Bookstores are often literary safe havens for readers and places to build community through author readings, book signings, book clubs, or perhaps just bumping into a stranger in a niche genre section and exchanging numbers (a girl can dream!). From hybrid bookstore/coffee shops to bookstores that double as presses, we’ve curated a list of fourteen Black-owned bookstores across the United States.
Loudmouth Books (Indianapolis, Indiana)
Bestselling YA author Leah Johnson founded Loudmouth Books after a wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation in Indiana as a way for the community to preserve access to “lifesaving and life-affirming books.” The store carries literature by Black, LGBTQ+, and other marginalized writers, as well as books that have been banned or challenged in the U.S.
Loyalty Bookstore (Washington, D.C.)
Founded by queer bookseller Hannah Oliver Depp, Loyalty Bookstore focuses on creating an inclusive environment that centers Black, POC, and queer voices in literature. In 2023, Christine Bollow, an Asian, queer, and disabled long-time employee was announced as the new co-owner. With genres categorized from Black Love to Caribbean Lit to Antiracist reads, Loyalty is active in celebrating diverse and intersectional identities in both the literature they sell and the community they build.
Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Located in Germantown, a historically Black neighborhood in Philadelphia, Uncle Bobbie’s is a space for “cool people. Dope books. Great coffee.” Founded by Marc Lamont Hill in 2017, they host free events such as workshops, author talks, and weekly readings for children. The warm and inviting space also doubles as a cafe with plenty of tables, chairs, and comfy couches, the perfect spot to grab a latte with a slice of sweet potato pie while you read a book.
Fulton Street Books & Coffee (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Onikah Asamoa-Caesar’s bookstore “is a love letter to her younger self, a safe space for Black & Brown folks, an intersection and [cumulation] of her experiences as a Black woman in the United States of America.” Situated in Greenwood, a historical neighborhood in Tulsa, Fulton Street centers the narratives of people of color and marginalized communities, and their mission is to increase representation and intergenerational literacy. Their sleek industrial space has tall open ceilings, framed by a wall of windows, and a coffee bar with chairs scattered around the room. Be sure to try their cruffin and stop by for book launches, reading hours, spoken word events, and the occasional book fair.
Serenity Book Shop (Columbus, Ohio)
Shanna Tiggs envisioned Serenity Book Shop as a place of care, where those on any path or journey may find respite. The bookstore has a small kitchen and bar, offering food, coffee, tea, and wine, and a stage where they host live music and readings. If you’re looking for a place to read, the store has couches and chairs as well as bistro tables on the sidewalk. If you’re in the market for crystals, candles, sage, a small plant, a new mug, a journal, or, perhaps, a book, you’ll find what you need in this one-stop shop.
The Lit. Bar (The Bronx, New York)
Founded by Noëlle Santos, an African American and Puerto Rican activist and Bronx native, The Lit. Bar is the only bookstore in this borough of New York City. With the bookstore tripling as a wine bar and community center, they welcome literary and community gatherings, and offer a full wine menu and bar snacks. It’s a beautiful space with crystal chandeliers, red velvet couches, and marble tables, anchored by a mural of Black girl holding a book. From categories like “Dear White People,” “Hip-Hop Is Poetry Too,” and “Bronx Tales,” stop by to support this bookstore and sip some red while you’re at it.
Baldwin & Co. (New Orleans, Louisiana)
In this shrine to James Baldwin, you’ll find a mural of the author painted on books and coffee drinks named after his works. The bookstore cafe highlights the work of Black and Brown writers and artists and is dedicated to expanding literacy, developing economic equity, fostering intellectual growth, and using books for social justice reform and to end mass incarceration. They have a seasonal book festival, a book club where they meet and discuss the works of BIPOC authors, and a podcast studio. On top of that, you definitely won’t want to miss their celebration of James Baldwin’s 100th birthday on August 2nd.
Semicolon (Chicago, Illinois)
Founded by DL Mullen, Semicolon is the only bookstore in Chicago owned by a Black woman. As a bookstore/art gallery hybrid, visitors are invited to enjoy both the visual and literary arts. The space itself is an art piece, with a large mural painted by street artist, Ahmad Lee, an art gallery space that will rotate to feature local artists, and hand-picked books arranged with their covers facing out. Books are categorized by association, rather than genre, so instead of looking for “fiction” or “poetry,” you might want to try looking under “Wait, What?!? Page Turners with Just a Tinge of Weirdness” for your next read.
Good Books (Atlanta, Georgia)
Good Books is an online and pop-up store, run by mother-daughter duo, Katherine and Katie. They offer vintage versions of beloved collections, such as Baldwin’s If Beale Street Could Talk or Angela Davis’ If They Come In The Morning, as well as new books by mail.
The Salt Eaters Bookshop (Inglewood, California)
Asha Grant’s priority is highlighting literature by and about Black women—especially queer and trans Black women. Looking to add some literature to your “Black Feminist Toolkit” or learn more about “The Black Femme Body and Pleasure Politic”? Look no further. The Salt Eaters Bookshop’s got you covered.
Sistah Scifi (Oakland, California)
Sistah Scifi is primarily an online store that centers literature written by Black and Indigenous women that falls into categories of magical realism, science fiction, horror, speculative fiction, and even voodoo. Created by Isis Asare, it’s the first Black-owned bookstore that focuses on science fiction and fantasy in the U.S. They also have book vending machines in Seattle and California. Check out their website for virtual and in-person events if you’re looking for community amongst other Black science fiction lovers or are interested in Afro-futurism literature (or merch!).
Socialight Society (Lansing, Michigan)
Nyshell Lawrence started Socialight Society to celebrate Black authors and artists, centered on the merging of her favorite ‘f‘ words: faith and feminism. This indie bookstore caters to the representation of Black women, not only in the literature they sell and promote, but in the community they build. On top of being a bookstore, Socialight Society hosts regular events, they offer various creative consultations and “pick my brain” sessions, they promote other local Black-owned businesses and organizations, host a monthly book club, and offer the store as an event space. They even have the option of booking a private after-hours shopping experience, where you can shop alone or with a group of friends, so if you’re in Lansing and are looking for a one of a kind book shopping experience, secure your spot online before stopping in for exclusive access to the store.
Strive Bookstore (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Mary Taris created Strive to center Black narratives and bring the joy of Black literature back to Minneapolis. The company doubles as a press, and “aims to inspire community collaboration through publishing stories to heal, teach, learn, and earn, while building an ecosystem that embodies a rich Black culture and heritage.” The Strive Bookstore, based in downtown Minneapolis, allows visitors to shop for books, attend workshops, and even host their own events. If you find yourself interested in collaboration, self-publishing, or just finding your next read, check out Strive Bookstore.
Loving Room (Seattle, Washington)
Loving Room: Books & Salon is an independent, queer woman-owned bookstore, reading room, and salon in Seattle, Washington. Kristina Clark opened Loving Room as a space “for our collective Black ancestral healing + transformation through Black literature + African Diasporic decolonial aesthetics.” Filled with artwork and textiles from Africa, the store includes a selection of new and used literature from Black American authors, as well as African, Caribbean, and Diaspora writers. Loving Room is community-oriented, offering events for readers of all ages, such as writing clubs, book clubs, poetry soirées, and film screenings.
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