Semicolon Bookstore has long been committed to nurturing the connection between literature, art, and the pursuit of knowledge while also using the power of words to better the community. Opened in July 2019 by entrepreneur Danielle Mullen, she is only the third Black woman to own a bookstore in Chicago (and currently the only one in business).
To initiate her vision for change, the shop invites public school students to the store every month to #ClearTheShelves, free of charge, where they can take home whatever books they’d like. Semicolon also doubles as an art gallery, with an artist-in-residence taking over the downstairs exhibition space, and for which Mullen and her team coordinate books to go along with the work. This meshing of art and books encourages customers to spend more time in the space, developing its own community.
515 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60642
