In an era when so many small brick-and-mortar bookstores have closed, D.C.鈥檚 , whose recent author guests included former President Barack Obama, is opening a second location at National Harbor.
MahoganyBooks鈥� original location is on Good Hope Road in Anacostia. It specializes in books written for, by and about the global history of the African diaspora throughout the centuries.
The National Harbor location will open June 19 (Juneteenth, a holiday celebrating the emancipation of slaves in the U.S.).
It is a homecoming for co-owner and co-founder Derrick Young.
鈥淕rowing up in Prince George鈥檚 County, this has become a full-circle moment for me,鈥� Young said. 鈥淢ahoganyBooks is excited to open our doors to the visitors of National Harbor and the residents of Prince George鈥檚 County.鈥�
MahoganyBooks, named after Derrick and co-founder Ramunda Young鈥檚 soon-to-be 16-year-old daughter, was founded in 2007 as an online bookstore. It opened its first physical store in 2017, the first new bookstore in Anacostia in two decades.
The National Harbor location is 1,200 square feet, almost three times as large as the original Anacostia store.
Sales this year at the original store have been brisk. Despite closing for part of the year because of the pandemic, it sold 100,000 books between May and October.
The bookstore hosts book discussions and signings with authors, leaders and entertainers, as well as book drives to support children鈥檚 literacy.
The Youngs were earlier this month after Obama surprised them by dropping in on one of their Very Smart Brothas Book Club meetings on Zoom Jan. 26, where they were discussing Obama鈥檚 new book, “A Promised Land.” They鈥檇 been expecting a member of Obama鈥檚 staff.
They tweeted the surprise Obama appearance.
Black-owned independent bookstores play a critical role in communities all across our country. I wanted to show my support, so I dropped in to surprise the folks from & the Very Smart Brothas Book Club. Take a look.
鈥� Barack Obama (@BarackObama)
The new MahoganyBooks will be at 121 American Way, near National Harbor鈥檚 waterfront.
