The Ultimate Guide to 175 Black-Owned Bookstores
Founder’s Note: Our list highlights Black-owned bookstores. This list is meant to be shared. However, it takes effort to maintain, so if you share information from this list please cite the African American Literature Book Club (AALBC.com) as the source and link back to this page. More about this list ▶
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14 Black-Owned Bookstore(s) Found
1 – Lore Bookstore4334 Degnan Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Owner/Proprietor: Dário Solari and ____
Phone:
Email: info@loreleimertpark.com
Opened in: 2025
Last updated: 2025-06-03 (336)
2 – Malik Books (Crenshaw Mall)3650 W Martin Luther King Jr Blvd Ste 245
Los Angeles, CA 90008
Owner/Proprietor: Malik and April
Phone: (323) 389-8040
Email: malik@malikbooks.com
Opened in: 1990
Last updated: 2020-07-01 (227)
3 – Malik Books (Culver City Mall)6000 Sepulveda Blvd Ste 2470
Culver City, CA 90230
Owner/Proprietor: Malik and April
Phone: (323) 389-8040
Email: malik@malikbooks.com
Opened in: 1990
Last updated: 2025-07-01 (352)
4 – Marcus Books3900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way
Oakland, CA 94609
Owner/Proprietor: Richardson Family
Phone: (510) 652-2344
Email: info@marcusbooksoakland.com
Opened in: 1960
Last updated: 2025-09-14 (12)
5 – Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts260 Broadway
Richmond, CA 94804
Owner/Proprietor: Tamara Shiloh
Phone: (510) 422-5304
Email: multiculturalbookstore@gmail.com
Opened in: 2019
Last updated: 2022-04-25 (206)
6 – Octavia’s Bookshelf1353 North Hill Ave
Pasadena, CA 91104
Owner/Proprietor: Nikki High
Phone: (626) 421-6222
Email: info@octaviasbookshelf.com
Opened in: 2022
Last updated: 2025-07-01 (293)
7 – Protagonist Black406 W. 2nd Street,
Pomona, CA 91766
Owner/Proprietor: Aysia and Kevin Brown
Phone:
Email: info@protagonistblack.com
Last updated: 2025-06-10 (338)
8 – Reparations Club3054 S. Victoria Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90016
Owner/Proprietor: Jazzi McGilbert
Phone: 323-591-0012
Email: info@reparations.club
Opened in: 2019
Last updated: 2020-11-18 (228)
9 – Shades of Afrika Bookstore (Corona)1390 W 6th Street
Corona, CA 92882
Owner/Proprietor: Sista Renee Quarles
Phone: (951) 284-7888
Email: shadesofafrika@gmail.com
Opened in: 1994
Last updated: 2025-07-01 (353)
10 – Shades of Afrika Bookstore (Long Beach)1001 E 4th St.
Long Beach , CA 90802
Owner/Proprietor: Sista Renee Quarles
Phone: (562) 436-2210
Email: shadesofafrika@gmail.com
Opened in: 1994
Last updated: 2014-04-06 (140)
11 – Sistah Scifi Book Vending Machine (Chapter 510)546 9th Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Owner/Proprietor: Isis Asare
Phone:
Email: info@sistahscifi.com
Opened in: 2019
Last updated: 2025-07-01 (355)
12 – The Untitled Love1505.5 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Owner/Proprietor: Dário Solari
Phone: 562-646-6009?
Email:
Opened in: 2025
Last updated: 2025-06-03 (337)
13 – Underground Books2814 35th Street
Sacramento, CA 95817
Owner/Proprietor: Kevin Johnson
Phone: 916-737-3333
Email: staff@underground-books.com
Opened in: 2003
Last updated: 2017-02-02 (110)
14 – Word of Life Christian Bookstores6321 West Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90043
Owner/Proprietor: Jonathan Curtiss
Phone: 323-295-8223
Email: jon@shopwordoflife.com
Opened in: 1961
Last updated: 2022-10-10 (214)
Our bookstore list is also supported by the efforts of the National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2). We make ever effort to ensure this list is accurate, but it is an all volunteer effort, so please report any mistakes or ommissions to us. You may also share corrections in the comments section at the bottom of this page.
Add a Black-owned bookstore to this list.
Read about AALBC’s Founder’s favorite 10 Bookstores.
Also, if your intent is to showcase Black-owned independent stores, please note AALBC.com is the oldest and largest Black-owned online bookseller, we operate pop-up bookstores, and sell books at events. For more than a quarter of a century we have published bestseller lists, book reviews, profiles of authors, videos, articles, and more. Check out our list of Black-owned online bookstores