When DeSuze’s day job as a social work school administrator went remote, the family stayed home full-time with their almost two-year-old son.
Though the cafe side qualified Cafe con Libros as essential, she’s glad they shut down the entire operation: Weeks later, DeSuze, her partner and her mother all contracted the virus. “It was anxiety-producing because we didn’t know how it would impact the baby, and I was still breastfeeding,” she recalls.
Once they all recovered, DeSuze had the time to reevaulate her online presence—an opportunity that helped her evolve her business and, ultimately, her mindset. She doubled down on
Reflection & Reinvention
digital strategy, taking SEO and analytics classes to beef up her social media skills and improve her audience reach. “The business was in its first two years and struggling to get off the ground,” DeSuze says. “The pandemic gave me permission to take a step back.” By mid-June, she partially reopened, allowing customers to purchase books and coffee at the door.
While DeSuze was excited to see Black-owned businesses like hers gain attention, the expectation to meet corporate-level expediency took a toll. She says many customers never even picked up their orders, leaving her returning boxes of books to distributors.
In response to a disgruntled customer’s complaints about shipping delays, DeSuze crafted an earnest blog post sharing the realities facing Black-owned businesses. “Do I take the capitalistic way: the customer is
Staying True To Her Vision
The pause for reflection was brief.
When racial justice protests erupted, Cafe con Libros experienced a surge in demand as customers aimed to support Black-owned businesses. Its social channels amassed new followers, and a deluge of anti-racist book orders overwhelmed the shop’s website. Twenty orders on a good day turned into 500 on a regular day.
always right? Do I beg for forgiveness? Or, do I respond with a great amount of humanity, honesty and compassion? ... Investing in a small business owned by a Black, Latinx Womxn was supposed to be an act rooted in resistance … There’s so much work to be done. I am angry.”
DeSuze recalls overcoming this period of business and emotional strain by “setting boundaries and being okay with not having all the answers.” That time also pushed DeSuze to expand her online infrastructure (customers can now purchase through various third-party platforms).
How She’s
Balancing Reopening With Safety
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DeSuze’s feminist cafe and bookstore Cafe con Libros attracts activists and allies from all walks of life, fostering education and conversation.
How To Sustainably Support Black-Owned Businesses
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Door-side operations continued throughout the fall, and last November, as it grew colder, DeSuze allowed indoor browsing in ten-minute increments for three customers at a time, with masks on.
“There’s still going to be people who are not comfortable being in the world as quickly as others,” she says. “The one thing they may do is come get a coffee and a book. How do we make that one thing special?”
Even today, though New York City has reopened, DeSuze’s safety protocols remain. Signs around the shop remind customers about its safety policies, they still don’t handle cash and DeSuze is adding more outdoor seating for warmer months. The beloved book club and author events hosted by the store will stay virtual. She’s figuring out how to balance the health of her neighborhood with the human connection and community values so essential to her vision.
A Safe & Connected Future
What An Indie Bookseller Would Like The World To Know
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