Photo Credit Isis Climes: Black English Bookstore lobby area
Hillsborough County connects local readers to a curated literary treasure in Tampa Heights. Late Tampa City Councilwoman Gwendolyn Henderson created Black English Bookstore with the vision to “amplify voices” and pay tribute to “the ancestors who were unable to read and write.” Her daughter, Ariel Amirah, continues her legacy today as the owner of the Black-owned bookstore.
Black English Bookstore opened in December of 2023 in a 732 sq. ft. storefront with 2,000 books. As of now, the store holds more than 3,000 works, including curated selections from independently published authors. Although the store was founded by Henderson, both mother and daughter co-owned it. Since her mother’s passing, Amirah has carried the torch by giving the gift of book ownership to the local community.
“Luckily, I didn’t have to step in suddenly — my involvement in the bookstore was integral to our success from the very beginning. That continuity has made carrying our mission forward feel natural,” said Amirah.
Photo Credit Isis Climes: Black English Bookstore Founder Gwendolyn Henderson
Title sections range from “Black English: Talk & Testify,” “Set the Table Cookbooks,” and “Mind Ya Business: Health – SelfCare – Career – Finances.” The literary selections offer genres from sci-fi to romance, poetry to essays, memoirsto politics, and more.
“Our collection is intentionally curated and centered on Black authors, guided by a selection criterion created by my mother that we still adhere to today,” stated Amirah.
Photo Credit Isis Climes: Black English Bookstore reading selections
This woman-owned bookstore has added Tampa to the 8% of independently Black-owned bookstores nationwide. Amirah has seen steady sales growth since the shop’s opening two years ago. She notes one of the reasons for the rising sales: the intentionality put behind their selections.
“We’ve experienced steady year-over-year growth in book sales, with noticeable spikes tied to community events, curated bundles, and key cultural moments. When representation is authentic, Black books sell consistently across all genres, not just during designated moments,” said the literacy lover.
Readers like Leynoree Nelson travel from all over to visit the shop. Nelson was stuck between Charles B. Francher’s Red Clay and The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christorpher Murray – she chose the latter.
“I live in Plant City and drive all the way over here for the bookstore,” exclaimed Nelson.
Photo Credit Isis Climes: Readers looking at books; Leynoree Nelson (left)
Beyond the books, Amirah engages with her community through pop-up events at her store. Most recently, the bookshop held a Valentine-themed event, “Love in Tote-Tality,” a tote-filled bundle that included a shirt, candle, affirmation card deck, and self-love workbook, among other treats. In addition to hosting events, she also strategizes networking to incorporate future partnerships and connections for the local shop. The bookstore owner attended the American Booksellers Association’s 21st Annual Winter Institute this past month.
“Attending the American Booksellers Association’s Winter Institute allowed me to connect with other Black booksellers, discuss the state of Black bookstores on a national level, and sharpen best practices within the industry,” Amirah said.
Black English Bookstore is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 AM to 6 PM, and Sunday, 1 PM to 5 PM. If you’re a local self-published author interested in partnering with the store, check out their website for criteria and guidelines to have your book sold in their store!
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More Photos
Photo Credit Isis Climes: Patrons walking around the bookstore.
Photo Credit Isis Climes: Table showcasing reading selections.
Photo Credit Isis Climes: Bookshelf filled with a variety of titles.
