North Carolina’s first Black-owned children’s bookstore reopens following threats

RALEIGH, N.C. — The doors are officially open again at Liberation Station Bookstore, North Carolina’s first Black‑owned children’s bookstore.

Owner Victoria Scott‑Miller and her sons held a grand reopening during Kwanzaa welcoming families back into a space built for learning, joy and representation.

North Carolina’s first Black‑owned children’s bookstore Liberation Station Reopens After Community Support

Scott‑Miller founded Liberation Station in 2023 with her husband. The bookstore began as an idea rooted in her children. It closed last year after threats and hateful messages forced Scott‑Miller to shut down the original downtown Raleigh location. More than $71,000 in community support poured in after she shared her story, allowing the store to return in a new home.

A Safe Space for Children to See Themselves

Scott‑Miller said she created the bookstore to give children a place where they can see themselves reflected in literature.

“Our children have to be anchored in seeing themselves in every area of their life,” she told CBS 17. “Whether it’s the car, the bookstore, the library or their home, they deserve that opportunity.”

The store offers more than books. It provides learning programs designed to build confidence and creativity. Scott‑Miller plans to host cursive writing classes, artist talks, author visits and “paint and sip” events for kids. She also partners with Lego to offer Braille Legos for visually impaired children.

Liberation Bookstore North Carolina: A Community Hub Surrounded by Black-Owned Businesses

The reopening took place on the fourth day of Kwanzaa, aligning with Ujamaa, the principle of Cooperative Economics. Scott-Miller called the reopening celebration a “homecoming“, highlighting the store’s mission to support and uplift Black‑owned enterprises.

The new location now sits in a row with other Black-owned businesses near HBCU St. Augustine University.

A Bookstore and a Community Resource Center

The new space is also a community resource hub. It includes a menstrual product pantry created with Always Maxi. It will also house food items and essential goods for families.

“If you need period products or essential items, you can quietly pick up a ticket and head to our back room,” Scott‑Miller said in a TikTok post. “Period poverty is real. Food insecurity is real. We refuse to ignore the needs of our community.”

She added that the store remains more than a bookstore. It is a place where dignity stays non‑negotiable and where community support builds a safety net for families across Raleigh.

The campaign is still taking donations. To learn more, visit the official GoFundMe page here.