Shocking news below:
January 22, 2008
Dear Karibu Customer,
After 15 years of service within the Washington, DC metropolitan area, Karibu Books, a Black bookstore chain will be closing its doors. We sincerely thank each and every one of you for your patronage and support. We are optimistic that our mission to empower and educate through a comprehensive selection of books by and about people of African descent will continue to resonate within the communities we proudly served.
Since 1993, we have been blessed to help thousands of local, regional and national authors share their incredible stories of faith, hope, love, peace, politics and race. We cannot begin to express our gratitude for the countless authors who have graced our six stores and enriched our customers lives.
On Sunday, January 27th, We will be closing our Security Square (Baltimore, MD) and Forestville locations. The remaining locations, Bowie Town Center, The Mall at Prince Georges and Iverson Mall will close on Sunday, February 10th. Our Pentagon City store is already closed.
Effective immediately, all inventory at all locations will be 50% off. All fixtures will also be available for purchase on February 10th. See individual store managers for more information.
Again, we respectfully thank you for your loyalty, laughter and love. What an honor and privilege it has been to serve our community!
Sincerely,
Simba Sana
CEO
Karibu Books
Karibu Locations:
Security Square Mall, 6901 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, Md 21244, 410.944.6090
Centre at Forestville, 3289 B Donnell Drive, Forestville, Md 20747, 301.736.6170
The Mall at Prince George s, 3500 East West Hwy, Hyattsville, Md 20782, 301.559.1140
Iverson Mall, 3817 Branch Ave., Hillcrest Heights, Md. 20748, 301.899.3730
Bowie Town Center, 15624 Emerald Way, Bowie, Md 20716, 301.352.4110
Comment(s)
Sad, evil thing that’s happening. Dropping like flies…but why? Okay, this is a tough economy, I know. There’re always business goblins re: supply, finance, control, management personalities. Nevertheless, we should ponder an unspoken business model question. Think about it this way: there’s always a niche, under the radar. But when you’re forced to push the street fiction and the more simplistic/crass chickit/soapopera stuff and Video Vixen nonfiction–the same product as the huge chains–and there’s no price break, better service, more convenience, etc., the chains will win every time. Ergo, put out a unique product and enhanced service. Yes there are large “white” indie stores barely scraping by, but that’s how they do scrape by. Look at the specialty mystery shops which stand the test of time, the comic book stores, even the antiquarian shops. I know that’s easier said than done, but it’s worth the effort when the alternative is shuttering these businesses, liquidating the stock and Wal-Mart-ing everything in sight.
In my D.C.-Balto. area, brimming with black professionals, students, educators, military folk with an education (in other words–officers!!! and I don’t care if that sounds elitist), entrepreneurs, mid-level managers to corporate VPs, this state of affairs is especially troubling.
Comment(s)
Chris, you got that right. Being from the Balto./D.C. area, with their majority black populations it’s a sad state of affairs. I think for many book buyers the lure of discount spots, from Amazon to Costco, is irresistible. I interviewed black book sellers for an article my book club’s (Go On Girl!) journal. Felicia Wintons who owns Books for Thought in Tampa said:
“Granted, people do whats convenient. If they happen to be in Wal-Mart, target or K-mart and see a book they like they’ll buy it. But we have to remember that it’s important to support black bookstores because they are the foundation of black literature. Wal-Mart isn’t going to have the author come in and sign, we are.”
Also, we seem to find out that our businesses are in trouble when the only choice left is to close up shop. I remember Sister Space in D.C. appealing to the public to try to save it, but to no avail
Comment(s)
Everyone in the area loses out when diversity is reduced. Without the unique perspective that a black owned chain provides, many good books from small publishers and university presses do not receive an adequate representation in the marketplace. When that happens everyone looses out.
By the way, I also wanted to congratulate you on such an attractive blog. Great design and a great unified look.
Comment(s)
Thanks so much for your keen observation about the need for diversity in Black Books, Steven – and thanks, too, for your kind words about my blog! 🙂
Eisa
Comment(s)
Greetings all, Supporting black book stores is a must but it is samo samo trying to swim upstream with less capital and resources. I am relatively new to the area but having a Karibu book store already was a big deal to me. I am finishing a book and would have liked nothing better than to do a book signing with Karibu!! Until we have racial unity and justice this path will continue to be all too familiar. God bless all your work Karibu. I know I am late in writing this but felt compelled.