One of NYC’s Last Black-Owned Bookstores is Closing

High rents force one of New York City's last black owned book store to re-think its strategy.

By Jorge Rivas Jul 03, 2012

One of New York City’s last black-owned bookstores, Hue-Man Bookstore and Café, is closing at the end of the month. CEO Marva Allen told [Publishers Weekly](http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/52851-hue-man-to-close-bricks-and-mortar-store.html) "we’re going to be around somewhere, somehow," but the brick-and-mortar store will close July 31st. In an open letter to the Harlem community, Allen laid out those plans as she explained her decision to close the bricks-and-mortar store. "We all know that there is a season for everything under heaven and the season of ‘traditional book’ selling has come to a close," wrote Allen. "Closing the existing format of Hue-Man is forward thinking on our part and as we take pause to re-imagine the future of books and how to ensure that their purpose of entertaining, imparting knowledge and honing creativity is preserved, we find no viable alternative but to go back to the drawing board." With her lease ending, Allen noted that "there is no way to re-imagine the bookstore of the future in our current space."