The owners of BEM Books & More, an online bookstore focused on Black food literature, are looking to open a bricks-and-mortar space in Brooklyn, N.Y., this year, Andscape reported.
Sisters Danielle and Gabrielle Davenport founded the online shop in 2021, and in the years since they've done many pop-up appearances around Brooklyn. They wanted to create a blend of their favorite Black-owned bookstores and culinary bookstores, and they carry cookbooks as well as food-related fiction and nonfiction, all by Black authors. The store is named for the initials of their grandmothers, Bernice Munford and Marjory Davenport.
 |
|
| Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport | |
Though no specifics have been announced, the Davenports intend the bricks-and-mortar store to be a base from which they can grow the bookstore's community. In addition to selling books, the sisters have talked about holding residencies for chefs and authors, and eventually they want to create their own kitchen products.
Asked about where they see the store in the future, Gabrielle Davenport said: "Five years from now, the Brooklyn flagship will be thriving and active and full of people excited about Black food and books every day. And we have started to grow this community outside of New York and Brooklyn. We already get people traveling here from overseas who are like, 'I want to come see you.' So, I think about that a lot."
Danielle Davenport noted that "there are so many possibilities when you think about Black culture, food, and storytelling. It feels like the opportunities are endless. But certainly, our focus right now is even within the next year. Getting our doors open and having that anchor will be a wonderful place to grow as we get into all kinds of wonderful things."