Discover an Independent Black Owned Bookstore Near You
Add a Black-owned bookstore to this list. Read about AALBC’s Founder’s favorite 10 Bookstores.View this List by Bookstore Name, on a List, or on a Map
14 Bookstores Found in California
Lore Bookstore
4334 Degnan Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Store Hours: Wednesday – Sunday, 11 AM – 5 PM
Owner/Proprietor: Dário Solari and ____
Phone:
Stored Opened in: 2025
Lore aims to be a hub for Black design and art, featuring everything from children’s books to candles and more.
Lore is designed to be a gathering space for the community, not just a bookstore.
Lore Bookstore Information Updated: 2025-06-03
Malik Books (Crenshaw Mall)
3650 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Ste 245
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Store Hours: Mon - Fri 11:00 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat 10:00 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sun 10:00 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Owner/Proprietor: Malik and April
Phone: (323) 389-8040
Stored Opened in: 1990
Malik Books specializes in American American books, calendars, and gifts full of cultural diversity, positive self reflection, & self awareness.
Malik Books (Crenshaw Mall) Information Updated: 2020-07-01
Malik Books (Culver City Mall)
6000 Sepulveda Blvd Ste 2470
Culver City, CA 90230
Store Hours: Mon - Fri 11:00 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sat 10:00 a.m. - 9 p.m., Sun 10:00 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Owner/Proprietor: Malik and April
Phone: (323) 389-8040
Stored Opened in: 1990
Malik Books specializes in American American books, calendars, and gifts full of cultural diversity, positive self reflection, & self awareness.
Malik Books (Culver City Mall) Information Updated: 2025-07-01
Marcus Books
3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Oakland, CA 94609
Store Hours: Hours: Mon - Sat 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m., Sun 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Owner/Proprietor: Richardson Family
Phone: (510) 652-2344
Stored Opened in: 1960
Books by and about black people everywhere.
Marcus Books Information Updated: 2025-09-14
Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts
260 Broadway
Richmond, CA 94804
Store Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.; Monday 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Owner/Proprietor: Tamara Shiloh
Phone: (510) 422-5304
Stored Opened in: 2019
Books for many cultures: African American, Latino, Native American, Asian/South Asian, Middle Eastern and Filipino, LGBTQ, Disability and Biracial.
Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts Information Updated: 2022-04-25
Octavia’s Bookshelf
1353 North Hill Ave
Pasadena, CA 91104
Store Hours: Monday: Closed, Tuesday-Sunday: 10 am - 6 pm
Owner/Proprietor: Nikki High
Phone: (626) 421-6222
Stored Opened in: 2022
Independent bookstore highlighting BIPOC authors.
Octavia’s Bookshelf Information Updated: 2025-07-01
Protagonist Black
406 W. 2nd Street,
Pomona, CA 91766
Store Hours: Tues - Fri, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Owner/Proprietor: Aysia and Kevin Brown
Phone:
Stored Opened in:
“…an independent bookstore specializing in culturally diverse books and cocktail pairings.”
Protagonist Black Information Updated: 2025-06-10
Reparations Club
3054 S. Victoria Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Store Hours: Mon - Tues by appointment only, Wed - Sat 11 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sun 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Owner/Proprietor: Jazzi McGilbert
Phone: 323-591-0012
Stored Opened in: 2019
Rep Club is a concept (book)shop & creative space curated by Blackness in Los Angeles, CA. Black-owned. Woman-owned.
Reparations Club Information Updated: 2020-11-18
Shades of Afrika Bookstore (Corona)
1390 W 6th Street
Corona, CA 92882
Store Hours: Tues-Sun Noon-5:00PM
Owner/Proprietor: Sista Renee Quarles
Phone: (951) 284-7888
Stored Opened in: 1994
Our Mission is to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Afrikan Diaspora.
Shades of Afrika Bookstore (Corona) Information Updated: 2025-07-01
Shades of Afrika Bookstore (Long Beach)
1001 E 4th St.
Long Beach , CA 90802
Store Hours: Tues-Sun Noon-5:00PM
Owner/Proprietor: Sista Renee Quarles
Phone: (562) 436-2210
Stored Opened in: 1994
Our Mission is to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Afrikan Diaspora.
Shades of Afrika Bookstore (Long Beach) Information Updated: 2014-04-06
Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine (Chapter 510)
546 9th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Store Hours:
Owner/Proprietor: Isis Asare
Phone:
Stored Opened in: 2019
Find Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines (Seattle WA, Oakland, CA)
Sistah Scifi is a cauldron of all things afrofuturism; Black mysticism, science fiction noir, and traditional voodoo; casting spells to uplift literature written by Black and Indigenous authors.Find Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machines
Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine (Chapter 510) Information Updated: 2025-07-01
The Untitled Love
1505.5 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Store Hours: Wed-Fri 11-5, Saturday 11-6, and Sunday 11-5
Owner/Proprietor: Dário Solari
Phone: 562-646-6009?
Stored Opened in: 2025
The Untitled Love Information Updated: 2025-06-03
Underground Books
2814 35th Street
Sacramento, CA 95817
Store Hours: Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sundays 12 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Owner/Proprietor: Kevin Johnson
Phone: 916-737-3333
Stored Opened in: 2003
Underground Books, founded in summer 2003 by St. HOPE (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit), anchors the 40 Acres Cultural Center in Oak Park. After the community lost its only library in the 1970s, St. HOPE’s founder, Kevin Johnson, made it his mission to restore local access to books.
Dubbed the “literary hub of Oak Park,” Underground Books offers classes, author talks, book signings, poetry readings, children’s programs, and pop-ups featuring Black-owned vendors—ensuring every child can explore, learn, and grow.
Oak Park native Georgia “Mother Rose” West (who passed in 2024), Kevin Johnson’s mom, launched this vital resource; today, it stands as a beloved community pillar.
Underground Books Information Updated: 2017-02-02
Word of Life Christian Bookstores
6321 West Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90043
Store Hours: Tue to Fri: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.; Sun & Mon Closed
Owner/Proprietor: Jonathan Curtiss
Phone: 323-295-8223
Stored Opened in: 1961
Word of Life Christian Bookstore was started in 1961, by Joe & Evelyn Curtiss. Today, Word of Life is a leading Christian Retailer in the Los Angeles community, serving more than 400 churches, and thousands of customers throughout the USA. Word of Life specializes in bibles, Christian books, curriculum, greeting cards, gifts, music, church supplies, robes & Christian witness attire, as well as general interest products for the Christian market. Our Mission Statement: Our Mission is to reach our community with life changing Christian products and services that will impact the lives of people everywhere.
Word of Life Christian Bookstores Information Updated: 2022-10-10
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