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MahoganyBooks Opening in Washington, D.C.

MahoganyBooks of Washington, D.C., previously online only, is opening a store at 1231 Good Hope Road SE on November 24, the day after Thanksgiving. Founded by husband-and-wife team Derrick and Ramunda Young, MahoganyBooks specializes in books written for, by, or about people of the African Diaspora.

“It is important we create a rich, concerted space where readers and writers connect and discuss issues of yesterday and today that impact our culture and how we see ourselves,” Derrick Young said in a statement.

Derrick Young of Mahogany Books earlier this month in the new D.C. store.
Derrick Young of Mahogany Books in the new D.C. store earlier this month.

The bookstore, opening in the historic Anacostia neighborhood, features modern design elements with an open floor plan, mobile cashiers, and iPad stations to research and order books.

MahoganyBooks is hosting a “first look” event for supporters and the Anacostia community at 6:30 p.m. on December 4. A grand opening and community celebration will be held during Black History Month (February).

Duende District Opening Pop-Up Shop in D.C.’s Union Market

Duende District is opening a year-long pop-up bookstore inside a new Burmese bodega at Union Market in Washington, D.C. Duende District’s owner, Angela Maria Spring, shared the news with her followers on Twitter and Facebook.

“We continue building #PoC community & partnerships throughout D.C.! We are MUY EMOCIANADO about our year-long pop-up with Toli Moli in Union Market DC. Simone Jacobson & her team are utterly amazing & we could not be more honored to be part of their expanding business,” Spring posted on Facebook.

In a story on Union Market’s Toli Moli expanding with a new Burmese bodega opening November 25, the Washingtonian reported that Duende District will “curate a collection of cookbooks, food and culture books, Burmese phrase books, children’s books by and about people of color, Asian and Asian-American magazines, Japanese manga, zines, and more.”

Duende District is also joining MahoganyBooks as a long-term pop-up shop. Spring has been holding pop-up shops throughout the year as part of her search for a permanent home for her store.

Floridas Midtown Reader Marks One Year in Business

Midtown Reader in Tallahassee, Florida, celebrated is first anniversary on November 11 with a day of flash sales, giveaways, and refreshments.

In a letter to customers, owner Sally Bradshaw wrote: “We’re so proud to be your neighborhood bookstore. We know you have a choice in where you purchase your next read, and by picking us, you are sending a clear signal that you want a thriving independent bookstore in Tallahassee and that reading local matters. We promise to keep working hard to provide interesting and thoughtful programming and content to meet your reading needs.”

Bradshaw was previously a senior advisor to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush before she opened the bookstore. The 1,500-square-foot bookstore features a children’s section and has a special focus on books about Florida and by Florida authors.

Bookshop Santa Cruz Creates Scavenger Hunt for Book Event

Bookshop Santa Cruz is inviting the public to participate in a scavenger hunt that will take them to sites all over Santa Cruz, California, as they compete for a chance at a meet-and-greet with author Andy Weir before a ticketed event on December 5.

The scavenger hunt is based on Weir’s latest book, Artemis: A Novel (Crown), published November 14 and nominated by booksellers to ABA’s November Indie Next List. The bookstore is calling the hunt an “immersive, text-based” adventure that will ask the more than 150 participants to solve riddles connected to the new book.

Bookshop Santa Cruz has made interactive events a hallmark of the store. Last year, the store transformed a city block into Diagon Alley for its Harry Potter Festival.