Pasadena local, Nikki High, is poised to open an independent bookstore in the city that exclusively stocks authors who are Black, Indigenous and people of color. Octavia’s Bookshelf — set to open this February — is aptly named after Black, sci-fi author and Pasadena legend, Octavia Butler.
High announced the opening in a now viral tweet: “I took the leap and quit my job to open my very own bookstore.” While mainly self funded, High set up a GoFundMe, where anyone can donate toward the bookstore’s opening success. The initiative is just over halfway to its $20,000 goal.
An avid reader, High was thinking about opening her own bookstore for years. The option felt out of reach until she found inspiration while…
