NewsEventsDirectoryAboutSign Up

The Grumpy Bookpeddler in Murfreesboro: Hours, Book Buying & Info

Murfreesboro's oldest used bookstore: more than 50,000 books, a sofa, a kids' corner and cash for your old paperbacks.

By the Only in Murfreesboro local team · Last updated:

  • Address: 610 W. College St, Suite 110, Murfreesboro, TN 37130
  • Phone: (615) 900-3264
  • Website: thegrumpybookpeddler.com
  • Hours: Tue–Fri 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Sat 10 a.m.–4 p.m., closed Sun–Mon
  • Buys books: Cash or store credit, your choice
  • Inside: 50,000+ books, sofa, free Wi-Fi, kids' play area, 10% military discount

Details last checked October 8, 2026 on thegrumpybookpeddler.com.

What is The Grumpy Bookpeddler?

The Grumpy Bookpeddler is a family-owned used bookstore at 610 West College Street in Murfreesboro, open since 2011 and billed as the city's oldest. It stocks more than 50,000 used books sorted by category, buys used books for cash or store credit, and is open Tuesday through Saturday, with a sofa, free Wi-Fi and a children's play area inside.

The store's motto is “The best cure for the ‘grumpies’ is a good book!” Its founder, known as Mr. Grumpy, retired in May 2024; his daughter Megan joined in January 2024 and runs the books as head bookkeeper. Alongside the used stock the store carries a few new titles from local authors, plus a Blind Date with a Book shelf where titles are wrapped and sold on a genre and a one-line description.

It is a short drive from downtown Murfreesboro and from MTSU, and it is one of the shops in our Murfreesboro shopping guide for books, records and comics.

What Books Will The Grumpy Bookpeddler Buy?

Bring books in during store hours. The store says it will “pay cash for your unwanted books or issue you a store credit, your choice,” and credit can be spent right away or saved and used for up to 100% of a later purchase. Its guidelines, from the store's own buying page:

Wanted

  • Children's books and young adult
  • Romance, sci-fi, fantasy and action, adventure and suspense
  • General fiction, mystery and true crime
  • Poetry, classic literature and "banned books"
  • History and religion
  • Cookbooks with photos of the recipes
  • Older, pre-barcode books that other stores will not take

Not accepted

  • Dolly Parton's Imagination Library books
  • Reader's Digest and Southern Living books
  • Encyclopedias and magazines
  • Manga, graphic novels and comic books
  • Home-school or college curriculum (not bought or sold)
  • Books that are falling apart, heavily damaged, smelly or water-damaged

The shop makes a point of taking “older books that no one else will take, the pre-barcode ones,” so a box of inherited hardbacks has a better chance here than at most resale stores. Antique and rare books are part of the stock, which is why the store also appears in our antique stores guide.

Grumpy Bookpeddler Hours and Location

The Grumpy Bookpeddler hours
DayHours
Tuesday – Friday10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Saturday10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sunday – MondayClosed

The store is in Suite 110 at 610 W. College Street, which it describes as “behind the new roundabout off Broad St.” West College runs parallel to West Main a block south, so from the Square head west on College past Academy and Walnut to the Broad Street roundabout. Parking is at the building.

Events and Discounts

With the local crafter Wollard's Wonders, the store hosts monthly craft nights, book clubs and journal nights. Each is capped at eight paying participants; the calendar is pinned to the store's Facebook page and seats are reserved through a sign-up form.

All veterans and active-duty military get 10% off, and the store posts other specials on Facebook. It celebrated its 15th anniversary on Saturday, August 15, 2026, with bookish vendors and a golden-ticket hunt. Books are also listed on the store's Amazon storefront and on Bookshop.org, where online orders support the shop.

Photos

We have not photographed The Grumpy Bookpeddler yet. The store posts shelf photos and event pictures on Instagram (@the_grumpy_bookpeddler) and Facebook.

Is The Grumpy Bookpeddler Worth Visiting?

For readers, yes. Fifty thousand sorted used books is the biggest selection in town, prices are used-book prices, and the store will take the box of paperbacks you no longer want. Go on a weekday for a quiet browse, bring the kids (there is a play area), and remember it is closed Sunday and Monday. For new releases you will still want Barnes & Noble at The Avenue; for library borrowing, see our Murfreesboro library guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is The Grumpy Bookpeddler?

The Grumpy Bookpeddler is at 610 W. College Street, Suite 110, Murfreesboro, TN 37130, which the store describes as behind the new roundabout off Broad Street, west of downtown. The phone number is (615) 900-3264.

What are The Grumpy Bookpeddler hours?

The store is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed Sunday and Monday.

Does The Grumpy Bookpeddler buy used books?

Yes. The store pays cash or issues store credit, your choice, and credit can cover up to 100% of a purchase. It buys children's, young adult, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, suspense, general fiction, mystery, true crime, poetry, classics, banned books, history, religion and photo cookbooks, and it specializes in older pre-barcode books. It does not take encyclopedias, magazines, Reader's Digest or Southern Living books, Imagination Library books, manga, graphic novels, comics, curriculum or damaged books.

How many books does The Grumpy Bookpeddler have?

More than 50,000 used books, sorted by category, plus a few new titles from local authors. The store calls itself Murfreesboro's oldest used bookstore and has been open since 2011.

Is The Grumpy Bookpeddler kid friendly?

Yes. There is a children's play area, a sofa for reading, and free Wi-Fi. The store also runs a Blind Date with a Book shelf, where titles are wrapped and described only by genre and a short blurb.

Does The Grumpy Bookpeddler offer discounts?

Veterans and active-duty military receive 10% off. Other specials are posted on the store's Facebook page.

Does the store host events?

Yes. With Wollard's Wonders it hosts monthly craft nights, book clubs and journal nights, limited to eight paying participants, with the calendar pinned to its Facebook page and sign-up through a form. The store marked its 15th anniversary on August 15, 2026, with bookish vendors and a golden-ticket hunt.

More Murfreesboro Spots

More Murfreesboro business profiles from our local team:

Sources

The details on this page were checked on October 8, 2026 against:

More to browse: shopping in Murfreesboro, Linebaugh Library and free things to do in Murfreesboro.