There are two places that book lovers always visit to get a book to devour: a library or a bookstore. I wanted to speak about bookstores today and give you insight to many bookstores throughout the country but specifically black owned bookstores. Did you know that there are around 20k bookstores in the USA today, according to IBIS World? But, out of 20k bookstores, I was able to find 100+ black owned bookstores that you can shop at either in person, online or both. Bookstores are declining everyday but there is a way to combat that and the key is to purchase from indie bookstores and remember them when you are thinking about where to purchase a new book.
The bookstores will be listed by state and in alphabetical order. If you think of any bookshops that aren't listed, definitely never hesitate to comment one down below or emailing The Seasonal Pages at hello@theseasonalpages.com.
Arizona
Grassrootz Bookstore - Phoenix, AZ
Arkansas
Pyramid Art Books & Custom Framing - Little Rock, AR
California
Smileys Books - Carson, CA
Shades of Africa - Long Beach, CA
Eso Won Books - Los Angeles, CA
Malik Books - Los Angeles, CA
Reparations Club- Los Angeles, CA
Old Capitol Books - Monterey, CA
Marcus Books - Oakland, CA
Sistah Scifi - Oakland, CA
The Collective Oakland - Oakland, CA
D3 Comic Book Spot - Richmond, CA
The Multicultural Children's Bookstore - Richmond, CA
Carol's Books - Sacramento, CA
Underground Books - Sacramento, CA
Ashay by the Bay - Vallejo, CA
Colorado
Shop at Matter - Denver, CO
Connecticut
*Key Bookstore - Hartford, CT
People Get Ready - New Haven, CT
Burgundy Books - Saybrook, CT
Delaware
MeJah Books, Inc.. - Claymont, DE
Florida
Pyramid Books - Boynton Beach, FL
Dare Books - Longwood, FL
The Gathering Awareness and Book Center - Pensacola, FL
*African Bookstore - Plantation, FL
Cultured Books - St. Petersburg, FL
*AALBC (The African American Literature Book Club) - Tampa, FL
Best Richardson African Diaspora Literature & Culture Museum - Tampa, FL
*Kizzy Books and More - Winter Garden, FL
Georgia
For Keeps - Atlanta, GA
*Good Books - Atlanta, GA
Medu Bookstore - Atlanta, GA
Brave and Kind - Decatur, GA
The Black Dot Cultural Center and Bookstore - Lithonia, GA
The Book Boutique - Lithonia, GA
All Things Inspiration - Mableton, GA
Nubian Bookstore - Morrow, GA
Illinois
Lushena Bookstore - Bensenville, IL
Da Book Joint - Chicago, IL
Frontline Books - Chicago, IL
Semicolon - Chicago, IL
The Underground Bookstore - Chicago, IL
Afriware Books, Co. - Maywood, IL
Indiana
Akoma Books - Evansville, IN
Beyond Barcodes Bookstore - Kokomo, IN
The Brain Lair - Sound Bend, IN
Kentucky
Wild Fig Coffee & Books - Lexington, KY
Louisiana
Between the Lines Bookstore - Baton Rouge, LA
Community Book Center - New Orleans, LA
Maryland
Everyone's Place - Baltimore, MD
Jay's Books - Baltimore, MD
Vision Christian Store - Clinton, MD
Wisdom Book Center - Gwynn Oak, MD
Loyalty Bookstore - Silver Spring, MD
Massachusetts
Frugal Bookstore - Roxbury, MA
Olive Tree Books-n-Voices - Springfield, MA
Michigan
Hood Book Headquarters - Detroit, MI
Source Booksellers - Detroit, MI
Truth Bookstore - Southfield, MI
Nandi's Knowledge Cafe - Highland Park, MI
Detroit Book City - Southfield, MI
Blackstone Bookstore and Cultural Center - Ypsilanti, MI
Minnesota
Black Garnet Books - Minneapolis, MN
Mississippi
Marshall’s Music and Book Store - Jackson, MS
Missouri
Aya Coffee and Books - Kansas City, MO
Bliss Books and Wine - Kansas City, MO
Willa's Bookstore - Kansas City, MO
Progressive Emporium and Business Center - St. Louis, MO
EyeSeeMe - University City, MO
Nebraska
Aframerican Bookstore - Omaha, NE
New Jersey