By MDA Staff Writer | October 30, 2026
GREENWOOD, Miss. — Some businesses sell products. Others become part of a community’s identity. For nearly two decades, Turnrow Book Co. has been both.
Located in the heart of downtown Greenwood, the independent bookstore has long offered more than shelves of books. It has been a gathering place where neighbors meet, authors share their stories, students discover literature and visitors experience a distinctive part of Mississippi Delta culture.
But in April 2023, a devastating fire brought that experience to an unexpected halt.
The fire severely damaged Turnrow’s historic building at 304 Howard Street, forcing the bookstore and its neighboring art and café operations to close.
For a community that had come to treasure the business, the loss was significant.
Nearly three years later, Turnrow’s story took a remarkable turn.
On March 25, 2026, hundreds of community members gathered in downtown Greenwood to celebrate the bookstore’s grand reopening, marking not only its return but also its 20th anniversary year.
The occasion represented more than the reopening of a retail business. It marked the restoration of a community gathering place that residents had spent years waiting to welcome back.
Rebuilding Turnrow was no simple undertaking.
According to reporting circulated by Mississippi State University’s Daily News Digest, renovations began in spring 2025 after insurance matters were resolved.
The restoration required extensive work, including new electrical, plumbing, heating and air-conditioning systems.
Fred Carl Jr., the founder of Viking Range and owner of Turnrow Books, played a central role in bringing the business back.
The reopening restored three connected destinations: Turnrow Books, Turnrow Art Co. and Turnrow Café.
Main Street Greenwood reported that the renovated café returned with an expanded menu and extended hours, while the art business resumed offering paintings and other artwork.
For downtown Greenwood, the reopening brought back a familiar place to shop, eat, explore art and spend time with others.
Turnrow’s history dates to 2006, when Jamie and Kelly Kornegay established the bookstore with support from Fred Carl Jr.
Carl, whose Viking Range business helped establish Greenwood as a destination for culinary tourism, had also invested in efforts to revitalize the city’s historic downtown.
The bookstore became part of that broader vision.
Housed in a renovated former department store, Turnrow was designed to offer an experience that went beyond ordinary retail shopping.
Its selection of books emphasized literature, regional writing, cooking and other subjects of interest to readers.
Over time, the store became known for its inviting atmosphere, author appearances and connections to Mississippi’s literary community.
Turnrow also weathered challenges that have affected independent bookstores nationwide, including the 2008 financial crisis and competition from online retailers.
By adapting its sales approach and maintaining a carefully selected inventory, the business established a reputation that extended well beyond Leflore County.
One of Turnrow’s most notable accomplishments has been its ability to connect Mississippi Delta readers with celebrated authors.
According to the bookstore’s official history, Turnrow has hosted events featuring three Booker Prize winners, four Pulitzer Prize winners and two National Book Award winners.
Its literary programming has also included award-winning children’s authors and culinary figures.
Some events have drawn audiences exceeding 150 people.
These appearances have helped make Greenwood a destination for literary conversations that might otherwise take place primarily in larger metropolitan areas.
For readers, such events offer opportunities to hear directly from the people behind the books.
For Greenwood, they contribute to the city’s cultural identity and bring visitors into its historic downtown.
Turnrow’s contributions also extend into local education.
The bookstore reports working with area schools to arrange author visits and provide books for classrooms and libraries.
These efforts help introduce students to literature while encouraging reading and creative expression.
For children growing up in the Mississippi Delta, opportunities to meet professional writers and explore new books can help broaden their understanding of the world.
The bookstore’s educational involvement reflects a commitment to community engagement that extends beyond its retail operations.
The importance of Turnrow became particularly evident during the years it was closed.
In a May 2024 commentary, Thomas Gregory, executive director of the Greenwood-Leflore-Carroll Economic Development Foundation, described Turnrow as a community gathering place where residents, businesspeople and visitors regularly connected.
He explained that businesses such as bookstores and cafés can strengthen a community by providing welcoming spaces outside the home and workplace.
Following the fire, Main Street Greenwood organized fundraising support for the displaced businesses.
According to Gregory’s account, the effort raised more than $13,500.
Temporary events also helped keep the businesses connected to their customers during the closure.
The community’s response illustrated the significance of Turnrow as more than a commercial establishment.
It had become part of the everyday social and cultural life of Greenwood.
Turnrow’s influence has reached well beyond the Delta.
In 2018, the American Booksellers Association included the store in its annual Winter Institute activities, bringing more than 100 booksellers and publishing professionals to Greenwood.
The business also received local recognition, including being named Greenwood’s Favorite Retailer by Main Street Greenwood in 2017.
In 2019, the Greenwood-Leflore County Chamber of Commerce recognized Turnrow as Small Business of the Year, according to the bookstore’s official history.
Those honors reflect the reputation the business developed through years of bookselling, cultural programming and community involvement.
For communities throughout the Mississippi Delta, the survival of locally owned businesses is closely connected to the health of historic downtown districts.
These establishments contribute to the character of their communities, offer distinctive shopping experiences and help attract visitors.
Turnrow’s comeback demonstrates how a business can remain meaningful even after an extended closure.
The restored bookstore once again combines literature, visual art and dining in one downtown location.
Its reopening also serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving gathering places where people can connect through shared interests and experiences.
Twenty years after its founding, Turnrow Book Co. has entered a new chapter.
And after a fire that threatened its future, Greenwood’s independent bookstore is once again welcoming readers through its doors.
Business: Turnrow Book Co.
Address: 304 Howard Street, Greenwood, MS 38930
Phone: (662) 453-5995
Website: www.turnrowbooks.com
Bookstore Hours: Monday–Saturday, 9:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.; closed Sunday.