ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — A longtime African American bookstore in Atlanta is going to close soon after 35 years in business.
But still, every page in every book means something special for store owner Nia Damali. Each chapter tells the many stories written by African-American authors, with titles of all genres that can be found at Medu Bookstore.
“It’s very special. I’ve spent 35-plus years here. I’ve developed friendships, relationships, and I’ve gotten a lot of support from our customers,” Damali said.
Damali opened Medu in 1989 inside of southwest Atlanta’s Greenbriar Mall.
“When I left Clark, I was prepared to go to corporate America, but corporate America wasn’t ready for me,” she said. “So I did what I love, which was the bookstore business.”
But after 35 years in business as one of the largest African American-owned bookstores in the city, Damali is retiring and closing the store.
“It is a business that I love and it was a hard decision, but it is just time,” she said.
Over the years she’s hosted many authors and customers, including the late civil rights leader and former Congressman John Lewis, as well as Ambassador Andrew Young.
But many of her customers aren’t as well known, yet just as important for Damali.
“She doesn’t just have a bookstore – she is the community, she’s part of the community,” longtime customer Sheena said.
Sheena has been buying books from Medu since 2013, when she first met Damali.
“I won’t come into town without visiting the store because I need the energy that she gives out,” she said.
On Wednesday, Sheena dropped in to see Damali and of course to shop for books.
“My last purchase here,” she said.
Damali said she doesn’t know what’s next but she plans to stay in the literary field.
“I’m just changing the chapter but not ending the work,” she said.
The plan is to close the store at the end of March.
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