St. Paul’s Black-owned bookstore Black Garnet Books sells to new owner

Black-Owned Bookstore A Beacon Of Inclusion

A New Chapter Begins As Founder Passes the Torch

Dionne Sims’ dream, once a tweet into the digital ether, had become a tangible reality four years ago when Black Garnet Books opened its doors in St. Paul’s Hamline-Midway neighborhood. Now, Sims is ready for a new story, one that includes focusing on her writing and pursuing graduate school.

This fall, Sims made the decision to sell the bookstore, a haven for books by marginalized authors. “I feel really good about it,” she said. “Something that I really feel strongly about is that you don’t have to do something forever for it to have been good during the time that you did it, or for it to have been worth doing.”

Sims enacted her vision for an inclusive space where books by people of color, often overlooked in the traditional literary world, could find a dedicated home. Her journey began with crowdfunding and a $100,000 Neighborhood STAR grant from the city of St. Paul.

Nova the dog rests on a pillow while shoppers browse books and items inside Black Garnet Books on Small Business Saturday in St. Paul, Minn., on Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022.

When deciding to pass on ownership, Sims prioritized maintaining the bookstore’s community spirit. “She was the first person I thought of when I was like, ‘okay, I’m definitely going to do this. I’m definitely going to sell the store,’” Sims said, highlighting Terresa Moses as the new owner.

Moses, a University of Minnesota professor and owner of Blackbird Revolt, a social justice design studio, was already a supporter of Black Garnet. Their paths crossed in 2020 through a mutual friend and solidified after a dog walk turned into an impromptu meeting. Chester, Moses’ dog and a frequent companion, often contributed a paw-sitive presence at the store.

VB The two forged a friendship, and Sims saw in Moses a kindred spirit who understood the importance of Black Garnet’s mission.
“There is a strong connection between the work at Blackbird and Black Garnet,” Moses said, highlighting the intersection of creativity, storytelling, and social justice that unites their efforts. “Much like the work I already engage in, there is a strong intersection of creativity, storytelling, and abolition,” she said.

While specific details about the sale remain private, Sims is optimistic about Black Garnet’s future under Moses’ leadership. The bookstore still represents the original vision – a testament to the power of words, diversity in storytelling, and the strength of community.