Filled with stories traversing time and place, bookstores hold bits of magic. This local bookstore is a treasure in a sea of gems. The female-owned and family-run bookstore began operating online just four months before the pandemic, but rather than slow them down, it had the unexpected twist of having the opposite effect – overwhelming them with almost too much business to keep up. Thankfully, with help from family, friends and the community, they persevered and five years later are able to continue their mission to promote diversity, inclusion and representation – through literature.
Of the name of the store they have said, “Black pearls represent so much of who we are and strive to be as a bookstore: independence, strength, loyalty and healing. Legend has it that black pearls symbolize wisdom and knowledge, which is apropos to our story. Some cultures believe black pearls are a symbol of hope, while others believe they carry healing powers and protect from negative energy. The rare black pearl represents everlasting love, which aligns with our founding principle - Love One Another as I Have Loved You (John 13:34).”
We had a chat with Katrina Brooks, who owns and operates the store with her husband Eric, about their bookstore that’s been at its current location since February 2022, where you can find some current bestsellers mixed with classics, tomes you’ve probably never seen and some people’s previously read favorites, their charitable arm and more.
Does everyone who visits get a tour their first visit? Well, we don’t force a tour on anyone, but we do ask everyone who comes in for the first time. Some people opt to explore the store on their own, but for the most part, visitors choose to receive a tour.
How do you curate your books? With love. I always say it’s more of an art than a science. We utilize multiple resources, but ultimately, we are very particular about what goes on our shelves.
How do you decide which books will go in the store vs online? Our online store is an automated system that pulls from multiple sources, so we don’t have to pick and choose what to offer in our online store. Through the online store pretty much anything in publication can be ordered.
What are some of your favorite books? It’s hard to play favorites. I love memoirs, biographies, and autobiographies. I also really enjoy business-related books. I love to hear peoples’ stories because everyone has one. I think there is always something to learn from someone else’s experiences and there is always something applicable. Life experiences are not siloed.
Do you have a favorite local authors? HA! I think that’s a trick question. There are so many amazing authors local to Austin and many are friends of the store. We are thrilled to support local authors and the work they do!
What’s a challenge you find in owning a bookstore? Our bookstore model is not a traditional retail store model. We are a community space masquerading as a retail store, so the most challenging thing is figuring out how to operate as a business while existing as a safe, peaceful, third space for all.
What would you say sets your store apart from others? The store is a vibe! There is an authenticity that you feel when you walk through the door. We are genuinely happy to share space with our customers and strive to convey the value they add to this experience. I’ve visited many establishments and felt that they’d rather I not be there or are indifferent to my presence. Everyone who walks into our store should see themselves represented on our shelves, and everyone who leaves should feel appreciated for their patronage.
You take book donations with the proceeds going to charity, do you receive a lot of donated books? Yes, we have such a supportive community! All donated books are sold as used and 100 percent of the proceeds benefit our nonprofit partner Put It In A Book, a 501(c)3 dedicated to promoting diversity, inclusion, and representation through literature. Not only does Put It In A Book represent the untold stories of marginalized and underrepresented groups, but it embodies a voice for those stories yet to be written. It is the charitable arm of Black Pearl Books and partners with schools and other community organizations to help make diverse books accessible to all.
Barnes and Noble is opening dozens of new locations, do you think people are returning to buying real books? I don’t believe people ever stopped buying books. There’s that little monopolized online retailer that built their entire business on customers buying books. I think people are returning to buying local and are being thoughtful about how their dollars impact their local community.
Find Black Pearl Books at 7112 Burnet Rd., Austin, TX 78757 or order online at www.BlackPearlBookstore.com