The recently opened store, Gladys Books & Wine, features a bar and café and hosts events and talks.
Gladys Books & Wine has books upstairs and a bar downstairs. Photo by Amber Sexton
by Amber Sexton, Gay City News
Tucked away along Malcolm
Upon entering Gladys you are greeted by the familiar smells of fresh books and coffee. These cozy scents are paired with decor that celebrates Black queer culture, such as a huge flag decorated with the colors and stripes of the lesbian and transgender pride flags above a colorful portrait of the late Marsha P. Johnson.
And when she’s not at work for her second day, you’re sure to hear the sound of owner Tiffany Dockery asking how you’re doing.
Dockery, 37, grew up in Chicago and moved to Bed Stuy a few years ago while he had an engineering job at Google. About a year ago, she left her tech job and had the opportunity to connect more with her nearby community. This connection inspired her to open Gladys, a safe haven for Black queer women, in an effort to give back to her community.
Since the bookstore opened in September, many people have commented on the homey atmosphere, which Dockery attributes to her childhood in the Midwest.
“I brought the experience I had in Chicago, such as the use of color, wood and natural materials, to this space,” says Dockery. “What I like about Bed Stuy is that it reminds me of the best parts of Chicago.”
Every aspect of the bookstore is designed to unite and uplift the Black community through personal connection. At a time when many connections are made through technology, Dockery hopes that having a space like Gladys will give people the opportunity to form something deeper, based on real conversations and experiences.
But building this inspiring store hasn’t been easy. To open Gladys, she invested her entire life and retirement savings, while continuing to work a second job in technology to provide additional support.
But despite these challenges, Dockery remains resilient and optimistic, a trait inherited from her late grandmother Gladys, the store’s namesake. She was a young orphan who worked relentlessly to build a life for herself and her family. When the going gets tough, whether in her tech job or with Gladys, Dockery remembers and honors her grandmother’s legacy.
Having the support of black gay people in the neighborhood is a crucial factor for Dockery. When older queer women come in and say they are proud of the store, she realizes her work is worthwhile.
The upper floor is ideal for reading a book, while the lower floor has a bar. The wine lounge isn’t open yet while Dockery works to get its liquor license, but the store is hosting events throughout the week — like live podcast recordings, poetry readings and featured authors — and continues to add more as they come. Dockery also says an event about black sex workers is in the works.
Gladys’ is located at 306 Malcolm The long-vacant space was previously home to Brookland Capital, a now-defunct but once-prolific developer of small apartment buildings in Brooklyn. The company installed the large multi-pane steel windows, completed the basement and expanded the backyard.
Dockery said she strongly believes that black power comes from collective consciousness and action, and she hopes more people have the opportunity to join Gladys in that collective.
“We need to redevelop the ability to get along with each other,” Dockery said. “This is how you form deep, meaningful connections.”
Editor’s note: A version of this story originally appeared in Gay City News. Click here to see the original story.
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