Malcolm’s Reading Room

Open M-​Sat 10 – 7, Sunday 1 – 5.
I was on my way to dinner and stopped into this place just to peek (I can’t resist bookstores), but ended up staying 45 minutes talking to the owners of this excellent little place, run by two readers, husband and wife pair Courtney and Simone, and named for their adorable, curly-​headed son.
The couple is super-​friendly and helpful, super-​intelligent, oh, and, really, really, really friendly. Simone’s a chemical engineering major/​math minor who’s decided that this (bookstore) is where she wants to be at the moment; Courtney studied economics and served in the Peace Corps in West Africa, and wants to do development-​related work after continuing his economics education.
They opened up shop within the last few months to fill an apparent niche in a community focused on African American history (they are located in the Civil Rights District), but, up till now, without an African American bookstore. The two are working to bridge the gap between their hip hop generation and the older Civil Rights generation.
Inspirational duo, this.
Since I was just passing through, I did not have a chance to attend one of their events, which include book club meetings and movie screenings — however, the place is highly recommended even for just a visit.