Lincoln Mall Up and Coming

Many people have asked us why we chose Lincoln Mall in Matteson as a location for our bookstore. It's no secret that this mall has fallen on hard times; foot traffic has suffered, but the main reason we are here lies in one thought. Potential. When I was in junior high, Lincoln Mall was one of the best hangout spots. With all the great stores and a movie theater across the street, what more could young teen girls want? Other people must have thought the same way, because Lincoln Mall was always packed with customers. Well, then something happened. The movie theater closed, and some major retailers left the area. Lincoln Mall lost some of its excitement, and it stayed that way for a few years as people started going to other shopping outlets. But, things are changing. Now, only a few years later, I'm back from college, and Lincoln Mall is coming back as well. Everyone hasn't figured it out though, which I believe is why we get the, "why Lincoln Mall?" question. Maybe they don't believe the new management company can really turn it around into the super shopping experience it once was, but we don't think so. Have a little faith! The Southtown Star wrote an article about the redevelopment happing in Lincoln Mall. Azizi Books isn't the only store that sees potential here.

Read the Southtown Star article here
Lincoln Mall ready for shopping rebound

A note from Kevin . . .

On my mind...

While listening to the words of Senator Barack Obama, the candidate, during his Tuesday speech about race, I am both filled with pride and fraught with anxiety about that which is and that which might be. We still have so much more to do. Sincere appreciation of our history, of the bravery and selfless works of our predecessors compels us to define what becomes our destiny. However, we can't determine where we are going unless we know where we've been. Pride in our culture and our history should make us proud about our future.

-Kevin Roberts

2008 Essence Literary Awards Winners

Essence Magazine announced the winners for its first annual Literary Awards this week. Among some of the winners are Quiet Strength by Tony Dungy, Reposition Yourself by T.D. Jakes, and The Pirates Daughter by Margaret Cezair-Thompson. Terry McMillan was honored with a lifetime achievement award and L. A. Banks (one of my personal favorites) took the award of storyteller of the year.

View the full announcement of the winners of the 2008 Essence Literary Awards

View photos of the winners

African American Bookstore Karibu Books Closes

Yesterday, I received the news that Karibu Books, the nation's largest black-owned bookstore chain, announced that it would be closing its doors. Shock was the first emotion to come to mind, followed by a slight twinge of anger, then sadness. Karibu closing? This store has been a huge inspiration for us here at Azizi Books. In an environment where independent bookstores are shutting their doors faster than ever, knowing that Karibu books was alive, kicking, and achieving success was a message to us that we could do it too. We looked up to Karibu. This is truly a sad event. Owners say that financial reasons were not the cause of closing.

Washington Post Article About Karibu Books Closing

Come on people, we need these businesses! Our communities need these stores. There are so many great books for us our there, for children and adults alike, that need African American bookstores around to carry them. You can't find them in the large chain stores or online retailers. So what happens without the Black bookstore? We lose part of our voice. Of course there are still many of African American writers who will have no problem getting exposure, but what about the other voices? They may not be as loud, but they still have something important to say.

2008 Essence Literary Awards

Essence Magazine, which helped launch the writing careers of such best-selling authors as Terry McMillan, Gloria Naylor and Bebe Moore Campbell, is now holding their first ever Essence Literary Awards. The Essence Literary Awards will honor the best books of 2007.

Categories include best in fiction, nonfiction, memoir, inspiration, current affairs, photography, children's books, poetry, and storyteller of the year.

Essence is asking for your participation to by casting your vote for storyteller of the year. Finalist in this category are:

L.A. Banks
Eric Jerome Dickey
Tananarive Due
Trisha R. Thomas
Lori Bryant-Woolridge

Vote for your favorite here

The winner will be revealed in February.

View finalists in other categories

Azizi Books Gives Black Authors Their Due

On December 26, 2007 Azizi Books was featured in the Business section of the Southtown Star.

What Kevin said about the article. . .
"First, some corrections. Free publicity is nice, but they don’t always get things right (for example, misspelling Octavia Butler’s name). My daughter, Maia, and I are co-owners in this venture, after she joined me in an existing internet book business, www.blackbooksdirect.com ... She manages the bookstore, and I manage the internet operation and purchasing."

Phew. After reading the article myself, I'm glad he added that last part in!

From the article
"For those interested in reading books by African-American authors, Azizi Books in Matteson stocks a full supply of fiction and nonfiction books by black authors."

Read more.
http://www.southtownstar.com/business/712124,azizi26.article

The Holiday Rush?

Have you done your holiday shopping yet? Well, it's Tuesday, exactly one week before Christmas and chances are you probably haven't yet. According to Reuters, more people are waiting until the last minute to shop, and they are going to want better deals when they do. Like many retailers, we are waiting for the urgency in shopper's mind to hit. In Matteson, this past Sunday, the mall wasn't quite as bustling as people had trouble getting their cars out of the snow from the night before. Sales may have slowed as a result. Others blame the economy. It's the credit crunch, the housing market, the rising gas and food prices, they say that are slowing retail sales this season. Is that it? Maybe so.

Question...
Have you made a conscious decision to spend less money this year for holiday gifts? Let me suggest the perfect solution. A BOOK. No really, it is the perfect gift. For less than $30 (sometimes much less) you can give the gift that keeps on giving. A book provides hours of entertainment or invaluable information and knowledge you can always return to. They don't go out of fashion and they just might make someone's life better. Now, ask yourself, what could be better than that?