By Kathy Chouteau
When my son, Logan, was a tiny tot, I used to take him to what was known as the Multicultural Children’s Bookstore — then located in Richmond’s Hilltop Mall — to peruse its wide array of books.
A new mother, I was determined to awaken my son to the rich cultural diversity of his hometown and beyond, and the Multicultural Children’s Bookstore was just the place to take us there. The bookstore had a section devoted to cultural icons with books for kids themed Who Was Martin Luther King, Jr.?, Who Was Rosa Parks?, Who Was John F. Kennedy?, and so on…And thus began his early dive into Civil Rights and more that planted the seeds for his current deep love of history, and appreciation for people different from him who are, or were, truly exceptional in their own ways.
Since the store’s COVID-era move from Hilltop Mall, owner and author Tamara Shiloh has rebranded the shop to Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts. Now located behind the Bay Area Girls Club, the store remains one of my favorite things about our city.
‘we want them to feel like it’s a safe space where they can just come and hang out and read or chat.’
“The bookstore is open to everyone; we want them to feel like it’s a safe space where they can just come and hang out and read or chat…It’s just a place where the community can come and congregate or just know that there’s a safe space for them in the city,” said Shiloh.
The bookstore’s current incarnation near Richmond’s Civic Center is not only a serene and inviting space to peruse books, but also a great place to read books, with an expansive grass lawn, tables, chairs and a small stage outside its doors. It features ample children’s titles, but also has many adult books for sale. What you can’t find, Shiloh will happily order for you. Customers can also order books through the store’s website, and when in-store, can enjoy free Wi-Fi, coffee and pastries. Books, games and other items are also part of the mix.
“We do have a large selection of books for children, but it’s for everyone,” Shiloh said of her bookstore, noting that the inventory for the younger set caters to the many parents, teachers, relatives and friends who come in looking for books for the children in their lives.
She orders books based on customers’ inquiries, as well as what authors and publishers pitch her. “That’s the fun part, really learning about all the wonderful books that are out there,” said Shiloh.
When asked about popular titles right now, Shiloh said, “There’s so many variations of readers, and we have so many different cultures, so they all come in looking for books written by folks that they know. That doesn’t necessarily mean they’re the most popular.” That said, she revealed that Octavia Butlers’ Parable of the Sower had a moment at the bookstore in recent memory, even though it was first published in October 1993. Tamara added that books from the Jack Reacher series are always well received too.
The bookstore also offers its customers the opportunity to set up their own “Storytime” on Saturdays, as well as “Field Trips” Tuesday through Saturday, but Shiloh emphasized it’s important to schedule those visits with her in advance. She also said to keep an eye out for the author book signings there as well.
Amid the existence of Amazon and Barnes & Noble, Shiloh said it’s hard to compete with the low prices and large inventories. “But people buy from me because they want to support a small, community bookstore,” she said, adding that she’s always appreciative of that, as well as for the friendly emails and good reviews she receives.
She also tells people they don’t always have to come to the bookstore to buy a book. “You can come in, sit down and read a book, have a cup of coffee, a cookie or whatever I have in there. Just enjoy the environment.”
An opportunity to enjoy the environment outside the bookstore will arrive Sunday, August 17 from 4-6, when an “Open Mic” for adults occurs that’s hosted by Kimberlli Joy for $5 per person. Shiloh said people can perform whatever they want, be it poetry, hip-hop, song, comedy or something else. Questions? Call or text (510) 730-9178.
Need more proof of the bookstore’s unique place in Richmond culture? Maybe take Oprah’s word for it. The bookstore was not only featured in an O, the Oprah Magazine article promoting black-owned bookstores in 2020, but also last year in an Oprah Daily segment titled “133 Black-Owned Bookstores in America That Amplify the Best in Literature.”
Come November, the Multicultural Bookstore and Gifts will mark eight years of serving the Richmond community. The bookstore is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 260 Broadway in Richmond. Questions? Reach out to Tamara Shiloh at (510) 322-4781 or
[email protected].
