Third Eye Books, Accessories & Gifts, Portland, Ore., will host a grand opening and ribbon-cutting celebration this Sunday, June 20, in its new location at 2518 S.E. 33rd Ave. The Oregonian reported that a crowdfunding campaign co-owners Charles Hannah and Michelle Lewis had organized "to pay for their startup costs in a new retail space, after they lost their first one amid the pandemic, made its goal of $25,000. Their website, thirdeyebag.com, saw 20,000 visitors in the first few months of 2021." After a stint of selling books out of storage units while between locations, Third Eye Books found a new home earlier this year.
The bookstore is partnering with local organizations like Camp Fire Columbia and Self Enhancement Inc. "to expand access to diverse and antiracist books," the Oregonian wrote. "Portland's only Black-owned bookstore even got the attention of Oprah Winfrey, whose Instagram account gave it a shoutout and whose magazine included Third Eye Books on a list of '125 Black-owned bookstores in America that amplify the best in literature.' "
Running a Black-owned bookstore that centers Black books, Hannah and Lewis track top sellers and customer requests, paying attention to what readers might be missing out on. "What we find is a lot of people haven't been experiencing James Baldwin, or just one part of him," Hannah said.
Lewis added that Black scholars have written "multitudes of books that often you don't hear too much about down this way in Oregon... so we try to make sure that we bring those books here, too, books that we hadn't even heard of and which our customers are really excited about."
Yesterday, Lewis posted on Facebook: "Yeah, I know my knuckles and fingers are ashy and the sign isn't centered. My only question is 'Will we see you this Sunday and do you want an autographed book from the author?' I have 25 books ready to be signed by author. Leave 'autograph' in the comments. I'll put one aside. Peace Always."