What This Story Is About
- A group of former McKay’s employees is launching a worker-owned cooperative used book and media store in Knoxville called McBroom’s Closet, named in honor of a late co-worker.
Why It Matters
- The cooperative fills a community void left by McKay’s May closure while giving employees equal ownership and decision-making power in the business.
- The group plans to secure a central Knoxville location by early 2027 and will sell media this Saturday at the Mill & Mine’s Punk Rock Flea Market (noon to 9 p.m.) to build up inventory and funds.
For Context
- McBroom’s Closet honors former colleague Mark McBroom, who died in 2022, and aims to find a centrally located storefront rather than reopening on a busy corridor like Papermill Drive.
Catch Up
- McKay’s permanently closed its Knoxville location in May, putting the staff out of work and prompting the former colleagues to organize the new venture together.
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – A group of former McKay’s employees is working to open a new used book and media store in Knoxville after McKay’s closed for good in May.
The group is calling the new business McBroom’s Closet.
The workers plan to structure the business as a worker owned co-op, in which each person will own a share of the business…