Applications open October 9 to 26

Residency at Urban Reads Bookstore

Support. Collaborate. Grow. Every month, three Black-owned businesses, including one youth entrepreneur, have their products featured and sold in the bookstore for a full month.

3 resident spots2 Black-owned businesses and 1 youth entrepreneur, each month.
Apply October 9 to 26Residents are announced October 29.
Saturday activationsShow up, connect with the community and share your brand.
Cross promoWe promote you, you promote us. We grow together.

Apply now How applying works

What residents get

Your products featured and sold in the bookstore for one full month.
Saturday activations: days to show up, meet the community and share your brand.
Cross promotion. Urban Reads promotes you, and you promote Urban Reads.
One of the three spots each month is saved for a youth entrepreneur.

Fees and program terms

$100 a month, or $125 for a month with 5 Saturdays

The fee is due within 48 hours of approval.
20% of product sales go to Urban Reads Bookstore.
Store hours during the residency are Thursday through Saturday, 12 to 6 PM.
You agree to these terms on the application form. [How the fee is paid]

How applying works

Fill out the online application

The form is further down this page. Tell us about your business and your products, and choose the month you want: November 2026, December 2026 or January 2027.
Apply between October 9 and 26

Spaces are limited, so applying early is a good idea.
Residents are announced October 29

The team reviews the applications and announces the residents.
Pay the fee within 48 hours of approval

The fee is $100, or $125 for a month with 5 Saturdays.
Show up for your month

Your products are featured and sold in the bookstore, and you show up for your scheduled Saturday activations.

Who can apply

The residency is for Black-owned businesses. One spot each month is for a youth entrepreneur.
Many kinds of products are welcome. The application lists books and publishing, art and crafts, apparel, beauty and wellness, food and beverage, jewelry and accessories, home goods, and other.
If the business is youth-owned or youth-led, the application asks the entrepreneur's age. A parent or guardian has to give consent if the entrepreneur is 13 to 17.
The application asks whether you have proof of business registration: yes, no, or not yet but I can get it.
You need an emergency contact who is 21 or older.

What the application asks (have these ready)

About your Business

Business name, contact name, email and phone
Type of business
Whether you are a Black-owned business
How long you have been in business
Whether you have had a retail presence before
Whether you have proof of business registration

Your products

The products you plan to sell during your residency
An approximate price range and the estimated number of items
Your website and Instagram or other social page
Photos of what you will sell, up to 5 images

Your Residency month and fit

The month you are applying for
What makes you the right fit for Urban Reads Bookstore
Whether you can commit to Saturday activations: yes, most Saturdays, or I need to check my schedule
How you heard about the residency

Safety, terms and signature

A yes to the program terms above
An emergency contact, 21 or older: name, phone and email
A photo of your ID, kept private and used only by the Urban Reads Bookstore team
Your typed signature and the date
For youth entrepreneurs aged 13 to 17: a parent or guardian's name, phone, address and signature

Apply for the residency

Spaces are limited. It takes about 10 minutes. Applications are open October 9 to 26, and residents are announced October 29.

Fields marked with an asterisk are required. Questions first? Email info@oururbanreads.com

Required answers: 0 of 0

Part 1 of 7

Your business

Business name

Contact name

Phone

What type of business is this?

Are you a Black-owned business?

How long have you been in business?

Have you ever had retail presence before?

Do you have proof of business registration?

Part 2 of 7

Youth Entrepreneur Spot

One of the three spots each month is saved for a youth entrepreneur.

Is this a youth-owned or youth-led business?

Part 3 of 7

Your Products

List of products you plan to sell during your residency

Approximate price range of your products

Estimated number of products or items

Website

Instagram or other social page

Photos of what you will be selling

Up to 5 images. Photos are shrunk on your device before they are sent.

Add photos No photos added

Part 4 of 7

Your Residency Month

What month are you applying for?

What makes you the right fit for Urban Reads Bookstore?

Can you commit to Saturday activations during your residency month?

How did you hear about the residency?

Part 5 of 7

Program terms

Residency fee is $100 a month, or $125 for a month with 5 Saturdays, due within 48 hours of approval. 20% of product sales go to Urban Reads Bookstore. Store hours during the residency are Thursday through Saturday, 12 to 6 PM.

I agree to the program terms above.

Part 6 of 7

Emergency Contact and ID

The emergency contact must be 21 years or older.

Emergency contact name

Emergency contact phone

Emergency contact email

Please upload a photo of your ID

Kept private, for the Urban Reads Bookstore team only.

Add ID photo No ID photo added

Part 7 of 7

Agreement and signature

By signing below, I confirm the information in this application is accurate, and I agree to the terms of the Urban Reads Bookstore Residency program if selected, including showing up for my scheduled Saturday activations.

Signature

Type your full name as your signature.

Date

Today's date.

By submitting this form and signing up for texts, you consent to receive text messages from Urban Reads at the number provided, for example program updates and announcements. Consent is not a condition of any service. Message and data rates may apply. Message frequency varies. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.

Spaces are limited. Apply early.

Residency months after January 2027: [Dates and the next application window]

Follow @urbanreadsbookstore on Instagram for residency announcements and Saturday activation dates.