About Us

At Zora’s Place, our mission is to center, celebrate, and amplify the voices of Black women authors, artists and entrepreneurs through books, gifts, and community programming. We’re creating a warm, intentional space where Black women can feel seen, supported, and inspired — one book (and cup of tea) at a time.

There are currently no Black woman-owned bookstores in Evanston, Illinois — and none that exclusively prioritize books by Black women writers. In a publishing industry where our stories are still underrepresented and undervalued, that absence is more than a gap — it’s a missed opportunity for connection, culture, and community.

Zora’s Place is a revolutionary act of representation, rest, and radical joy. We’re creating a space where Black women can browse the shelves and actually see themselves reflected back. A space to shop intentionally, to rest unapologetically, and to gather in community.

Named in an effort to pay homage to literary icon Zora Neale Hurston, Zora’s Place is where books meet belonging. Think: your new favorite cozy spot to browse a novel by a debut Black woman author, buy a birthday gift from a local AfroLatina maker, or attend a guided journaling circle under the full moon.

With your support, we’ll bring this dream to life — from securing our first location at The Aux Wellness Collective (pictured below) — to filling the shelves with the stories that matter most.

Picture of an empty retail space at The Aux Wellness Collective in Evanston, Illinois

The Opportunity

Black women are among the fastest-growing groups of entrepreneurs and are consistently overrepresented as high-engagement readers, book club organizers, and cultural trendsetters. We’re building Zora’s Place with this powerful, loyal, and underserved community in mind — not just as customers, but as co-creators.

From Evanston’s vibrant Black community to nearby Chicago book lovers, we’re meeting a need that isn’t currently being served on the North Shore — and creating a scalable model for community-centered retail rooted in representation. By curating with intention and putting representation at the center of every shelf, we’re creating a one-stop shop for Black women to feel at home — and pour back into their community with every purchase.

What Your Contribution Supports

We’re raising funds to turn this dream into a reality — to secure a storefront, purchase inventory from BIPOC creators, and create a welcoming, beautiful space that feels like home. Your support will help cover:

Shelving, furniture, and interior design
Inventory and POS system
Rent and utilities for the first few months
Marketing and community launch events
Branding and packaging for our first in-house product line

Zora’s Place is for the storytellers, the readers, the dreamers, the disruptors. It’s for Black women and anyone who believes our stories deserve to take up space.

The Brains Behind the Books(tore)

Picture of author L'Oreal Thompson Payton holding her book, Stop Waiting for Perfect

Zora’s Place is founded and led by me — L’Oreal Thompson Payton — a published author, award-winning journalist, and certified yoga teacher who’s spent nearly 20 years telling stories that center Black women’s joy, healing, and power.

I’ve got the writing chops, the community ties, and the lived experience to bring this vision to life along with a dream team of collaborators, creatives, and cheerleaders rallying behind me every step of the way.

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! 🤎

Whether you give $5 or $500, shared the link, or said a prayer — your support means everything.

By backing Zora’s Place, you’re not just supporting a bookstore. You’re investing in a movement rooted in storytelling, sisterhood, and self-care. We can't wait to welcome you through our doors, hand you a cup of tea, and say, “Welcome home.”

Help Bring Zora's Place to Life!

By Zora's Place

Help Bring Zora's Place to Life!