The Mebane Scoop: McKAY’s for the Holidays

November 25, 2024

The holidays are near, so it is time to go shopping for your friends, family, and even yourself. Mebane is home to many shopping locations, but just this year, it became home to the beloved second-hand store, McKAY's. If you do not know much about McKAY's, I will tell you because you do not want to keep missing out.   

McKAY's History

McKAY's was first opened in 1974 as a used bookstore called "Edward McKay." This bookstore began as a "free enterprise library," meaning a bookstore that contains a wide variety of books that a person could obtain cheaply, keep as long as they want, and return for credit on other books in the future. Since then, the brand split ownership and became what we know today as McKAY's. In 1985, the first Tennessee location opened in Knoxville, and since then, two more Tennessee locations were added in Chattanooga and Nashville.   

The first McKAY's opened in North Carolina after it gained ownership of the Edward McKay stores in 2017, located in Greensboro and Winston-Salem. In 2024, the Greensboro McKAY's relocated to our beloved Mebane, as it outgrew its previous location. McKAY's original idea of a bookstore has expanded to include music, movies, games, electronics, musical instruments, collectibles, and more!  

Shopping and Selling at McKAY's 

I was so excited when I learned McKAY's was coming to Mebane. I had heard great things about its book and music selection and could not wait to check it out. When I first walked into the store, I was amazed at how much stuff it had. Once you enter the doors, you are met with many collectibles, toys, action figures, and Funko Pops. When you walk a little further, you see TV and Movie Boxsets, and then to the right, my favorite part is the vinyl records. This place is a music lover's absolute dream. I had never seen so many vinyl records. From classical music to rock to rap to even international music, McKAY's vinyl section has it all. I could have spent all day going through this section, and this is not even the best part. All items at McKAY's are priced at a discounted rate since they are second-hand. Despite the items being second-hand, they were all in pretty good condition!   

I was also excited to see such a large book section. McKAY's has various book genres, from science fiction to horror to romance. Books can be so expensive these days, but at McKAY's, they are very affordable. I could buy two books for less than the price of one. Not only are the prices at McKAY's affordable, but you can also sell items to get store credit instead of using your money to buy items of your choice! 

McKAY's runs on its customers selling or trading items to build its inventory. McKAY's offers cash or store credit for gently used albums, books, instruments, movies, action figures, video games, gaming systems, board games, comics, and more. Selling and trading are super easy to do, and you can even get your store credit on the day of, depending on how much you sell or trade. To learn more about selling and trading, visit https://www.mckaybooks.com/selling-trading.

Located conveniently in Mebane, McKAY's new store is a must-visit this season. Whether searching for the perfect gift or treating yourself to a holiday find, McKAY's invites you to browse, explore, and celebrate the joy of giving.  

Visit McKAY's at 4053 Wilson Rd. Mebane, NC 27302. McKAY's hours are Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. To properly plan for holiday shopping, McKAY's is closed on Thanksgiving, open on Christmas Eve from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and closed on Christmas Day. For more information, visit https://www.mckaybooks.com/.

Written and Published by Emma Corbett