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Black Business Month: Featured Stores
For Black Business Month we’re highlighting our Black-owned member stores. Thank you to these amazing Black bookstore owners who responded to our call for stores.
If you’re near any of these amazing stores this month, stop in and check them out!
African American Literature Book Club
The African American Literature Book Club (AALBC) was started as an online bookstore in 1997. Today it is the oldest, largest, and most frequently visited website dedicated to books by people of African descent. AALBC sells, reviews, edits, discusses, and publishes books. AALBC’s founder, Troy Johnson, is also a recognized thought leader in the “Black Book Ecosystem,” and provides a variety of resources for readers, writers, and publishers. AALBC celebrates Black culture through books.
aalbc.com
Black Worldschoolers Mobile Bookstore is a one-of-a-kind, all-ages bookstore on wheels and online shop sharing stories uplifting Black life, Black heritage, and Black joy. Based in Indianapolis and serving surrounding cities within a 350 mile radius, founder/owner Natalie Pipkin is on a mission to create access and awareness of Black stories and excitement and engagement around reading.
blackworldschoolers.com
Bo Society & Books is an online bookstore that does pop-ups and events in Clarksville, Tennessee. It is the only Christian bookstore in the city, with a mission to bring together a diverse community of believers to grow intellectually and spiritually through books and curated events.
thebosociety.com
The Book Worm in Powder Springs, Georgia, originally opened its doors in October of 2005. Julia Davis, children’s book author, took ownership in November 2020. Davis’ passion for promoting self-love and literacy has become the foundation that The Book Worm stands on. Set in the heart of historic downtown Powder Springs, The Book Worm strives to bring the best in literature, from international best sellers to our own local literary giants, to a vibrant and growing community that’s as diverse as the books on our shelves! The Book Worm was one of 6 bookstores to win Best of Georgia 2022.
thebookwormonline.com
CLASS Bookstore is a Black-owned and family operated online/mobile/brick-and-mortar retailer based in Houston, Texas. Founded by co-owners and married couple David & Dara Landry in November 2020, they began their business as an online bookstore, operating out of their apartment. For the next two years, they participated in pop-up markets throughout Houston and Austin.
On December 3, 2022, they opened the brick-and-mortar shop, called "The Residency" at 3803 Sampson St., 77004 (just off the Texas Southern University campus).
classbookstore.com
The Food Temptress Cookbook Store is a culinary bookstore located in Virginia Beach. Their mission is to connect customers to cookbooks by Black authors that inspire creativity and preserve food traditions. It exists to support and amplify the works of underrepresented voices in the food and publishing industries. It also pays homage to the mothers, grandmothers and ancestors who have created edible, magical moments in the kitchen.
foodtemptress.com
44th & 3rd Bookseller is a family-owned, multi-cultural book and culture brand headquartered in the heart of Atlanta, GA. Their mission is to continue a source of unbiased literature that is true to the rich culture of excellence experienced and expressed in the Black community world-wide. They also host events for national and local authors and provide a space for community involvement.
44thand3rdbookseller.com
Heart & Soul Books, located in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, prioritizes diverse titles and creating a safe space for all. Owner Ashley Bailey says Maya Angelou changed her life and she hopes to be that change for others through community and good reads.
heartandsoulbooks.com
The Humble Bumble Book shares reading material that promotes the voices of marginalized people and communities of color.
They collaborate with individuals and communities interested in seeing beyond stereotypes and seek to be comfortable in uncomfortable spaces. The Humble Bumble Book is owned and operated by an Afro Latina living and working in New Rochelle, New York.
thehumblebumblebook.com
The Key Bookstore is a fully interactive online bookstore experience. The Key engages readers through curation, activities, subscriptions, and events. This store is curated on the pillars of Afrocentricity, Spirituality, Environmentalism, and Entrepreneurship.
keybookstore.com
Liberation is Lit aims to spark collective action for liberation and community building among readers and book lovers by promoting stories from intersectional experiences. Liberation is Lit is not just a bookseller, it’s a liberation movement led by the stories we read and the community we build.
liberationislit.com
Little Visioneers is a Black woman-owned online independent bookstore located in California.
Founded by writer/author Bridgitte Jackson-Buckley, their mission is to provide immediate access to books by women, and to celebrate the rich and indelible contribution of women to the literary and artistic world. Their goal is to curate books that inspire community, collaboration, creativity and love.
littlevisioneers.com
Planting People Growing Justice Books
Planting People Growing Justice Books, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota, encourages and empowers children to find joy in reading. It is a Black woman-owned social enterprise that is committed to increasing diversity in books and promoting youth leadership development.
Founded in 2017 by Dr. Artika R. Tyner, award-winning author and nationally recognized civil rights attorney, Planting People Growing Justice seeks to inspire the next generation of leaders. They believe “leaders are readers.” The bookstore provides young leaders with the tools needed to make a difference in the world.
ppgjbooks.com
R.D. Talley Books is a bookstore and publishing company that has recently transitioned from a home-based, online business to its first storefront. Based out of Las Vegas, Nevada, R.D. Talley Books carries a variety of children’s, young adult, and adult books. The owner, Roderick D. Talley, who is also an author, emphasizes supporting fellow local and independent authors.
rdtalleybooks.com
Rejoice Christian Books and Gift Shop
Rejoice Christian Books and Gift Shop is an independent Christian bookstore in Lawrenceville, Georgia. Their mission is to provide a diverse selection of Bibles, devotionals, and uplifting gifts, to inspire individuals on their journey. They host quarterly workshops and events, aiming to strengthen the bonds in their community through shared experiences and knowledge.
www.rejoicebooksandgifts.com
Serenity Book Shop is a brand new indie bookstore in Columbus, Ohio. This bookshop offers new and used books as well as coffee, tea, coffee mugs, and stationery items (journals, pens, bookmarks, and stickers). They even have a section for crystals, candles, incense, oils, and much more! Serenity Book Shop will also host book signing events, live music performances, and much more!
serenitybookshop.com
Sistah Scifi is the first Black-owned bookstore focused on science fiction and fantasy in the United States.
Located primarily in cyberspace, Sistah Scifi launched three Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines in 2023 in Washington state and California.
sistahscifi.com
In the center of downtown Minneapolis with a thriving literary scene, Strive Bookstore is a community-informed space that celebrates and supports local Black authors and promotes multicultural literary events. Strive works to be a go-to source for books that inform hungry minds and inspire the community to build relationships across cultures.
strivepublishing.com
Founded in 2019 by author Susie and her husband, Susie’s Stories is a full-service bookstore in Rockport, Massachusetts, offering a carefully curated selection of classic and contemporary quality children’s books, fiction, nonfiction, and bestsellers.
susiesstories-107442.square.site
Turning Page Bookshop is the only Black, woman-owned, brick-and-mortar bookstore in the state of South Carolina which sells all genres. The store is run entirely by two people, the owner, VaLinda and manager, Arrylee, who are best friends and read everything.
turningpagebookshop.com
If you would like your store to be featured, please email [email protected] and tell us about your store.