LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — R.D. Talley Books, the first Black-owned bookstore on the Las Vegas Strip, is reopening at Fashion Show Mall after being forced to leave its original location.
The bookstore opened last fall, marking a historic milestone for an area that was widely segregated before the 1960s.
Owner Roderick Talley Sr. said he received notice on April 20 that he had 30 days to vacate his Strip location after the landlord terminated the lease.
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“We were forced to relocate, unfortunately. We did have a provision in our lease that provided 30 days for the landlord to terminate the contract. We didn’t think that would happen,” Talley said.
“It was definitely crushing. But I knew right off the bat, hey, I can be sad about this a little bit later. But I need to find a new place. We still got work to do,” Talley said.
When Talley shared the news online, the community responded with support.
“I didn’t realize so many locals were paying attention to what we were doing. We were inspiring locals that much until we broke the news,” he said.
The bookstore is reopening this June inside Fashion Show Mall.
“It’s been a completely different ballgame with them. Nothing but support from them,” Talley said.
Talley, who is also a writer, created the space to celebrate Las Vegas’s history, including Black, Latino and Indigenous contributions. The store features authors from various backgrounds and time periods, providing a platform for writers who have traditionally struggled to have their books displayed in major retailers.
Talley said the mission remains the same at the new location — to uplift marginalized voices.
“We’re needed. We’re a space that’s needed. And it’s important for us to be here,” he said.
The location inside Fashion Show Mall is expected to open in late June. More information is available at https://www.rdtalleybooks.com/.
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