A series of posts about places where you can buy, borrow or donate books in and around our amazing neighborhood.

Black Hat Books is an eclectic bookstore that opened only a year ago. Located between Stanton and Graham on MLK, it is home to unique collections of Latino and Native-American literature and history, as well of one of the largest collections of African-American literature, history, and poetry in the Pacific Northwest.

Black Hat Books is owned by a man named Fred Nemo, who is a self-proclaimed “hoarder of books.” He has been frequenting Powell’s since the 1970s and has accumulated 30,000 – 40,000 books in his own home. All of the books now on sale at Black Hat Books were once part of Fred’s personal collection. When asked if he ever got sentimental about parting with his books, he replied, “Everything here is a duplicate. I have every single one of these books at home.”

Black Hat Books is in the process of applying for nonprofit status. The goal is to have their permanent Latino, Native-American, and African-American collections accessible as part of a lending library.

Currently, Black Hat Books is open on Mondays and Fridays from 10:00 – 8:00. The prices are very affordable, and the diverse range of books are in great condition.

Black Hat Books
2831 NE MLK Blvd