I have spent more money recently at Carmichael's perhaps than ever before, and I couldn't be happier about it! Over the past two years, reading has become my favorite past time, and I've started buying books I really love (that I've likely listened to the audiobook of) to keep, and I've been buying other books that I'm excited to dig into. And through this, I have tried to shop local as much as possible -- Carmichael's being where I largely go. Along with loving it's selection, I've also been using its website more and more so that I can just go in to pick them up. This proved helpful late last year when I had a few hundred dollars left of my professional development budget to spend. I had several titles I had been eyeing to read for work, and I was able to put in a large order and pick these up at once. I also appreciate the kids section in this Carmichael's. I love the Carmichael's Kids store in the Highlands, but considering this store is near by house, it's proven great for when I want to buy a kid a book on the way to one of my kids' friends' birthday parties. All of my nieces and nephews also got books as part of their Christmas presents. And one more bit of praise: I have inquired twice recently about books that ended up being out of stock, a best-selling novel and a local cookbook. With both, I was able to add my name to a list, and they called when they were back in stock, holding a copy for me. You don't get that kind of service at corporate stores. Louisville wouldn't be Louisville for me without Carmichael's. It is such a source of joy, and I'm so thankful for it! read more

Love this bookstore, they're a complete vibe! It's small but contains everything you need. The only thing I wish is that there was seating inside the bookstore to have a cup of coffee or tea. The service is nice and the employees are really approachable. read more

Carmichael's Bookstore - Me with sticker and book purchased. Sitting outside Carmichael's Bookstore. - Bookstores Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

This is by far my favorite local bookstore! They have a good variety of books including romance, science fiction, non-fiction, young adult, children, etc. They also have local goods and other book related items such as bookmarks and totes. This year around Christmas they did an angel tree for pets in animal shelters. This was so sweet and I hope they continue to do it in years to come. read more

Excellent staff. They're always willing to order books that aren't in stock. This location has a large children's section. The location in the highlands has separate adult and children's stores on the same block. read more

Stopped by Carmichael's on Independent Bookstore day just to browse. The staff greeted me as soon as I stepped through the door; they're always super friendly! They told me about the discount wall and the giveaways available for the day. I picked up a 'blind date with a book' which is basically a random book that is wrapped. There's a short description on the wrapping to help you get a feel for the book's content. So fun!! Can't wait to open it and see what I got! read more

Carmichael's Bookstore - Blind date with a book - Bookstores Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I really like the atmosphere of the bookstore by mistake. I actually visited two location. I visited Bardstown Road and the Frankfurt location. I went for a book signing. The bookstore just like what you see on television is very small but that's the best part that makes it so personable and quaint. There was a room large enough to hold at least 25 to 30 individual adults for the book signing very personable. Highly recommend. The staff is very nice. The shelves are stock. There's variety of books. I did not have to order anything or ask the staff detailed questions about stock. Parking at both locations is limited. There is street parking and there's private lots. read more

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It was nice to be back inside Carmichael's. I stopped by today with my husband to pick up a book on my wish list. One of the associates at the front desk helped to look up the book and locate a paperback version. We also took a moment to walk around. Some areas felt spaced differently (kids section) and they've expanded into the building behind them, which will serve as an event space. The shelves are packed with books but I'm a sucker for the fun miscellaneous items - socks, hoodies, bookmarks, stickers, candles, magnets, etc. Their website is nice as well. Fun to shop and easy to look up available books and their inventory. Curbside pick up is still available. read more

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I love Carmichael's and probably can get lost in here every time I enter either store. I was so sad when they closed the kid's store but the grandson and I just plop ourselves down near the kid's shelves here and read a few books and make a pile of the ones we are going to purchase and take home. His most recent discoveries are all the Sandra Boynton books. We have a plethora of them and he loves them so much that he can recite each book as I turn the pages! We also picked up another copy of Goodnight Gorilla the last time we were in the store. The staff is amazing and will order you anything they don't happen to have on hand as they did for us with two SB books we wanted and weren't in stock. This is also a great place for picking up a birthday or other gift and it is great to support our local store. I love to support local businesses! We always look forward to our bookstore outings here! read more

I always love getting to ponder through Carmichael's, whether that be in the Highlands or at this location. While this one is a wee bit smaller, it still holds just as much treasure to go through. Even for a local bookstore, you can find a lot of big name books here, as well as magazines, gifts and a section for kids. We recently came in for some Christmas gifts, and they offer wrapping as well. This is a cool place to check out if you are in need of some new books and want to support local. read more

This is a cool little bookstore. It has a good and cool selection of books and the employees are super cool.

I love going here! I try to shop independent bookstores, and until a few weeks ago, I've never had a bad experience at Carmichael's! But the last time I was here, a worker made nasty comments about me while I was quietly browsing. It was really off-putting, and I'm still not entirely sure what I did wrong. I ended up leaving without checking out. I'm not sure if I want to go back- I might have to see if I can find another bookstore to patronize. Other than that, you can't go wrong with Carmichael's! read more

Carmichael's is a pleasant step back in time. A taste of what bookstores used to be. I love of all that a local, independent bookstore has to offer- the 'bookstore smell' when you first walk in, the sections of well-organized books, gift items, cards, journals and more, friendly and knowledgeable staff, and the feel that you have all the time in the world to browse and explore. Carmichael's is not huge, but staff will order any book that you wish. The children's section located in the back of the store is quaint and fun! Books by local writers are on feature displays with information about signings and more. I was told about a monthly book club that sounds very intriguing. I am sure that I will return often to this 40-year-old Louisville treasure! Happy reading! read more

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Support your city, buy local! Carmichael's Bookstore is one of my favorite places on the planet. They usually have the book I am looking for and they'll always order it for me if they do not. They have a great selection of books and magazines, a delightful (but not overwhelming) amount of kitsch about the store. This bookstore has a remarkably friendly staff, they're very helpful. This store also has an excellent selection of books for the youths. The other Carmichaels have a satellite store for the youths which has its plusses and minuses. For one, I run the awful risk of encountering a youth at this Carmichaels (I'm not a fan) but on the upside if I need to get one of the youths in my life a gift I get them a book and I don't have to go to another location to do it. This one is close to, but not attached to, a coffee shop. Also, pluses and minuses abound on that front. My only drawback is that I only use Moleskine notebooks. They don't always have the ones I want or need. Fun fact: I call Carmichael's, "Charmander's" in my head. read more

Carmichael's Bookstore - Buy this book. Now. - Bookstores Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Small local bookstore. Wide variety of books and magazines. Lots of kids books and games. They offer cards and art supplies. Lots of school supplies from notebooks to pens and pencils. They will special order items for you. read more

I make it a point to find and support local independent bookstores whenever I'm in a new city. I was in Louisville with a bibliophile friend of mine for a girls' weekend, and we decided to stop by both locations of Carmichael's. I definitely preferred this location. It felt a lot less claustrophobic to me - more open, a slightly more varied selection of books. I do think if I lived in Louisville that I would have to special order books a lot - the store is just too small to carry everything that a larger store would have. But it's nice that Louisville has a few locations of independent bookstores. Some cities bigger than Louisville don't have any at all! All in all, I enjoyed supporting Carmichael's! read more

Carmichael's Bookstore - Bookstores Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I visited today for the first time because many people had recommended it. I wanted to go somewhere that wasn't sold out of all the books people had told me about. I loved it. The staff helped me find a book I was looking for and was very kind. read more

I read far fewer books than I am proud to admit, and generally the majority of the ones I buy (and ideally read) on Amazon (I do pay for a Prime account, after all.). However, isn't the idea of a local bookstore nice? As a Louisvillian, I was well aware of Carmichael's and had bought a few books for school through them in the past. However, it wasn't until this past Saturday that I actually spent time there. I read a David Sedaris book in the past, but my friend recently invited me to his book reading/speaking at the Kentucky Center for the Arts. I bought a ticket, and three of us went. It was hilarious. So we decided to go to his book signing and reading at Carmichael's this past Sunday. It was a great time--complete with a festival and the street being closed. We first went in to buy our books. It reminded of me when I would go to Hawley Cooke Bookstore on Bardstown Road as a child when I was obsessed with dreading Baby Sitter's Club books. The service was great, and we went to wander the festival. The reading was well organized, and though we waited quite some time for our turn to meet David Sedaris and have our books signed, Carmichael's was great. So while I feel crazy giving Carmichael's five stars for only going once, if you need a bookstore in Louisville (and there aren't many left), this is the place to go! They have many popular writers who do signings here, so I look forward to attending more. A tip if you do want to attend a book signing... You can usually buy up book before the day of the actual event to get a ticket, which determines the order of the signing. (We were S for Sedaris, and he chats with everyone, so that's why it took us so long. If we had bought our books before that day, we would've started closer in line.). I'm sure it may be different for writers who many not be as popular, but I think it would always be worth it to buy your book in advance. read more

There are not nearly enough independent book stores left in this Amazon dominated world. So a store like this is even more of a treat as time goes on. Carmichael's has a great selection and is a really great place to browse. Staff are friendly and knowledgeable. It's also in a cool part of town. In store signings are terrific. This is a great store. I hope it stays around forever. read more

Great selection and friendly staff. The store is a little far from my house do I don't get out to it that often; however, when I do, it is a great treat and I always have a hard time picking which books to buy read more

Cute shop, cute neighborhood. But, they seldom have what I'm looking for. They will offer to order it if you pay for it first. When you remind them that you can do that yourself on Amazon for much less, and delivered to your house, they get snarky and indignant. Customer service is the heart of any business. Carmichael's needs some improvement in this area. As far as inventory, if you don't have what I'm looking for, you might as well have nothing at all. That goes for any brick and mortar store. I patronize local business first, but if it doesn't have what I want, I'm forced to go elsewhere. The onus is on the business to solve the problem, not the customer. read more

Customer service wasn't spectacular... Went in right around 10 o'clock in the morning and they seemed too busy and occupied to help all their customers. When asking where a book may be, one pointed to a section of books without even making eye contact with me. On the upside, they do have a plethora of books! Also, have complimentary gift wrapping. The "newspaper" wrapping paper was a hit at our Christmas! "Unsanctioned: The Art on New York Streets" was a favorite by the receiver of the book. Super unique and cool for an art lover! I do prefer the customer service and atmosphere of their Bardstown Rd location versus this one. read more

Carmichael's Bookstore - Lovely spot! Busy during the holiday season. - Bookstores Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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When I first moved to Louisville, I remember so many people who grew up in this city having such fond memories of a place called Carmichael's and how much they still love it. Naturally, I had to snoop this place out, especially since it is a book store and I am all for books! I think it is really cool that Carmichael's is a locally owned shop, and it's definitely a bit of fresh air from other commercial book stores (nothing wrong with them, just nice to support local business). At this specific location, it is at an awesome spot on Frankfort and this is the location where I do my monthly book club (last Tuesday of the month!). The staff have always been so friendly and welcoming, which is really the biggest charm to this store. They always have suggestions for you, and are always willing to order books they may not carry, which I think is really fantastic. They also seem very prompt with their calls when your books do come in. Overall, Carmichael's is truly one of those places you need to visit when being or visiting in Louisville. It is just overall charming, and it does my heart good to know that a locally owned book store is thriving and maintaining its status as one of the best bookstores in town. So please, do yourself a favor (especially if you are a big book lover!) and visit! read more

I love this bookstore so much. The selection is incredible and is well-organized. I always find something new and interesting in all of my favorite sections every time I stop by (which is usually about once a month). The staff take their time to help you find what you're looking for and are always very very kind. They've got great suggestions and I love the "staff pick" note cards and the "blind date" books. It's a great local bookstore. read more

In a world of chain stores that make one city unrecognizable from another it warms my heart to see Carmichael's alive and well. They're a well stocked bookstore staffed with friendly employees who know their material. Special orders are no problem. Since Louisville lost Hawley Cooke in the 90's it's good to see Carmichael's thriving and bringing authors like David Sedaris and Chuck Palahniuk to town. read more

Was looking for a newer young teen book and all the "BIG CHAIN" stores didn't have it....Carmichael's came through. Like I told them..."They were not my first call, but they are also not the closest to me either." But with that being said, I was at Carmichael's getting the book I was looking for! The staff, UBER Friendly and helpful! Set the box aside for me when I called about it and had other suggestions when I picked it up. If you close by I am sure this is your go-to for books...If your out in the east end, I could see why you would pass them up...But rest assured, they would be there to HELP if you gave them the chance. I am glad I did. read more

This place may take away some of my business from Amazon... I went in here recently to use a gift card for a book on a specific topic. To be overly detailed, I actually went to the other Carmichael's on Bardstown road first. Unfortunately that location didn't have what I was looking for and the employees seemed extremely busy--it wasn't the right time to discuss a special order. This charming location on Frankfort Ave. is generally less swamped than the Bardstown Road one, and a staff member was eager to help me look online for what I needed. She invited me to come around to the other side of the register counter and peruse through list of available titles that I could potentially order. We picked apart the list together for a good while, chatting about whatever else came up. Generally being a pretty discerning person, I was extremely impressed with her ability to filter through less useful titles to find exactly what I was looking for! Neither of us were in a hurry and ended up sharing a few stories about our lives. One of the best customer service experiences I've had because our interactions weren't "customer service-y". Way to keep alive the quaint local bookstore vibe! read more

As a bookworm new to Louisville, I have found my new favorite spot! From the outside, I thought to myself, "no way this little bookstore has a lot to offer," and boy, was I wrong! Like the Tardis, the store is larger on the inside, with tons of treasures. I really appreciated how they highlight local authors, and I even signed up for an upcoming author event! They offer a lot more than books, too, from stationery, gift cards, and magnets to games, reference materials, calendars, and even stuffies for the kids. I wasn't brave enough to try a blind date with a book, but found the concept so unique and charming! The books are well-organized by genre, and I spent a lot of time in the humor and young adult fiction sections. Carmichael's is a refreshingly relaxed atmosphere in an intimate setting, so that visitors really feel like they are uncovering treasures. I can't wait to become a regular here! read more

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Wow a real bookstore! Sadly it seems that bookstores have gone by the wayside but Carmichael's stands at the ready with a fully stocked store and the ability to order special items. Carmichael's has the feel of an old established bookstore. The staff is friendly and ready to assist. It was really nice just to walk around and browse through the books and magazines. They also have a lot of gift items. read more

Believe it or not, I had never once stepped into the Frankfort Ave Carmichaels' in my entire life. Always, always, the Bardstown Road version (which I love well). I've reviewed a few out of town bookstores recently and what I've been noticing about independent booksellers at this late stage after Internet book sales revolutionized the business, is that they must be well curated and have a service mentality to prosper and to please. This one does. It's a bit more spacious and open than the Bardstown Road version, and so maybe if I'm already in the Crescent Hill area I'll drop in here again some time. Not too often, I hope, since I left with around 50 dollars worth of new books. Now, when will I find time to read them? read more

This is one of my favorite book stores. I love that I can buy local, hear authors speak, and be greeted with a friendly staff. I took my nieces here for the first time the other day and they said the place was "wonderful." The children's Frankfort Ave store is the one I go to most often. They have current books and magazine. I also like that it isn't too big. It doesn't feel like a warehouse. read more

I could spend all day in Carmichael's. They have such a wide variety of books, fun journals, and neat book paraphernalia. It's locally owned and the staff is super friendly. The perfect day to me would include lunch on Frankfort Avenue, coffee at Heine Brothers, and reading in Carmichael's Bookstore. That right there is the trifecta of feel-good stuff. read more

I enjoy the ease of reading a book on my tablet, but nothing matches holding a good book in my hands. I love being able to support local bookstores, and I love everything about Carmichael's. It looks a feels like a bookstore should. I just want to attach a ladder to one of the shelves and slide back and forth picking books. The staff is always friendly and can help you find whatever it is you're looking for. I go to a monthly book club here as well and it is also amazing. It gets me out of my comfort zone of book choices and have discussions with other people I may not normally interact with. Stay golden, Carmichael's. read more

I love this bookstore. Since I read primarily on my kindle, I seldom buy anything, but there is no pleasure greater than exploring a real live bookstore. There are books certainly but the shelves of carmichaels are also full of gifts and novelties. read more

Love, love, love. I love the smell of books and I love the idea of a bookstore. Not the mega-stores like Barnes and Nobel and Boarders, but a little book store where you may get on a first name basis with the customer service team. I have not reached this status with Carmichael's but I hope to do so one day. This store is full of amazing literary treasures and has an impressive selection for a small, locally owned store. I highly recommend checking this spot out next time you are in the mood for a new book. read more

This is a great little neighborhood bookstore with pleasant and friendly employees. I was looking for a particular book, checked their website and it said the book was in stock at the Frankfort Avenue store. They had the book on the shelf and I enjoyed looking around at the different areas of the store. There's a childrens section, calendars, magazines and cards also. I'm sure they will special order any book you might be interested in. This store also brings authors in the evenings to discuss their writings. A very pleasant experience. read more

Always a fan of independent bookstores and Carmichael's is no exception. My friend and I stopped in while visiting Louisville on a rainy morning and it was a great place to spend some time perusing through books. Great selection of popular and off-the-beaten-path books! read more

Wonderful, locally owned bookstore. Nice staff and eager to help. I buy my Moleskine planners there every year in addition to books I read about in the WSJ reviews section. read more

This is the cutest little book store around. I'm actually wearing there shirt right now.