EyeSeeMe African American Children's Bookstore, St. Louis, Mo., has relocated to a larger space at 6951 Olive Blvd. in University City, just a mile from its previous location. When they made the announcement recently, co-owners Pamela and Jeffrey Blair recalled that when they opened EyeSeeMe more than three years ago, "we had no idea just how much love and support we would have received. We always talked about the importance of inclusion and diversity in children's books, but through the store we were able to take meaningful action and build lasting relationships across every demographic you can think of. It's been an amazing journey. So much so, as many of you already know, we have outgrown our current space."
The new building is not only more spacious, it will have "two classrooms and a multipurpose room that allows community members to connect with one another in the space," Ladue News reported.
"We primarily carry African-American books, but the same problem exists with other ethnicities," Pamela Blair said. "The new space will allow us to carry books for other ethnicities, including people of Hispanic, Native American and Asian ethnicities, as well." The store also stocks a few books for adults, due to high demand.
EyeSeeME has received an overwhelming response from parents and educators, the Blairs noted, adding that many teachers, in particular, wanted to introduce more diverse literature into the classroom but had no idea where to turn. "The store has opened a door to allow parents and teachers to see these books exist," Pamela Blair said. "Some people couldn't really see what was out there till it was all in one place."
The new location "allows the Blairs to create a space for meaningful relationships with members of the community centered on diversity and inclusion in children's literature and lives," Ladue News wrote, adding that the co-owners "say they're excited to continue to grow those relationships and that mission in the new space, and to see where their story takes them next."