Hakim's Bookstore
Bookstore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hakim's Bookstore, established in 1959 as Hakim's House of Knowledge Bookstore, is the first and oldest Black-owned bookstore in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located at 210 S 52nd Street in West Philadelphia.[1]
The store was designated as a Pennsylvania historic landmark in 2023.[1]
Hakim's Bookstore was founded by Dawud Hakim. Hakim, a former post office employee, was inspired to share information about Black history after reading 100 Amazing Facts About the Negro by J.A. Rogers (1934).[2] Prior to opening the store, Hakim sold books out his car.[1][2]
Hakim died in 1997. His daughter, Yvonne Blake, and other family members continued to operate the store.[2]
Hakim's nearly closed in 2014, but was saved following an outpouring of support resulting from a 2015 feature article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.[2]
The physical store closed temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic, but continued to sell books through its website. Web sales increased significantly during the Black Lives Matter protests that occurred following the murder of George Floyd.[2]
Hakim's was named a “Champion Black Business” by ESPN in 2021 and was designated as a Pennsylvania historic landmark in 2023.[1][2][3]
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