JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Cafe Resistance celebrated its one-year anniversary on June 22 with vendors, music, and family fun.
Opened by State Rep. Angie Nixon, the bookstore located on Soutel Drive in Northwest Jacksonville has a mission to ensure Black history isn’t forgotten.
Nixon said that while she is the owner, she doesn’t consider it her store.
“I consider this the community bookstore, the community hub,” she said. “Folks come and they are able to showcase their talent, they’re able to showcase their business, they’re able to learn and grow.”
Cafe Resistance also offers things like free tutoring and free mental health workshops. You can also buy sandwiches, wraps, and fruit smoothies. Nixon said she’s noticed over the years that there is a lack of access to resources like these in the community.
“I wanted to provide a space that brings accessibility to these types of things,” Nixon said. “And what’s funny is sometimes people come in here and they’re like ‘Oh my gosh, this is so nice,’ and I’m like, ‘We deserve to have nice things on the Northside.”
She said everyone deserves to flourish in their community.
“We have the opportunity, no matter what side of town we live, no matter who we love, no matter where we worship, we should have the opportunity to live healthy, prosperous, and safe, and this space speaks to that,” Nixon said.
Larry Love said it meant a lot to him to be there because he’s worked with Nixon for at least eight years.
“I told her anything she needed, and initially it was just me coming to buy books, but then it turned to me using my talents to curate space, so to see people still supporting this space a year in, where a lot of people don’t always like to come, It’s been a lot of beautiful energy out here,” Love said.
He said people come in to buy books and learn Black history. There’s also a smoothie bar and a juice bar and acai bowls.
“I’m just doing my part to make sure that community knows they have somewhere to go to meet each other, to shop, to vend, to meet their community,” Love said.
He was referencing the study that called Jacksonville the most boring city in America.
There was also a Jacksonville-themed Monopoly tournament where winners walked away with gift cards.
Vendors were set up in the area selling trinkets, pins, clothes, art and more. Take a look at the video below for the sights and sounds of Saturday’s celebration.