Sister's Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center has been a cornerstone of Washington Heights since Janifer Wilson opened it in 2000, and it remains one of the few Black-owned bookstores left in Manhattan. The Amsterdam Avenue shop carries a deep selection of Black literature, history, children's books, spirituality and self-development titles, along with cards, art and gifts, and it sells online for customers outside the neighborhood.
The cultural center side is just as important: open mics, author talks, youth programming, community meetings and a gathering space that generations of uptown families have used. The store has weathered real financial pressure in recent years and has been kept going in part by community support, which is a good reason to buy your next book here rather than from a warehouse.
Open Tuesday through Saturday afternoons. Bring your kids, bring your list, and keep an uptown institution standing.
Sister's Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center