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| Bing Broderick and Porsha Olayiwola | |
JustBook-ish, a bookstore and literary gathering space that "seeks to shift the narrative in the publishing world by housing a collection of books by writers whose work often challenges political paradigms," will open in June at 1463 Dorchester Ave. in the Dorchester neighborhood in Boston, Mass. Co-founders Bing Broderick and Porsha Olayiwola have launched a $125,000 gofundme campaign to "fill the space and stock the shelves."
The new bookstore will occupy the ground floor of the new Dot Crossing building, where the "long-anticipated storefront will also function as a performance and community space in the evening and night hours," the Dorchester Reporter noted.
Olayiwola, Boston's poet laureate, and Broderick, the former director of Haley House, recently gave residents the timeline and an update during an online meeting. "Construction began two weeks ago, so it's happening and happening soon," said Olayiwola.
Broderick added: "It should probably be finished in May, and we would take delivery of 9,000 books and then welcome folks in, probably in June. We've been very successful in raising the money to build out the space as a for-profit, non-profit hybrid."
The for-profit entity would be the bookstore and food sales, with the non-profit community space venture being the overall owner of the venture. "No one is making away with a bunch of money; it is a non-profit," Broderick said.
"We want to be that place that has programming and is a place to go at night; we want to be the place that opens after home.stead [bakery and café] closes and be that third space for folks," Olayiwola said.
Currently the space comprises about 1,250 square feet and would accommodate 39 people at a time, with shelving that could be moved to make room for events in the evenings. "One of the models they have thought about is making the site a place for performances," the Reporter wrote. "In fact, both met years ago when Olayiwola ran poetry slams at the Haley House that brought in a young and energetic crowd. They hope that will happen at justBook-ish, and that the energy will flow to all age groups.
"We're excited about it and the activation," said Broderick. "We look forward to welcoming everyone in."
"When you walk in your eye is drawn to the area by the T with a raised stage that also has a drop-down movie screen and all wired for sound," said Olayiwola. "Whoever has the mic has agency. That's what we're looking for." She also noted that they plan to partner with local food purveyors to offer small bites within the store for food offerings, and they hope to get a beer and wine license, too.