ShopWashington Heights
Sister's Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center
A long-running Black-owned bookstore on the Harlem edge of the neighborhood; check its site for hours and events before you go.
1942 Amsterdam AveAmsterdam Ave near W 156th St
What it is
Sister’s Uptown Bookstore & Cultural Center is an independent bookstore at 1942 Amsterdam Ave. According to its own website, it opened in January 2000 under founder Janifer P. Wilson, and a Cultural Center was added in June 2007. The site describes it as Harlem’s longest continually operating Black-owned bookstore and places it on the border of Harlem and Washington Heights, while also calling it a staple of the Washington Heights community.
Who it’s for
Readers looking for books by and about Black authors, people who want a community gathering place, and anyone interested in the neighborhood’s cultural history. It sits just north of W 155th St, so it falls inside the guide’s boundary, but it is as much a Harlem institution as a Heights one.
Standout details
The Cultural Center side of the shop hosts events, which the store announces on its website. In 2026 the store was holding an inaugural gala on October 24. The website lists store hours of Tuesday to Saturday, 12 to 6pm, with the shop closed Sunday and Monday.
Honest verdict
A place worth supporting for its history rather than its size. The store has asked supporters for help in recent years, including a GoFundMe campaign, so check its website or call (212) 862-3680 for current hours and events before making a special trip.