookshelves they found on Facebook Marketplace and $5,000 in savings, David took a leap of faith, and it has paid off.
“I’ve always been kind of really idealistic and try to lean into that with faith and not be reckless. But thankfully it worked out.” – David Jacobs
Q: What was the biggest challenge launching the store?
Managing a physical store and employees was new to David. He had to develop systems, train staff, and figure out how to promote the business. One key strategy: photographing new books daily and posting them on social media, allowing customers to see inventory in real time.
The Heart of the Bookstore
Q: What’s your favorite part about owning The Happy Book Stack?
David loves how integrated the bookstore is in the community. Customers from within 30 miles provide inventory through book trades, and hundreds visit weekly. Families can stop by and find something for everyone.
Post-COVID, the bookstore industry has seen a resurgence as people seek tangible experiences away from screens. David also partners with distributors to buy books inexpensively and keeps prices affordable. Additionally, The Happy Book Stack hosts school book fairs, offering students 5-6 books for the price of 2 at traditional fairs —benefiting schools, kids, and the store alike.
Q: How do you decide which books to stock?
David relies on past reselling experience and online sales data to determine book popularity. He ensures books in the store will sell quickly while appealing to a variety of readers.
Reading Recommendations and Trends
Q: What books do you recommend most often?
David has two main approaches:
- Movies to books: If someone loves a movie, they’re likely to enjoy the book.
- Genre and author recommendations: Fantasy fans get Brandon Sanderson or J.R.R. Tolkien; suspense lovers enjoy Freida McFadden. He also suggests customers consider reading lesser-known authors who may have great books, but they just aren’t a household name yet. And, his employees have great book suggestions too.
Q: What trends have you noticed since opening?
- Romantasy: new genre in recent years (blend of romance + fantasy).
- Special editions: Collectors seek books with intricate covers and embossing.
- Subscription boxes: Monthly book boxes like FairyLoot and OwlCrate are increasingly popular.
- Book aesthetics: Customers sometimes buy books purely for decoration, prompting a discounted section for visually appealing books.
Used Books and Sourcing
Q: How do you source books?
Ninety percent of inventory comes from trades, with the rest from distributors. The store maintains relationships with larger bookstore chains and other local stores, often trading books to keep them local.
Q: Have you seen any rare finds?
Yes! Examples include:
- Books from the 1850s, some with ornate, etched covers
- Old family Bibles from the 1810s
- Autographed Johnny Cash book
While rare finds are uncommon—about 10 out of 500,000 books annually—they add excitement to the store experience.
Q: Why are used books important today?
David believes books help us slow down in a fast-paced, screen-dominated world. Stories provide meaning and help readers connect with timeless narratives, encouraging a deeper understanding of life and creativity.
“People need to own and collect and express themselves, and books are one way to accomplish that.” – David Jacobs
He also reflected on the writing process—that someone took countless hours to write, edit, and publish a book we can hold in our hands and experience the story brought from imagination to paper.
Community Events and Expansion
Q: Do you host events like book clubs or author visits?
- Murfreesboro location: Quiet book clubs—customers read silently in-store
- McKenzie location: Book clubs allowed to use the space, but not hosted or sponsored by the store
David plans to expand events to include adult and kids’ classes like knitting, candle-making, sourdough, and painting, fostering a learning community, as well as opening a coffee shop next to the Murfreesboro location.
Q: Can you tell us more about recent store expansions:
- Utah (Pleasant Grove): Opened June 2025, offers plant-based energy drinks instead of coffee
- McKenzie: Bookstore + coffee shop in a 120-year-old building
- Martin: Opening soon with books, used clothing, apothecary items, and more
Q: What about the loyalty program?
It’s still in its pilot form, and the tiers are:
- Bookworm ($5/month): Exclusive sales and discounts, free mug
- Bibliophile ($15/month): 10% off used books, free mug
- Librarian ($25/month): 30% off new books, 10% off used books, free mug & tote
This program helps build customer loyalty and reoccurring revenue, with potential future expansion into coffee subscriptions.
Supporting Independent Bookstores
Q: How can readers best support indie bookstores?
- Shop locally: The best way to lend support
- Keep an open mind: Browse instead of coming with a rigid list
Q: If someone has never visited The Happy Book Stack, what would you want them to know?
- Visit next door, HBS Comics & Collectibles
- Explore all aisles, as inventory changes daily and return regularly for new discoveries
- Trade books to contribute inventory
Q: What book should everyone read at least once?
David encourages readers to seek timeless books, stories that have endured over time for a reason—they often hold lessons for life.
Final Thoughts
If you’re in the middle TN area or in northern UT, be sure to stop by The Happy Book Stack locations:
- Murfreesboro, TN: 1411 Mark Allen Ln F, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
- McKenzie, TN : 55 Broadway St., McKenzie, TN 38201
- Martin, TN: Coming soon!
- Utah: 452 W Center St #105, Pleasant Grove, UT 84062
If you’re not near a store, you can order books online with free shipping on orders $15+. Shop online here.
And keep up to date with all the news through their newsletter and social media!
- Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/thehappybookstack
- Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/thehappybookstackmurfreesboro
- Website: https://www.thehappybookstack.com
How do you support your local bookstore, and what keeps you coming back?
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