When Zora’s Place opens this September in Evanston, Illinois, it will mark a milestone as the city’s first bookstore owned by a Black woman. Founded by journalist and author L’Oreal Thompson Payton, the shop will be located inside The Aux Wellness Collective—a space dedicated to inclusive health and wellness services.
Named in honor of literary icon Zora Neale Hurston, the store aims to center Black women and girls in both its selection and experience. “She is my favorite author, and this is a way to celebrate her while centering Black women at the heart of the store,” Payton said. “I really wanted to stay true to my roots and vision.”
Payton, a published author and award-winning journalist, has written for Essence, Fortune, and The Baltimore Sun. Her first book, Stop Waiting for Perfect, came out in 2023, and her debut children’s book on Amanda Gorman is set for release in December.
The concept for Zora’s Place was inspired by other feminist bookstores like Brooklyn’s Café con Libros and Hyde Park’s Call & Response. A visit to these spaces showed Payton what was possible: “Why can’t we bring this to Evanston?” she recalled thinking.
A yoga teacher as well, Payton chose The Aux for its alignment with her interest in wellness. The space will host story hours, author Q&As, writing workshops, and book clubs, all within a warm, community-minded setting. “I see it having an Afro-bohemian vibe, like you’re walking into your rich auntie’s living room,” she said.
Payton hopes the store will offer a sense of belonging she often lacked growing up. “As a teenager I didn’t see myself represented in the books or magazines I read,” she said. “That void is what inspired me to become a journalist, and write my own stories.”
To support the launch, Payton has raised over $10,000 of her $25,000 goal via a donation fund on GiveButter.com.
