Landmark Black Bookstore RE-OPENING!

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Author Message   Nafisa_goma Regular Poster Username: Nafisa_goma Post Number: 231 Registered: 01-2006 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 02:29 pm:        I thought this was excellent news for black publishing: GATEWAY BRINGS SISTER SPACE & BOOKS TO UPPER GEORGIA! The Gateway Georgia Avenue Revitalization Corporation and Main Street is pleased to announce that Sister Space and Books is opening in the Gateway Georgia Avenue commercial district. The new bookstore will open in Fall 2007 at 7702 Georgia Avenue, NW./D.C. In addition to operating a bookstore on the ground floor, Sister Space and Books owner Faye Williams says that "the second floor will provide room for writing workshops, book club meetings, poetry readings and office space". Sister Space and Books is an independently owned niche bookstore with titles of special interest to African Americans, women, families, and the faith community. The bookstore was formerly on U Street in the District, and is known for its progressive and nurturing environment for first-time and local authors. It also has a vast network of supporters that include the region's university community, community activists, authors, poets, elected officials, and all kinds of book lovers! Gateway Executive Director Marc Loud thanked Williams and Capitol Properties Management (management company for 7702 Georgia Avenue) for closing this deal, noting that recent Gateway survey data shows that 83% of upper Georgia residents ranked a bookstore as a top preference (along with a sit-down restaurant and bakery). Gateway helped Sister Space identify area vacancies, introduced them to Capitol Properties top leadership, and provided demographic, survey and other information to both parties. Thanking the District's Department of Housing and Community Development and the reSTORE DC Main Streets program, Loud noted that "the District has made recapturing retail spending a top priority. This gives our community the option to spend in the neighborhood with a business owner that happens to be a D.C. and Ward 4 resident. Spending local dollars in businesses owned by locals is a key goal of genuine economic development" . Loud also noted that Sister Space's new Georgia location comes as Councilmembers Muriel Bowser and Kwame Brown have pledged to make Georgia Avenue a destination for shopping and dining. "Councilmembers Bowser and Kwame Brown have been great boosters for the Georgia corridor and it is making a difference". "We are thrilled about the bookstore coming to the Gateway" noted Bowser, adding that "this is the type of "third space" that will continue the momentum underway on Georgia Avenue". Sister Space joins a number of small businesses that have opened in the Gateway recently, including Ledo Pizza and Pasta, Manoukian Brothers Oriental Rugs, Jinja Boutique, Pure Bliss Day Spa, Postal Connections, Wireless Toyz, Annie's Collection, and Tiramisu Bakery. You may contact Sister Space & Books directly at prosperity1515@ aol.com. Feel free to contact gatewaycdc@aol. com for more information regarding this or other items pertaining to the Gateway Georgia corridor. The best, Marc D. Loud/Gateway Executive Director   Emanuel Regular Poster Username: Emanuel Post Number: 347 Registered: 03-2004 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 03:06 pm:        I wish them the best. I understand the bookselling business in very competitive with stores like Borders, Amazon.com, and Barnes and Noble selling books at deep discounts. Many, many independent bookstores have been forced out of business because of it. While I can appreciate the second floor, I would wonder about profitability if I was an investor.   Yvettep AALBC .com Platinum Poster Username: Yvettep Post Number: 2197 Registered: 01-2005 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 03:52 pm:        This is promising news. For a brief while I lived not too far from there. I would frequently wish I had lots of money to invest in developing commercial and multi-use properies on the street.   Schakspir Veteran Poster Username: Schakspir Post Number: 1155 Registered: 12-2005 Rating: N/A Votes: 0 (Vote!) Posted on Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - 08:24 pm:        Yeah, I remember when they were pushed out of business some years back, and it's good to see an independent black bookstore once condemned to death actually resurrect itself. More than what I can say for Bick's Books, Common Concerns, Vertigo Books, and so many other indie bookstores here in D.C.