Marcus Books to reopen in San Francisco

Marcus Books, the oldest African American-themed bookstore in the country, is rising again.

Located in the lobby of the African American Art and Culture Complex, at 762 Fulton St., the shop will be large enough for just a few hundred titles, said Karen Johnson, Marcus Books’ co-owner.

Opened in 1981, the store was designated as a historic landmark by the Board of Supervisors before being evicted after missing rent payments.

Malcolm X frequented the shop, and visiting authors over the years included Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka, Terry McMillan, Toni Morrison and Oprah Winfrey.

At the African American Art and Culture Complex, the store will be able to use the complex’s theater.

The African American Art and Culture Complex, a nonprofit organization, is also home to a library and art gallery and several other spaces.

While acknowledging that “there’s not much black culture left in San Francisco,” Johnson said displacement is affecting not only African Americans in the city.

Details of Marcus Books’ new design will be unveiled at an event at the center on Aug. 16, from 6 to 9 p.m.