For the first time, we now know how many Black-owned bookstores exist in the U.S.

The National Association of Black Bookstores has released the “first comprehensive national report” on the state of America’s Black-owned bookstores.

Baldwin & Co., a Black-owned bookstore and coffee shop in New Orleans. Photo: Phil Lewis

There has never been an official, comprehensive record of Black-owned bookstores across the United States — until now.

The National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2), a new organization that aims to empower Black-owned bookstores and booksellers, released its inaugural State of the Black Bookstore report.

NAB2 unveiled the report at the American Booksellers Association Winter Institute in Pittsburgh last month. The organization also launched its National Black-Owned Bookstore Directory, an index of the Black-operated brick-and-mortar stores, mobile shops and online sellers across the country.

The report states that there are 306 Black-owned bookstores nationwide, approaching the estimated peak of 325 in the 1990s. The ‘90s were considered the golden age of Black bookselling, fueled by literary figures like Terry McMillan, Eric Jerome Dickey, E. Lynn Harris and Bebe Moore Campbell, and by the debut of Oprah Winfrey’s highly influential book club.

With the launch of Amazon.com and the rise of major chains like Barnes & Noble, many Black-owned bookstores closed during the late ‘90s and into the 2000s. Char Adams, author of “Black-Owned: The Revolutionary Life of the Black Bookstore,” estimates that only 54 Black-owned bookstores were operating nationwide by 2014.

In 2020, the number of Black-owned bookstores saw a jump due to renewed interest in Black authors and books as a result of the Black Lives Matter movement and the protests around George Floyd’s murder. Even now, as the Trump administration attempts to erase Black history, Black-owned bookstores are continuing a comeback.

Kevin Johnson, who founded NAB2 in 2025, sees that growth as worth celebrating.

“The growth of Black-owned bookstores across the country reflects the strength and relevance of these institutions today,” said Johnson, a former NBA player and owner of Underground Books in Sacramento, where he served two terms as mayor. “This report establishes a clear national record of where Black bookstores are operating and how they function. By bringing this information together, we are creating a foundation that supports their continued presence and informs how the industry engages with them.”

Despite the growth, Black-owned bookstores still face significant challenges. According to the report, 90% of the bookstores report annual revenue under $250,000, and 36% have no permanent brick-and-mortar location.

“Black bookstores have always done more with less,” said Yvonne Blake, owner of Hakim’s Bookstore, the oldest Black-owned bookstore in Philadelphia.

“We have survived by serving our people, protecting our stories, and holding space when few others would. This report tells the truth plainly,” said Blake, who took over the bookstore from her late father. “It honors the work that came before us while making clear what must change if these bookstores are going to be here for the next generation.”