Aryana Noroozi
Nearly a year ago, Dr. Jungmiwha Bullock purchased Downtowne Bookstore in Riverside, California. The storefront has been a woman-owned and operated bookstore for over 44 years. When it was put on the market, not all of the possible buyers planned to keep it as a bookstore, but that is what distinguished Dr. Bullock as the chosen buyer.
“From my understanding, they [the broker] selected me because I was one of the only ones really willing to maintain that history as a bookstore,” she said.
When Dr. Bullock became owner of Downtowne Bookstore, she carried on the legacy of female ownership as a female business owner of color. Since the official opening date in July 2023, Dr. Bullock has upheld and expanded the store’s legacy, through developments both in design, programming and the store’s mission. She learned that when the previous owners began working at the store they too “put their own twist on” the store and she was encouraged to do the same.
Dr. Jungmiwha Bullock, owner of Downtowne Bookstore, organizes books with staff member Valentin Zuniga on April 1, 2024. (Aryana Noroozi for CatchLight Local / Black Voice News) 
Tags for the various books sold at Downtowne Books, a tradition carried on from the previous owner, sit on a counter ready to be filed in various signed, rare edition and new release books on April 1, 2024. (Aryana Noroozi for CatchLight Local / Black Voice News) 
Dr. Bullock sorts through chocolate bars she is preparing to begin selling and pairing with books this month at Downtowne Bookstore on April 1, 2024. As a female business owner of color, Bullock has made it a goal to uplift female authors and merchants locally and globally, as is the case for the chocolate bars that are from around the world. (Aryana Noroozi for CatchLight Local / Black Voice News) 
Signed copy and first edition books are displayed at Downtowne Bookstore on April 1, 2024. (Aryana Noroozi for CatchLight Local / Black Voice News)
“I’ve made sure to do that, to strike a balance between the charm that the store had with the used, rare and signed books,” she said. “I also wanted to introduce the new books and new merchandise, because one, I want to be able to support local authors.”
While owning a bookstore was a first for Dr. Bullock, her background as an academic, human rights advocate, educator and multidisciplinary scholar has helped shape her work at the store.
“I’m a true bibliophile. I love books and all genres and learning,” she said.
A customer browses through an aisle under the skylight at the Downtowne Bookstore on April 1, 2024. The skylight was one of Dr. Bullock’s many renovations to the storefront to create more light. (Aryana Noroozi for CatchLight Local / Black Voice News 
The author’s chair stands in the front corner of Downtowne Bookstore on April 1, 2024. In the past year since acquiring the bookstore, Dr. Bullock has hosted events with authors such as Kadir Nelson. (Aryana Noroozi for CatchLight Local / Black Voice News) 
The Downtowne Bookstore signage hangs over the entryway to the storefront on April 1, 2024. (Aryana Noroozi for Black Voice News / CatchLight Local)
In addition to changing the structure of the store and opening up a sky light on the roof, Dr. Bullock has hosted various programs at the store including a book signing with author Kadir Nelson and coffee with Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson. She looks forward to soon partnering with the California School for the Deaf to give free American Sign Language classes to the community. She is also renovating the basement to create space for more community programs.
Dr. Bullock sees people from all walks of life come into her bookstore and one thing they all have in common is how welcome they feel.
“That fuels us, it feeds our heart and, and it showcases that what I’m doing so far, it does matter,” said Dr. Bullock.