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Black-Owned Bookstores to Add to Your Bucket List!

Since the pandemic first hit a few years ago, many of us have missed out on indulging in some of the things that sparked joy in us. For me, two of these things included reading and traveling. While I’ve only just recently been able to crack open a book again without immediately losing interest, (check out my article about the book that revitalized the reader in me “Book Recommendation: Whereabouts”) my heart’s still aching to travel. So, in the meantime, I’ve compiled a few Black bookish places located within the domestic U.S. that I’d like to visit at least once in my lifetime.


This list is a compilation of bookstores found on cntraveler.com, theblackcurriculum.com, and stylist.co.uk.

Happy reading!



Atlanta

Established in 2017, this family-owned business is located in the heart of the city and caters to those who seek literature that highlights and celebrates the multiplicity of Black culture. They also feature a “Flavor of the Month,” where they curate books following a particular theme. INSTAGRAM


Founded by Rosa Duffy, this shop specializes in Black classics and rare books that are hard to acquire. They even sell signed editions, with options like Gwendolyn Brooks’ Selected Poems and Octavia Butler’s Dawn. INSTAGRAM



Chicago

The largest Black-woman-owned bookstore in Chicago, Semicolon nurtures “the connection between literature, art, and the pursuit of knowledge.” By shopping at Semicolon, you can expect to give back to the community through initiatives like #ClearTheShelves, which provides free books to students within the Chicago Public Schools district. INSTAGRAM



Los Angeles

Black-Owned and Woman-Owned, Reparations Club has an impressive selection of Black books in categories ranging from anti-racism, LGBTQIA+, adapted for Film/TV, music, poetry, and more. They also offer exclusive and signed copies, with works like Bad Fat Black Girl by Sesali Bowen. INSTAGRAM



New York

At Cafe con Libros, not only can you find your preferred beverage of choice - coffee or tea - but you can also find an intersectional feminist community that fosters a safe space for shoppers to feel empowered and catered to. They even offer a monthly subscription service called Feminist & Bookish with their packages including Irving Farm Coffee alongside romantic, feminist, and books featuring womxn of color. INSTAGRAM


The Lit Bar combines the best of both worlds by fusing a wine bar with an independently-owned bookstore. In 2017, The Lit Bar provided an accessible option for Bronx natives after their only bookstore, Barnes & Noble, shut its doors, leaving residents of the community unable to meet their literary needs. Not only does The Lit Bar provide books and alcohol, but you can expect to join in on some fantastic experiences, such as their Virtual National Poetry Month Celebration. INSTAGRAM



Not only a bookstore, Grandma’s Place is also a Black-Owned toy store for kids in Harlem’s community. A fun experience for the family or a nostalgic walk down memory lane, at Grandma’s, you can expect to find items ranging from puppets and dollhouses to books with an ethnic focus. INSTAGRAM


Article edited by Lola Lujan.


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