Marcus Books (1960)
Julian and Raye Richardson opened Marcus Books in San Francisco's Fillmore District, making it the oldest Black-owned bookstore in the United States. The store became a gathering place for the Black community, hosting authors and cultural events.
The store became a cultural anchor in the Fillmore, a neighborhood known as the 'Harlem of the West.'
Marcus Books has operated for over 60 years, surviving urban renewal and neighborhood change, and remains a model for Black-owned literary spaces.
Mvinyo Book Bar aims to be a similar cultural anchor in Southeast San Diego, a neighborhood Harvey says is often overlooked for its cultural vibrancy.
