Davis-Kidd Booksellers

Neil and Mary Beth Van Uum opened the first Joseph-Beth store in Lexington, Kentucky in November 1986. The original bookstore began with 37,000 titles in a 6,500 square foot space. This space soon proved itself inadequate, so plans were made to move to a new location. Expansion and renovation, and today, the 40,000 square foot bookstore, located in the very heart of the Mall at Lexington Green, provides customers with two stories of books and sidelines, expanded music and children’s departments, and a full service restaurant overlooking the Lexington Green Lake. Unlike more traditional bookshops and large chain outlets, the store draws in natural light, making it feel bright and airy – surely bringing some relief to the crowds of customers!

In 1993, Neil began looking at possible sites for a second Joseph-Beth Booksellers. A new shopping center, the Rookwood Pavilion, was currently under construction in Cincinnati, Ohio, giving Neil and Mary Beth the opportunity to return to the city of their alma mater, the University of Cincinnati. The bookstore opened in December of that year.

The last months of 1997 saw a pivotal event in the history of Joseph-Beth Booksellers. Karen Davis and Thelma Kidd, the owners of Davis-Kidd Booksellers, decided to retire from the business. It was crucial to Karen and Thelma that their philosophy of bookselling continue, and Neil, having already drawn a tremendous amount of inspiration from this successful company, was the perfect candidate to take Davis-Kidd into the new century. Almost overnight, the Joseph-Beth family expanded dramatically with the acquisition of their Tennessee stores, located in Nashville, Memphis and Jackson.

The Company has continued to grow and evolve, and in late 2003 we opened a new store in the new lifestyle center of Legacy Village, located in the Cleveland suburbs. We believe this is one of the most exciting developments in northern Ohio in many years, and we are delighted and honored to be part of it.

Our store in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania celebrated their grand opening on November 17th, 2004. We are part of the SouthSide Works development on the waterfront of the Monongahela River in the South Side neighborhood. The area is already a popular destination for residents, visitors, professionals and university students and we at Joseph-Beth look forward to offering all of them a unique and unforgettable shopping experience.

Our newest Joseph-Beth store opened in Charlotte, North Carolina in April of 2005. Adjacent to the SouthPark Mall, the premier shopping destination for the Carolinas, the spot is centered in one of Charlotte's most beautiful and busiest neighborhoods. We are thrilled to call Charlotte our new home.

Today, the Joseph-Beth Group is one of the nation’s strongest and most prosperous independent bookselling companies.

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