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| Darlene Okpo | |
Adanne, a Black woman-owned bookstore that was evicted from its DUMBO location in Brooklyn last summer, reopened last Saturday in its new Bedford–Stuyvesant space, at 115 Ralph Ave. BK Reader reported that when owner Darlene Okpo received a 30-day notice in August to vacate her former storefront, she "took to her social media pages to seek emergency help, and with the help of loyal customers, family and friends, Okpo was able to raise more than $37,000 for moving costs and a deposit on a new space."
Okpo's hunt for a new storefront lasted three months and saw several property arrangements fall through. She remained determined, though, and finally signed the Bed-Stuy lease last month. The new location "makes perfect sense for the bookstore. Okpo lived in Bed-Stuy in 2008, and the neighborhood is home to many of her customers, which made the decision to come back an easy one," BK Reader wrote.
"Sometimes you feel like you gotta have it together all the time," she said. "But, there was no pressure for me to be like, 'Everything has to be perfect.' I was like, 'It's going to flow. Everything is gonna come.'"
The shop includes a workspace in the front and a backyard patio for guests. There is also a bar area, though it's still a work in progress. "With books piled high on each shelf and records of classic artists on the walls, Adanne prides itself on selling a little bit of everything," BK Reader noted.
"For me, it's like nostalgia. In this area, it's all records. Then, we have spirituality and hip-hop. It's a mixture, like a museum," said Okpo. "I want people to take their time and look. That's how I want this space to feel.... I love the space so much."