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Sales surge at black-owned Leimert Park book store
A black-owned book store that was struggling before the pandemic is now experiencing booming sales in wake of the social justice movement.
LOS ANGELES - One of the oldest black-owned bookstores in the country is seeing a huge surge in sales in the wake of the growing social justice movement.
Eso Won Books opened in 1987 in Leimert Park. The book store specializes in African-American authors, history, and culture.
Owner James Fugate says business was hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic and that they experienced a 70% decline in sales.
Eso Won Books turned to online sales after they were forced to shut down amid the coronavirus crisis.
However, things are starting to look up. Now, Fugate says an unprecedented flood of customers from Southern California and beyond have been coming into the store and online, seeking out books to help them better understand the deep societal divide.
Some of the more popular titles are books that explore anti-racism as well as educational books for children, Fugate said.
Visit the Eso Won Books website for more information.