“We Bend, We Don’t Break:” Comma Bookstore Closes its Doors, Beginning its Next Chapter Online

FLINT, Michigan — When Egypt Otis opened Comma Bookstore & Social Hub in early 2020, the world was in the grip of a pandemic, political polarization was at a peak, and Flint needed a place that offered joy, culture, and connection. Otis, a lifelong Flint resident, felt that urgency deeply. She built Comma to be a space rooted in representation, creativity, and community care. And for more than five years, it became exactly that. 

Now, as Comma transitions from a physical storefront to a fully digital model, Otis is closing one chapter and opening another, one that preserves the heart of the bookstore while adapting to a changing economic landscape.

From the moment it opened, Comma stood apart. It wasn’t only Flint’s only Black-owned bookstore, it was the only Black-owned bookstore in all of Genesee County. For Otis, the mission was bigger than selling books. It was about honoring ancestors, uplifting local creatives, and filling a cultural void she felt every Flint resident deserved to see filled.

During its five-year run, Comma became a home for local authors, young entrepreneurs, artists, and families who saw themselves reflected on its shelves and in its events. It became a gathering place, one where people felt seen, valued, and connected.

“I think the reason why people loved it so much is because they really felt invested in it. They felt like it was theirs,” Otis said. “It was for the city, and it was by the city.” 

The decision to close the physical storefront was not easy or singular. Otis cites declining arts funding, reliance on nonprofit grants, and economic challenges in Flint as key factors.

“There is this larger effort to almost immobilize independent bookstores across the nation,” she said. With grants shrinking under the current federal administration and a new wave of local economic decline, “I cried, I yelled. I’ve done everything I could to keep Comma up and running.” 

Comma is far from alone. Across the country, independent bookstores—especially culturally specific and Black-owned shops— are struggling against rising costs, reduced foot traffic, and disappearing public arts funding.

For Otis, the decision was painful but necessary. Closing the storefront means reclaiming her own well-being: “My mental health, emotional health, all of those things were suffering. Now I can invest in my well-being again.” 

Even as the physical doors close, Comma’s reach is growing.

The store has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Mastercard’s “Wakanda Forever” commercial, and the Jennifer Hudson Show. That national exposure, Otis said, gives them a foundation to build a more robust digital presence.

“It only makes sense to transition fully and focus more on that broader digital presence now,” she explained. Comma’s upcoming plans include expanding online inventory, deepening brand collaborations, and hosting creative experiences in partnership with cultural organizations, without the limitations of a brick-and-mortar space. 

As a trained archivist and Black memory worker, Otis also plans to lean more intentionally into work that preserves stories, history, and cultural traditions. New partnerships will be announced early next year.

“We’re called Comma for a reason,” she said. “Comma—we keep going. We’re not a period.” 

For all of Comma’s public impact, Otis is most proud of the young people whose lives were shaped inside the bookstore. Several Flint teens—now young adults—got their first jobs, mentorship, or entrepreneurial platform through Comma. Among them are Latisha Jones, Antonio Sweeney, and Aaron Hall, all of whom worked in the store and sold their products on its shelves. Supporting their growth, creativity, and business dreams, Otis said, remains one of the most meaningful parts of Comma’s legacy.

“They were with me since they were in high school,” she said. “Just being able to mentor them and support them… I’m really proud of that.” 

Comma also became a space where Flint residents could learn Black history, explore identity, and engage in cultural memory, an impact Otis considers part of her calling.

“I definitely feel like this work is my ministry,” she said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to have touched people for the five years we were here.” 

To Flint and to supporters everywhere, Otis has one message: “Don’t give up on us. We bend, we don’t break.” 

She hopes people will stay connected to Comma’s upcoming digital relaunch, support independent bookstores locally and nationally, and continue to invest in the community’s cultural life.

As the physical space prepares to close, Comma will host one final community celebration: its last ArtWalk event on Friday, December 12, at 6 p.m. The gathering will feature a live DJ, art, and refreshments, one more opportunity for Flint residents to come together in the space they’ve cherished.

“There is a very intentional effort to erase history,” she added. “It takes a community effort to protect the institutions charged with maintaining these stories.”