The nation’s first Black food bookstore is ready to meet your holiday shopping desires with their new brick-and-mortar location at 373 Lewis Avenue in Brooklyn.
Founded by sisters Gabrielle and Danielle Davenport, BEM has become a cornerstone of both Black food literature and Black food community. The store is named after their grandmothers, Bernice and Marjory, as a tribute to the Black culinary traditions that shaped them.
Inspired by the novelty of culinary bookstores and the rich legacy of Black-owned bookshops, BEM is not only a bookstore, but a celebration of Black food traditions and Black life. With offerings ranging from cookbooks to novels, you’re almost guaranteed to find something that fits your tastes.
The journey towards a physical home for BEM was a lengthy one. The concept launched as an online-only bookstore in 2021, with various in-person pop-ups and events along the way. Gabrielle and Danielle knew BEM’s physical home would be in BedStuy. Now, Six years later, Gabrielle, Danielle, and the community they’ve built together are thrilled to have a physical space to gather.
BEM’s new home will have lots in store for anyone interested in food and culture. 373 Lewis Avenue will operate as a bookstore, bar, and café that hosts a variety of culinary programming including book talks, dinners, demos, and more.
Gabrielle and Danielle want BEM to feel like a “cozy literary-culinary haven” where shoppers can explore the latest cookbook releases, taste something scrumptious and honor the culinary legacy of the African diaspora.
Recommended by BEM
BEM
373 Lewis Ave, Brooklyn, NY; @bembrooklyn
