McKay’s Books Knoxville closed after 23 people treated for heat emergencies during anniversary event

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — Hundreds of people flocked to McKay’s Bookstore in Knoxville on Tuesday as it celebrated its 50th anniversary, but the summer heat left more than 20 people requiring first responders’ assistance.

The Knoxville Fire Department said 23 people at the store were treated for various heat-related emergencies and three of those people were taken to a hospital.

According to the fire department, there were over 500 people in the parking lot at around 5 p.m., but the branch management decided to break up the event.

McKay’s has been promoting its “Ultimate McKay’s Road Trip” in honor of the chain’s 50th anniversary. During the road trip, each location will offer unique stamps in a road trip pass. For each stamp, McKay’s will offer a prize. Book lovers who collect all five stamps will also receive $800 in McKay’s shopping credit.

McKay’s Books in Knoxville posted on Facebook that due to high demand, anyone waiting in line or about to arrive at the Knoxville store should move on to their next stop. The store added that the next store would hand out the stamp to those who didn’t make it in Knoxville.

McKay’s Books in Knoxville had previously announced that the deadline for the road trip had been extended to midnight.

In total, the “Ultimate McKay’s Road Trip” is more than 550 miles long and would take almost nine hours, according to Google Maps.