Hakim's Bookstore
Hakim's Bookstore, established in 1959 as Hakim's House of Knowledge Bookstore, is the first and oldest Black-owned bookstore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located at 210 S 52nd Street in West Philadelphia.[1]
The store was designated as a Pennsylvania historic landmark in 2023.[1]
History[edit]
Hakim's Bookstore was founded by Dawud Hakim. Hakim, a former post office employee, was inspired to share information about Black history after reading 100 Amazing Facts About the Negro by J.A. Rogers (1934).[2] Prior to opening the store, Hakim sold books out his car.[1][2]
Hakim died in 1997. His daughter, Yvonne Blake, and other family members continued to operate the store.[2]
Hakim's nearly closed in 2014, but was saved following an outpouring of support resulting from a 2015 feature article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.[2]
The physical store closed temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic, but continued to sell books through its website. Web sales increased significantly during the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred following the murder of George Floyd.[2]
Hakim's was named a “Champion Black Business” by ESPN in 2021 and was designated as a Pennsylvania historic landmark in 2023.[1][2][3]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "Philadelphia's 1st Black-owned bookstore to be historical landmark - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. 2023-01-04. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ a b c d e f "Honoring Hakim's, a West Philadelphia Landmark". Hidden City Philadelphia. 2023-04-21. Retrieved 2023-09-28.
- ^ Hazelton, Lynette (2023-09-25). "Hakim's Bookstore, the city's oldest African American bookstore, receives state marker after 64 years in business". /www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2023-09-28.