The small bookstore BlackLIT in Farmers Branch celebrated its second anniversary last month with music, vendors, and community. But beneath the festive atmosphere, there was a sense of finality. Founder and CEO Nia-Tayler Clark had announced that the store would be closing its doors after just two years, due to months of harassment from a neighbor and ongoing issues with building management.
For many in the community, BlackLIT was more than a bookstore鈥攊t was a safe haven and a place that represented Black culture in an area lacking such spaces.
Seveyon Willis-Hill, a regular at BlackLIT, expressed the deep loss the closure signifies.
鈥淭his is a space that gives voice even without talking,鈥� he said.
Supporter Alandria Ford said she sees the closure not as an end but as motivation to create more spaces like it.
鈥淭his is a space for God's people to come and to enjoy Black culture, Black literature,鈥� Ford said.
Clark started BlackLIT in 2019 as a subscription box service that included a book with discussion questions, a t-shirt, and a few products from Black-owned businesses. The idea came to her after a student remarked that they didn鈥檛 read because they were Black. Concerned about the impact of such a mindset, she created a platform that showcased books by Black authors.
鈥淚 just didn鈥檛 want my son to become my 10th-grade student or anybody else's student,鈥� Clark said. 鈥淚 wanted them to start seeing themselves in books to know that literacy was for them too.鈥�
The service quickly gained popularity, with Oprah Magazine ranking it as the second-best subscription box of its kind in 2020.
鈥淚 called my mom like, 鈥楳om, I think I'm on Oprah,鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 at my job, sitting here looking at it.鈥�
Overnight, BlackLIT went from a few orders to a few thousand orders during Christmas time. Clark says it happened so fast with so little help, it almost killed her business. This prompted her to open a physical store in 2022. The location was chosen with a mission to support fellow Black-owned businesses.
鈥淲here BlackLIT is located now, the businesses that are open are owned by Black women," Clark said. "We鈥檙e surrounded by neighbors that look like us.鈥�
But opening the bookstore came with a set of challenges. As a first-time store owner, Clark faced financial hurdles and a lack of support from building management. The issues escalated from late rent payments to missing basic utilities like hot water and air conditioning. Even after raising $40,000 from the community to cover payment, problems persisted.
鈥淚t seemed like [management] was annoyed, to be honest, like that she has to deal with this,鈥� Clark said.
On top of financial burdens, some unwelcoming neighbors began harassing the business. Clark recalls a series of unsettling incidents, including when a man entered the store with her lease in hand 鈥� complete with personal information.
When it was brought to management鈥檚 attention, Clark said they acted unaware of the situation. Building management declined to answer 四虎影院鈥檚 questions about their response.
The situation took a darker turn when another male neighbor began showing up at the store, attending women-only events and making inappropriate advances toward the attendees.
鈥淲e just thought it was like a uncomfortable coincidence," Clark said. "But then it got to the point where we could clearly see this is not a coincidence.鈥�
The Farmers Branch Police Department was called to the store at least five times between February and October. But officers informed Clark that without clear evidence, they couldn鈥檛 make an arrest. Despite repeated reports to both the police and building management, the harassment continued.
The challenges BlackLIT has faced resemble those of other Black-owned bookstores in North Texas. Emma Rodgers, who opened Dallas鈥� first Black-owned bookstore, Black Images Book Bazaar, in 1977, dealt with numerous threats, including a swastika etched into her building.
鈥淚 treated every threat seriously,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn't take anything for granted.鈥�
Despite her resilience, Rodgers said she鈥檚 disheartened by the harassment that BLACKLIT faces today and the lack of immediate support.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 know why America is so threatened by Blacks being successful,鈥� she said.
According to the African American Literature Book Club, there are about 160 Black-owned bookstores in the U.S. Many face similar struggles, from financial barriers to threats and harassment.
For Clark, closing BlackLIT is about more than shutting down a business; it鈥檚 a step to protect her family and the community she built.
鈥淎s a mom, I can't wait for worse,鈥� she said. 鈥淟ike, it鈥檚 worse now.鈥�
Farmers Branch police eventually issued her stalker a criminal trespass warning, and Clark has since obtained a temporary restraining order against him. The building鈥檚 management office told 四虎影院 via email that they have 鈥渕oved to evict the individual but can鈥檛 act until the court issues a judgement.鈥�
鈥淲hat I don鈥檛 want is for anybody to say they didn鈥檛 know,鈥� Clark said.
Now without the store, Clark faces an uncertain future. She鈥檚 considering moving back in with family while she plans the next chapter for her businesses.
Her commitment to creating spaces for Black literature and culture remains strong, even as she searches for a new location.
Zara Amaechi is 四虎影院鈥檚 Marjorie Welch Fitts Louis fellow covering race and social justice. Got a tip? Email Zara at zamaechi@kera.org. You can follow her on X .
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