Well as we mentioned earlier, we're celebrating Black History Month here at the Pike Place Market.
And we're highlighting some of the Black-owned businesses.
One of them is owned by J.B. Johnson.
The BLMF Literary Saloon.
So tell me about this bookstore.
I've been here for 26 years and just a general stock of used books.
I try to get the best material I can find because I'm getting people from all over the world here.
You never know who's going to ask you for what next.
So you have to be prepared.
You have to carry a diversity of materials.
And I think, you know, fulfill that need for downtown Seattle.
Tell me about the saloon part of your name.
So when I first started, this was back in 96.
Me and my friends fellow artists, other writers, we would sit around after hours
and we would discuss books, literature,
things we're working on. It's a play on words for a literary salon, but it's a saloon.
So there was a bit of whiskey involved.
A little happy hour.
A little happy hour. Yeah, it became a little too happy.
So there was a little more drinking and a little less actual discussion.
So I sort of had to nix that.
You have so many books here and some of the great Black writers.
Who would you recommend for Black History Month?
First of all, you got Toni Morrison.
If you haven't read Toni Morrison, why not?
Alice Walker.
James Baldwin. Been telling people to read Baldwin for years.
Richard Wright.
I'd also go with my favorites are
Walter Mosley.
There was a new guy on the block named S.A. Cosby.
He's written probably one of the best crime novels I've read in the last 20 years.
It's called Blacktop Wasteland.
If you haven't read it and get on it.
Well J.B., this is a great store and I hope people come and check it out.
Thank you. Thanks for your time. No problem.