Missouri
Oldest Missouri Black Owned Book Store Closes as Owner Retires
KANSAS CITY, Mo — Willa’s Books and Vinyl, the oldest Black-owned bookstore in Missouri, is closing its final chapter as owner Willa Mae Robinson prepares for her retirement. The beloved shop, a cultural cornerstone in the community, has been a beacon for literature and music enthusiasts for years.
In a heartfelt farewell hosted by the KC Defender, the event served as a final love letter to her customers and supporters.
Will Shaw
“All of these books, all of this music, all of this art—dedicated to you all,” Robinson said.
Dozens, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, gathered to honor Robinson and her contributions.
Robinson’s passion for reading and music traces back to her upbringing in Arkansas, where her father, an avid reader, instilled in her the joys of literature.
“That was our life,” Robinson said. “That’s why I am who I am now.”
Will Shaw
However, it was the profound loss of her daughter and granddaughter that drove Robinson to fill a void in her life.
“I was trying to fill the fact that my children were gone,” she said. “And I was just collecting books, books, books, books.”
Robinson worked for the post office for 30 years. In the 1990s she retired and transitioned her personal collection into a public treasure, selling the books at festivals before establishing her storefront in 2007.
Will Shaw
“I didn’t collect all these books for them to be covered up somewhere,” she daid. “I want people to enjoy the books.”
As she prepares to turn a new page, she is passing the torch to the next generation. The store is set to become an archive under the ownership of The KC Defender, led by Founder and Executive Editor Ryan Sorrell.
Will Shaw
“So people from the community can come in for free and look at these rare books,” Sorrell said.”Being able to nourish that love of literature is something that is extremely important to Mrs. Willa. So that, I think just the Blackness, the Black joy, the safety that people feel being in this space.”
The store’s legacy will be preserved as a community hub and the headquarters for the KC Defender.
“There’s not enough that can be said about what she represents to our community,” said Sorrell. “She went through trials and tribulations. She overcame extreme financial hardships, gentrification, all of these things. She could barely survive being able to run this bookstore. But because of her love for Black people, her love for Black literature, she invested her entire life into this. I am again deeply grateful, I’m excited.”
Will Shaw
While Robinson’s retirement is bittersweet, she looks forward to writing a new story.
“I am going to miss them,” she said. “I just want to thank them. Thank them for taking they time out because they could’ve been doing something else.”
Will Shaw
The day also served as a final sale with attendees leaving with their own pieces of history.
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Arizona is 8-0 and has already beaten Florida, UCLA, UConn and Auburn. As a result, the Wildcats are the No. 1-ranked team in the country. Despite that, they are 1.5-point underdogs when they visit Tuscaloosa to play No. 12 Alabama on Saturday night. Will the Tide hand Arizona its first loss? Or will Alabama be the latest name added to Arizona’s already impressive resume?
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Army vs. Navy: Saturday College Football Spotlight
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GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. 21+ only. Must be physically located in MO. T&Cs Apply. In App Only.
If you or a loved one has questions or needs to talk to a professional about gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit 1800gambler.net for more information.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) – The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested a 29-year-old woman after seizing over 200 pounds of marijuana in a traffic stop.
ALSO READ: Investigation into Missouri kratom retailers expands, says AG
According to the MSHP, troopers stopped a vehicle for a registration violation and following too closely on EB I-70 in Montgomery County, Mo., on Thursday, December 11. Authorities then searched the vehicle, finding 221 pounds of marijuana.
According to an MSHP report, 29-year-old Briana A. Roberts was taken into custody and held in the Montgomery County Jail for 24 hours. She could be charged with trafficking drugs in the first degree and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, according to the report.
No further information has been released.
Copyright 2025 KCTV. All rights reserved.
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