After several years without a bookstore, when Barnes and Noble left The Bronx and nearly 1.5 million residents stranded without a place to satisfy their literary needs and desires in 2016, our borough is set to get a second book store.
The news comes after the much anticipated opening of The Lit. Bar last month in Port Morris when our borough once again got a book store.
Bronx Bound Books announced that it is coming to a neighborhood near you at an intimate gathering on Sunday evening at the Bronx Music Heritage Center.
And the store is leaving no community behind as it will be a mobile book store able to travel throughout the borough especially to neighborhoods where it may be needed the most.
Lifelong Bronx resident Latanya DeVaughn, CEO and founder of Bronx Bound Books, told Welcome2TheBronx exclusively that although the mobile store will travel thoughout The Bronx, “I want to have a few fixed locations in The Bronx. Especially those places that have two fare zones.”
Residents of neighborhoods like Co-op City, Soundview and Throggs Neck, who rely on public transportation are all too familiar with navigating via a two-fare zone within the borough.
“If it takes person more than a half hour to get to their nearest bookstore by public transport. I want to be located there. Accessibility and visibility are my top priority. ” she added.
And it’s not just simply a mobile book store but it will be a community hub traveling throughout The Bronx and that much was already evident based on Sunday night’s crowd at the business reveal for Bronx Bound Books.
The room was filled with friends and people who know DeVaughn and during the Q&A portion of the event one person asked, “Now that we’re here, what can we do to help you get this off the ground? What do you need from us?”
The question was immediately followed by a cascade of support from individuals ready to help paint and design the mobile store to even the donation of an old school bus for use.
Tanya Fields, founder and executive director of the Black Feminist Project, surprised DeVaughn by announcing that she would donate her school bus, which she uses as a mobile food market to deliver fresh produce to underserved communities in food deserts, to Bronx Bound Books to use.
Nilka Martell, founder of Loving The Bronx and resident of Parkchester said, “We are thrilled over the concept of a mobile book store. This will make books and services available to the communities in The Bronx that need it the most.”
Bronx Bound Books will be up and running when DeVaughn raises a target of $65,000 but in the meantime, she’s already doing the work by foot making her 20 year dream in the making already a reality.
“I have a contract with a local shelter where I will be bringing them books as well as building them a library” she told Welcome2TheBronx in an interview.
And starting May 7th, she will also be starting a writing workshop with the shelter every Tuesday.
Bronx Bound Books will be announcing its fundraiser for the $65,000 so be sure to follow them Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest news or send them an email.
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