PETERSBURG — Have you checked out the new bookstore Resist Booksellers in downtown Petersburg? Demetrius and Celena Frazier opened Resist's virtual doors in spring last year, and they’re ready to serve voracious readers in their brick and mortar on N. Sycamore St.

The Chesterfield couple's mission is to help readers, activists, dreamers and book clubs find inspiration, new ideas, new worlds and a spark for change inclusively.

“The word ‘Resist’ is a constant reminder to the communities we serve to never be afraid of chasing your dreams, to never be afraid to stand up for what you believe in,” Demetrius Frazier said.

I spotted the new business while on a walk, so I popped in to check it out. Demetrius was on duty to assist bookworms in need. It is a well-lit space with a comfortable sitting area where shoppers can ponder over which book to feast on at home, on the bus, at an appointment or wherever they can crack it open and dive into it.

Petersburg: Resist Booksellers

At Resist, shoppers will find books for all ages and in all genres and formats including graphic novels. Only books in physical format are available for purchase, but they plan to sell e-books in the future.

“Do you sell books by white or non-Black authors?” is on the list of frequently asked questions on Resist’s website. The answer provided states, “Resist Booksellers focuses primarily on authors that highlight and present Black stories, history and commentary in a fair, equitable and loving way.”

“We highlight Black authors and give a platform to independent authors where other larger bookstores refuse to do so,” Frazier said. “There are so many great authors that have never visited Petersburg, and we want to help change that. We intend to host them in our store unless the event is large. Then we would look to work with the public library to host the event there.”

Besides books, customers may also buy digital gift cards, branded apparel, tote bags, calendars and bookmarks. Soon coffee mugs will be added. In the coming months, the owners plan to expand to a larger space, and they can't wait to host author chats, book signings and book club meetings. Resist offers fast, nationwide shipping, a shopper rewards program and unique conference support programs.

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Demetrius Frazier: Passion for literacy

Frazier, a native of Queens, N.Y., is a graduate of Virginia Union University and the University of Richmond. He earned a Bachelors in Marketing and MBA in Strategic Leadership. He is the current Chief Learning Officer of a multibillion dollar manufacturing company and Board President of Black Men Read, a literacy nonprofit he co-founded in 2019.

Demetrius loves to read and believes literacy is the greatest avenue to societal growth and evolution. This passion for literacy led him and his wife to open the reader and activist focused bookstore in historic Petersburg. In his spare time, he builds crypto mining rigs, reads and travels.

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Petersburg community

An important part of the couple’s work is to connect with the community.

“We have and will continue to work with the local schools, churches, public library and the citizens of Petersburg to work together to meet the needs of the people,” Frazier said. “We also want to support our local nonprofits to provide a community space for meetings and events. This will be our way to give back and do our part to help Petersburg prosper.”

Follow @Resist on Facebook to find out which new titles will hit the shelves, links to author interviews/chats and more. Visit resistbooksellers.com for information about the Resist Booksellers blog where book reviews and other topics are discussed. Resist, located at 235 N. Sycamore St., is open Tuesday – Friday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.

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This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg: Local man's passion for literacy inspiration for bookstore