A New Cultural Landmark in Bed-Stuy
Nikole Hannah-Jones, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and creator of The 1619 Project, is bringing her love for storytelling and Black culture to life with her newest venture — The North Star Books + Bar. Set to open in early 2026, this literary salon in Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy neighborhood will honor generations of Black writers while creating a community hub for creativity and cultural connection.
Located at the corner of Macon Street and Marcus Garvey Boulevard, the two-story brick building once housed the historic Black-owned Macon Hardware store. Now, it’s being reimagined as a space where art, books, and conversation meet — a modern tribute to Harlem Renaissance salons and the deep literary legacy of Black America.
A Vision Rooted in Black Creativity and Community
Hannah-Jones has lived in Brooklyn for nearly 15 years and says the idea for The North Star Books + Bar grew naturally from her personal life. For years, she hosted intimate writer salons in her own home, where celebrated authors like Ta-Nehisi Coates once shared early drafts of their work.
“I started holding these writers’ salons at my house within a year of moving to New York,” she told Harper’s Bazaar. “I felt that young Black writers needed a place where they could be with their heroes… I’ve been thinking for a long time about opening a public salon-style space that captured the best of the Harlem Renaissance.”
Through The North Star Books + Bar, Hannah-Jones hopes to expand that intimate creative energy into a public, welcoming space — a cultural home for writers, readers, and thinkers.
The North Star: Honoring Legacy and Inspiring the Future
The name The North Star carries deep meaning. It nods to the 19th-century abolitionist newspaper founded by Frederick Douglass, a symbol of Black freedom, intellect, and leadership. Just as Douglass’s North Star guided people toward liberation, Hannah-Jones’s space aims to guide a new generation of thinkers toward creativity and community.
The venue will host micro-residencies for writers, allowing them to lead workshops, readings, and community engagement events. There will also be author talks, neighborhood book clubs, and collaborations with local schools and cultural institutions. Each initiative is designed to build connection and keep Black literary traditions alive in a rapidly changing Brooklyn.
A Literary Space That Feels Like Home
Hannah-Jones says The North Star Books + Bar will be far more than just a bookstore or café. She describes it as a living, breathing community — one where writers, artists, and everyday readers can come together to share ideas and inspiration.
“This is a space where creative folks can come together and exchange knowledge, ideas, literature, art,” she said. “It’s about creating an atmosphere that celebrates who we are and what we contribute.”
As gentrification continues to reshape Bed-Stuy, The North Star Books + Bar will stand as a reminder of Black Brooklyn’s brilliance, history, and endurance — a place where past and future meet in the glow of shared creativity.
A Renaissance for Black Writers in Brooklyn
With her bold vision, Nikole Hannah-Jones is helping to spark what many are calling a new Brooklyn Renaissance — one built on art, literature, and empowerment. By opening a space devoted to the stories and voices of Black people, she’s creating more than just a business. She’s creating a movement.
When The North Star Books + Bar opens its doors in 2026, it will offer more than books and drinks. It will offer belonging — a cultural anchor for all who believe in the power of words to shape the world.
