Here’s your guide to 50 BIPOC-owned bookstores across the U.S., where diverse stories are celebrated, communities thrive, and bookshelves are filled with voices that need to be heard.

Arizona

Palabras Bilingual Bookstore – Phoenix, AZ

Arizona’s only bilingual bookstore amplifying literature in both Spanish and English and creating a welcoming space for diverse communities.

Wijaya House Books Flowers Coffee – Tempe, AZ

This BIPOC-owned bookstore is not only a perfect, cozy indie bookshop, it’s also a a flower shop! Hosting book clubs and flower arranging classes.

California

Bel Canto Books – Long Beach, CA

A Filipina, woman-owned bookstore celebrating literature by women and people of color and offers personalized book recommendations.

East Village Book Shop – Sacramento, CA

A women-owned indie shop cultivating community through storytelling and a love for books.

Libélula Books and Co. – San Diego, CA

A bilingual bookstore amplifying Latinx and marginalized voices, plus a hub for local artists.

Marcus Books – Oakland, CA

The oldest Black-owned bookstore in the U.S., a true literary landmark since 1960.

Octavia’s Bookshelf – Pasadena, CA

Named after the legendary Octavia Butler, this indie shop celebrates BIPOC authors and thought leaders.

Reparations Club – Los Angeles, CA

A Black, women-owned bookshop and creative space centering Black voices and radical imagination.

Seite Books – Los Angeles, CA

A cozy, Latinx-owned bookstore packed with zines, art books, and independent literature.

Colorado

Shop at Matter – Denver, CO

A Black-owned bookstore that blends activism and literature, focusing on anti-racist and progressive reads.

Connecticut

The Key Bookstore – Hartford, CT

A Black-owned fully interactive bookstore with a focus on African Diaspora and metaphysical books.

Florida

Steamy Lit Bookstore – Deerfield, FL & Tampa, FL

A Latinx, woman-owned bookstore celebrating the diversity in romance and empowering readers to embrace their sexuality.

Georgia

Brave + Kind Bookshop – Decatur, GA

A charming, Black-owned family-friendly bookstore with a carefully curated selection of diverse books for all ages.

Hawai’i

Native Books – Honolulu, HI

Showcasing the rich literary tradition of Native Hawaiian authors and cultural storytelling.

Illinois

Semicolon – Chicago, IL

Chicago’s first Black woman-owned bookstore, blending literature and art with a mission to support literacy programs and foster a safe space for readers.

Call and Response – Chicago, IL

A Black woman-owned bookstore focused on fostering a love of reading, community, and diverse voices.

Indiana

Loudmouth Books – Indianapolis, IN

An Black, queer, woman-owned bookstore dedicated to highlighting banned books and uplifting underrepresented voices in literature.

Iowa

Libélula Books – Waterloo, IA

A Latinx-owned bookstore focused on bilingual books and social justice.

Kansas

Books & Burrow – Pittsburg, KS

A community-minded bookstore in small-town Kansas dedicated to highlighting Indigenous authors and stories.

Louisiana

Baldwin & Co Coffee & Books – New Orleans, LA

Named after James Baldwin, this bookstore-meets-coffee-shop is a vibrant space for thought-provoking conversation.

Maryland

Atomic Books – Baltimore, MD

An eclectic bookstore known for its indie, underground, and alternative titles.

Missouri

Bliss Books & Wine – Kansas City, MO

A dreamy spot where books and wine pair perfectly for a relaxing and intellectual experience.

New Jersey

Source of Knowledge – Newark, NJ

A community pillar for over 20 years, specializing in African and African American literature.

Little Boho Bookshop – Bayonne, NJ

A whimsical female-Black-owned bookstore with a magical collection for young readers and the young at heart.

New Mexico

Red Planet Comics – Albuquerque, NM

The country’s first Indigenous-owned comic book store, dedicated to Native and Indigenous storytelling.

New York

Adanne Bookshop – Brooklyn, NY

A cozy, Black woman-owned bookstore offering literature that celebrates African heritage and culture.

Cafe con Libros – Brooklyn, NY

A feminist, Afro-Latinx-owned bookstore serving up coffee and literature with a strong sense of community.

Liz’s Book Bar – Brooklyn, NY

A book bar where literature meets libations, fostering bookish connections over a good drink.

The Lit Bar – The Bronx, NY

The only indie bookstore in the Bronx, blending books, wine, and a vibrant literary community.

Yu and Me Books – New York, NY

The first female Asian American-owned bookstore in NYC, spotlighting immigrant stories and voices.

Sister’s Uptown – New York, NY

A literary and cultural hub that has been serving the Harlem community for over 20 years.

Word Up Community Bookshop /Libreria Comunitaria – Washington Heights, NY

A volunteer-run, multilingual bookstore bringing books and activism together.

North Carolina

Liberation Station Bookstore – Raleigh, NC

North Carolina’s first Black-owned children’s bookstore, inspiring young minds with diverse stories.

Epilogue Books – Chapel Hill, NC

A bookstore, café, and wine bar serving up great reads alongside churros and craft drinks.

Talking Leaves – Cherokee, NC

A bookstore deeply rooted in Indigenous history, specializing in Cherokee language and cultural books.

Oklahoma

Fulton Street Books & Coffee – Tulsa, OK

The first Black-owned bookstore in Tulsa, creating space for community and meaningful dialogue.

Eleanor’s Bookshop – Tulsa, OK

A delightful indie bookstore with a heart for children’s literature and community storytelling.

One Feather Books and Gifts – Tahlequah, OK

A Native-owned bookstore dedicated to preserving Cherokee history and literature.

Pennsylvania

Harriett’s Bookshop – Philadelphia, PA

Named after Harriet Tubman, this bookstore celebrates women authors, artists, and activists.

Uncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books – Philadelphia, PA

A cozy bookshop with a mission: “Smart. Black. & Lit.”—and serving up some of the best coffee in town!

South Dakota

Bird Cage Book Store – Rapid City, SD

The first Native-owned bookstore in South Dakota, spotlighting Indigenous authors and artists.

Texas

Kindred Stories – Houston, TX

A literary home for readers who love Black literature and cultural storytelling.

Black Pearl Books – Austin, TX

A Black-woman-owned independent bookstore promoting representation through literature.

Black Lit Bookstore – Dallas, TX

The first Black-owned bookstore in North Texas, combining books, culture, and community.

Red Salmon Arts/ Casa de Resistencia Books – Austin, TX

A Latinx-focused bookstore and cultural space promoting Indigenous and Mexican American literature.

Virginia

The Book Bar – Richmond, VA

A chic Black woman-owned bookstore with a passion for diverse books and curated literary events.

Washington, D.C.

Mahogany Books – Washington, DC

A powerhouse Black-owned bookstore dedicated to uplifting African American literature and hosting dynamic literary events.

Loyalty Books – Washington, DC

A fiercely independent, women-queer-disabled owned bookstore centering diverse voices and social justice.

Sankofa Books – Washington, DC

A legendary bookstore and café celebrating the African diaspora through literature and film.

Solid State Books – Washington, DC

A literary haven featuring a great selection of fiction & non-fiction titles along with literary gifts, stationery, greeting cards & puzzles for all ages.

JF Books – Washington, DC

A newcomer on the DC literary scene, dedicated to sharing Chinese literature and being a culture bridge for connection and understanding.