“Sisters Uptown Bookstore”

By Mood Magazine Staff Before Harlem had Whole Foods or wine bars on Lenox, it had Sisters Uptown Bookstore—a quiet,…
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By Mood Magazine Staff

Before Harlem had Whole Foods or wine bars on Lenox, it had Sisters Uptown Bookstore—a quiet, sacred space where Black words, wisdom, and wellness have been held for over two decades.

Founded in 2000 by Janifer Wilson and her daughter Kori, Sisters Uptown was built on a radical belief: that books could be medicine, and that Black people—especially in Harlem—deserved access to the full spectrum of their intellectual and spiritual heritage. In a neighborhood evolving too fast and forgetting too much, this bookstore is a lighthouse. Still standing. Still serving.

The space is small, but the spirit is enormous. You’ll find titles on history, healing, womanism, liberation theology, plant medicine, and children’s books that actually reflect the children reading them. It’s not just about literature—it’s about legacy. This is where you find Audre Lorde next to bell hooks next to local authors whose first launch happened right here.

Sisters Uptown is more than a bookstore. It’s a refuge. A resource. A reminder.

In a Harlem that sometimes feels like it’s losing itself, Sisters is still speaking its name.

Visit:

1942 Amsterdam Avenue (at 156th Street)

www.sistersuptownbookstore.com

Tuesday–Saturday: 12pm–6pm

Now listed in the Mood Magazine Harlem Business Directory.

#SistersUptown #HarlemLegacy #BlackOwnedBookstore #NewAndNow #MoodMagazineHarlem

Jarvus Ricardo Hester

JARVUSHESTER

Jarvus Ricardo Hester Founder, Artistic Director, Editor-in-Chief, and Cultural Storyteller Jarvus Ricardo Hester is an opera singer, arts administrator, media executive, and entrepreneur dedicated to making the arts more accessible while preserving and amplifying the stories that shape communities. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Harlem Collective Opera, Harlem Boys Choir, and the Harlem Chamber Orchestra, organizations committed to expanding access to classical music through innovative performances, educational initiatives, and community engagement. As Editor-in-Chief of Mood Magazine NYC and the founder of the Mood Media Network, Hester oversees a growing multimedia ecosystem that includes WHRL Mood Radio Harlem, The Morning Show NYC, After Hours NYC, and Mood TV. Through these platforms, he curates stories that explore culture, travel, wellness, food, literature, business, and the arts from Harlem to communities around the world. An alumnus of the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Hester has performed with professional opera companies and has dedicated his career to reimagining how audiences experience classical music. His work consistently bridges the worlds of performance, journalism, tourism, education, and community development. His signature initiative, The Black Composer Project, celebrates the contributions of Black classical composers through immersive concert experiences that combine music, storytelling, and historical exploration. Whether through a live performance, a magazine feature, a radio broadcast, or a community partnership, Hester's work is guided by a simple philosophy: Stories create connections. Art builds communities. Culture preserves legacy. Harlem to the world. Be a part of the story.
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