You Can Buy Books on the Go With the Niche Book Bike
The Niche Book Bike can be found riding through the Bronzeville neighborhood and parked at the Sherman Phoenix. (Picture by Cetonia Weston)
Three years ago, Wisconsin lost it’s only Black-owned book store and it was around the same time that book lover and author Cetonia Weston was thinking about opening up her own: Niche Book Bar. Weston had plans on opening her bookstore this 2020 summer, but she’s had to pause plans and get creative.
Weston bought a used bike and paid a local contractor to add an attachment to the bike to place her books on, making her bookstore mobile. The Niche Book Bike has a variety of books and they’re all Black literature. The books range from $1 to $15 with most books being brand new or lightly used. The children’s section has been her most popular, but one of her favorite genres is sci-fi.
The Niche Book Bike was created back in May and has been in the streets of Milwaukee since late June. Weston usually rides the bike in the Bronzeville neighborhood, Carver Park and sometimes parks at the Sherman Phoenix. She allows the kids in park to touch the books and sit on the bike, as long as they read her at least one line from a book.
“I see reading as a dis-stressor. It’s an overall quality of life,” Weston said. “Reading is fun.”
Weston has brought the Niche Book Bike to a few events and is looking to expand into more events and areas of the City.
Cetonia Weston can be seen around the City of Milwaukee on the Niche Book Bike. (Picture provided by Cetonia Weston)
While in the works of establishing the Niche Book Bar, Weston created Black Authors Collective, where she has a list of local Black-owned authors and their books. She also hosts “Marketing Monday’s” to give local Black authors a chance to advertise their books for free.
The Niche Book Bar will have basic coffee options and simple bakery items because Weston wants to provide a cool space without running a full cafe.
“A Black-owned bookstore is coming again,” Weston said. “I won’t be the last.”
Email info@findyournichemke.com to request the Niche Book Bike for your next event.