Black Pearl Books, one of Austin’s few Black-owned independent bookstores, is turning a major page. The store has announced it will close its Burnet Road storefront at the end of June, with the last day set for Saturday, June 20, 2026. Husband-and-wife owners Eric and Katrina Brooks say the move comes as they head into “an exciting new chapter” and rethink life as empty nesters. The bookstore plans to keep its online shop open and is working to keep scheduled author events on the calendar while it maps out what comes next.
According to MySA, the closure notice went up on the store’s Instagram account, where the owners wrote, "in order for another door to open, one door has to first close." MySA also reports that the bookstore, which launched in 2019, was listed in a February Book Riot roundup of Black-owned bookshops and that it will remain in business online while continuing to host author events through the fall.
From pop-ups to a Burnet Road red door
Eric and Katrina Brooks first launched Black Pearl Books as a pop-up and online shop in 2019, then moved into the now-familiar Burnet Road space in 2022 as demand surged during the pandemic. A profile by KUT detailed that journey and spotlighted the store’s focus on banned and hard-to-find titles, as well as the couple’s push to keep those books on local shelves even as challenges mounted.
What will change - and what stays the same
The store’s website still lists 7112 Burnet Rd. as its location and features an active events calendar and online shop, suggesting that many scheduled author talks and book clubs are expected to move forward, according to the calendar posted on Black Pearl Books. The owners say they intend to honor appearances that are already on the books through the fall, even after the physical storefront closes.
Why this matters for Austin and beyond
The loss of a Black-owned bookstore in any city lands heavily. Shops that center Black voices are still relatively rare and often serve as much as community hubs as they do retail spaces. National reporting has documented a long decline in brick-and-mortar Black bookstores and the roles they play in local cultural life, a trend that makes each closure feel bigger than one address coming off the map. That broader picture was examined in an analysis by The Washington Post.
Where to find Black Pearl during the transition
For now, Black Pearl loyalists can still shop online and keep tabs on what is next via the events calendar and contact information posted on Black Pearl Books. In their public message, the owners thanked customers for years of support and encouraged followers to stay tuned as they "turn the page" toward the next version of Black Pearl Books, a chapter that a lot of Austin readers will be watching closely.
