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Bayou Lights
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 03:35 pm: | 
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Hey, All---
I am based in Los Angeles and we have Eso Wan as our main African-American bookstore. I'm sure there are a few more but I am relatively new to the area.
Do you live in a city with a Black bookstore, and is it nice. Eso Wan has solid inventory but could use a major physical overhaul to be more inviting, etc. Emma Rogers (sp?) store Black Images in Texas was very well put together. What are some others?
Oh, and what's the new store like in Harlem owned by Clara Villarosa?
Bayou |
Let's Get Serious
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 03:38 pm: |
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You might check out Express Yourself Books (black woman owns it) in Los Angeles--it's nice. Also ZAHRA'S Book and THings on La Brea, but the people in there aren't so nice.
Eso Won is about the most clinically astute of the L.A. black book stores.
BTW...I'm back in Harlem now. Haven't been to Clara's new store.
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InPrint
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 03:49 pm: |
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Clara's store is nice. Not a ton of stock, not like Eso Wan or Kirabu, but legit. She's getting a lot of big names through, bless her crazy self.
There's another one opening in Harlem too soon, Nubian Heritage, 22,000 sq.ft. store. It will be located at 2037 5th Avenue at 125th St. |
Cmack
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 03:59 pm: |
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I live in the Washington, Dc area and we have several black owned bookstores, but I think Karibu is very nice. The store is well stocked and neat. I guess you can call them a small chain now since they have 5 locations, and it's the only store that has marked down books by black authors that I am aware of.
Peace |
Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 04:24 pm: |
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Brownstone Books in Bedford Stuyvesant (Brooklyn) New York -- beautiful store -- great programs - wonderful author appearances - the shelves are kind of bare -- but otherwise - kewl! |
Chris Hayden
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 04:31 pm: |
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I live in St. Louis--The Second Most Dangerous City in the U.S. (lost to MoTown again, dangit) and the Armpit of the Universe--but we have some nice black bookstores here.
Legacy Books, Genesis Unlimited, Knowlege Center Books, Topaz Bookstore, Ujamaa Maktaba books are most noteworthy. |
Beautifulwaterstar
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 05:05 pm: |
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As depressing as it sounds, I live in Augusta Georgia and the ONLY black bookstore is one called "Hamilton's Bookstore". I am very, VERY proud of this brotha, though. He is not really as appreciated as he 'should' be, but bless this man's HEART; had it not been for him/his bookstore, I doubt that I would have known about authors like Dr.Ben, Dr.Clarke, Dr.Pookram (sp) at such a considerably young (early highschool) age...
You know how we can get to be a big "selfish" about sharing info/trying to help another bro/sis make it because of some ridiculous fear of someone else actually doing just as well/better? Not Hamilton at all.. A no nonsense person who is as just a realist to the bone as he is dedicated/loyal to us..
Big up yourself, Vincent Hamilton. Your day will come and perhaps a day will come when your black bookstore is one of many here. |
Cynique
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 07:24 pm: |
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The Chicagoland area is saturated with black owned-books stores, and at least three of them are always on the itinerary of big-name black authors in town for book signings and readings. The one I patronize is called Afri-Ware and is located in Oak Park, Illinois. |
Troy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 10:32 pm: |
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We created a database of Black owned books stores http://writers.aalbc.com/aabook.htm If you are interested in locating a store check the list (but call the number listed first).
If you are aware of a Black owned that is not on the list please let me know -- We plan on updating the list very soon.
Speaking about book stores in Harlem. The Hue-Man bookstore http://www.huemanbookstore.com/ is a solid store they have all the required staples and I'm sure they have the best line-up of Black author signings on the planet (I'm not exaggerating). The only negative might be a lack of depth in the variety of titles sold (for a store of its size).
If it is not too late I would encourage anyone to visit the Liberation Book Store. http://www.columbiaspectator.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2003/10/31/3fa29d513bd94 Liberation is really a cultural icon. For almost 40 years owner Una Mulzac has managed Liberation. This book store was about Libertation. I've heard Sonia Sanchez describe how she was educated in this store. There is a sign in the front which reead "IF YOU DON'T KNOW, LEARN" and on the other side is says "IF YOU KNOW, TEACH" That was the spirit of this store. Hue-man may never capture that spirit.
Nubian Heritage http://www.nubianheritage.com/ The Harlem Location, one of three in the NY City, opens Dec 18th. I recall reading the store will have 22,000 square feet -- far larger than most independent book stores. Nubian Heritage is really more than just a book store -- they will have a spa, sell imported coffees and a whole lot more.
There is black run Christian book store on 116th street off Lenox ave called Zoe Christian Bookstore. A large well laid out store they have been open for a while but I never hear anyone talk about them I'm sure that is a function of the company I keep, ;-) I shop for my mom there each Christmas.
There is also a big little store on my block called Harlemade. They only have a few titles, but they are tied into Harlem in some way. They host very nice readings with food, drink and good people. Harlemade's (http://www.harlemade.com) focus is not on books, but I've heard several authors read the incluing Karen Quinnones-Miller and Jill Nelson.
The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture (http://www.nypl.org/research/sc/sc.html) has a bunch of books in it's gift shop. You can go in there blind folded and I guarantee you will come out with an important book.
While this is not a complete list I would be remiss if I did not mention the brothers on the street selling books. Where else you gonna get Zane's titles for 7 bucks with no tax. This is where I discovered authors like Kwan and Shannon Holmes. If you want to know what titles are hot just ask one of these Brothers.
For an "underserved" community we are quite fortunate to have such a wealth of venues to buy books.
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Anonymous
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, December 18, 2003 - 02:42 am: |
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Troy:
Thank you for the list, I noticed that only about 4 of the 200 listed book stores have email addresses. In fact even less have web sites.
Why is it that they have such a weak presence on the internet? Or is it that they just choose not to submit email addresses? |
Troy
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, December 20, 2003 - 06:49 pm: |
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Anonymous:
If my list is missing an email address it does not mean the store does not have one. It simply means we don't have it. We are in the process up updating the list and will attempt to pull in as much information as possible.
In general however it is true that many booksstores don't have web sites; or if they do their web presence is very limitted. Of course there are exceptions like cushcity.com in Houston Texas (you'll notice I don't have I don't have their email address recorded in our database and they have a tremendous web site). |
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