Murray’s downtown novelty 

Story by Jill Smith 

Photos by Samantha VanHorn 

Murray couple Wesley and Whitney Bolin grew up with a love for reading. Both spending time as kids reading books—even dreaming of owning bookstores one day. 

It was their love for reading they wanted to share with the Murray community that began the story of Bolin Books.

When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold of the nation, causing millions of people to quarantine, Wesley’s father, Duane, unexpectedly passed away. His loss inspired them to continue their plans of opening a bookstore in downtown Murray. 

“[Duane] kind of joked about opening like a books and bowtie store, [Duane and Wesley] have talked on and off about it for a long time,” Whitney said. “He was really excited for us to open the store and looked at properties with us, and so it was both very sad and very happy that we found a spot and that it’s open.”

With a plan in place to open a bookstore, they needed to find inventory. Since the couple spent the last decade selling books online, Whitney said they had some second-hand books experience before diving in. 

“We had books that we were selling at home, but for a bookstore, you need a lot of books,” Whitney said. “[Wesley] spent a summer going to library book sales, thrift stores, estate sales, just shopping and building an inventory at home and then we started looking at properties.”

To get them started, Wesley’s father set aside books from his own collection. 

“If you look in our shelves, you might find one with James Duane Bolin [written inside],” Whitney said. “It has been both a growing process for me; mostly it has been something new to learn and do because we both like a challenge, it’s been kind of a way to grieve and honor and mourn the loss of his dad.”

While there is no trade-in program, the store does accept donations and they determine from those donations what will work best for their customers. 

“We also spread books that aren’t fit for our shelves to other places around the region, so other book sales, little libraries and sometimes books just aren’t really readable anymore,” Whitney said. “We do have some recyclable projects that we do with those. We make little buttons out of vintage children’s books. We also sometimes just have to recycle when they’re past their life.”

Bolin Books is truly a family affair. Running the children’s room is Wesley’s mom, Evelyn — a retired school teacher. Helping Evelyn is her sister, Wesley’s aunt, June. 

Bolin Books has a unique collection and a wide variety of subjects throughout the store, making it easy for people to find a book on a desired topic. 

The Bolins transformed the building, previously an office space, to reflect the interests of readers in the region.

“We always toyed with the idea of make-believe land and real land, but we couldn’t settle on names that kind of really fit that, and then we also had a big need for children’s rooms,” Whitney said.

The lobby contains new arrivals, the first room houses fiction, second room is the children’s room and the third is the non-fiction room. 

Every Saturday, Wesley and his mom host “Children’s Hour.” Wesley plays a musical instrument of choice while his mom reads a book or two to the kids. 

Whitney said they wanted a place in Murray for people who are curious and want to learn.

 “Books have been foundational in my life,” Whitney said. “I think every person who reads has at least a few books that kind of serve as anchor points in their life.”

Beyond the bookstore, Wesley teaches world history at Murray High School. Whitney, now working full-time at the bookstore, said she hopes to expand hours and offer customers more community events. 

In the future, Whitney said they hope to expand their business upstairs. 

“We have some plans to try and make that a space both for more books… for events and for places that people can sit and study or read or have a book club or meet with friends,” Whitney said.

Whitney said she is thankful for the support from the community since opening the bookstore. 

Located on 304 Main St., Bolin Books is open Friday 1-5 p.m. Saturday 9-5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m.