BEM | books & more sits at the intersection of Macon Street and Lewis Street in the historic Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood—but it also occupies another kind of crossroads. Every book on its shelves is written by a Black author, and each one ties food to culture, history or identity. When questions arise about the perceived niche nature of the genre, co-owner Gabrielle Davenport offers a simple response: “Why wouldn’t there be a Black food bookstore?”
And she’s right. BEM operates as one of the first Black-owned, food-centric bookstores in the country, officially opening its doors in October. But the venture has been a long time coming for Gabrielle and her sister and co-owner, Danielle Davenport, whose work has long been rooted in uplifting Black voices…