Wichita’s newest bookstore has an interesting name with several meanings behind it

When entrepreneur Latasha Eley Kelly opened her new Left on Read bookstore downtown in late November, she couldn’t help teasing her mother at the grand opening.

That’s because when she was a child, while her brother would get videos taken away for punishment, Kelly had her books taken away.

Her mother defended herself by telling her daughter, “That was the only thing that worked on you.”

Kelly always has been an avid reader.

“I got lost in the world of reading,” she said. “I credit that honestly (for) my vocabulary and pretty much my trajectory education-wise.”

That’s saying something since she has an undergraduate degree in sociology, a master’s in educational policy, planning and leadership and a doctorate in language, literacy and culture.

Her new store is at the Renfro at 612 E. Douglas, and Kelly’s concept is part bookstore and part programming space for workshops she and others will lead on a variety of topics.

The store also has a particular focus on Black authors along with other people of color.

Kelly said a lot of bookstores have small sections for authors of color and other underrepresented voices.

“I’m kind of wanting to flip that.”

She said she wants to focus on local authors, too.

Her vision for the store is “a cozy kind of vibe.”

“When you step in, it’s like a warm hug. It’s like a nice, warm living room.”

For now, there are a lot of works of fiction.

“A lot of times, people don’t realize how much you can learn from novels even,” Kelly said.

There’s a kids and family section as well.

The store also sells beaded bookmarks by a local vendor, stationery and some of Kelly’s T-shirt and sweatshirt creations with positive and funny messages.

There are also fashion eyeglasses for sale because Kelly said “everyone really kind of knows me for my glasses.”

Kelly said she’s still building the programming side of the business, which is small and has seating for not quite 30 people at workshops.

She said she’s walking a line of trying to think of the needs for community space and the demands of running a business.

“I’m still working through all of that.”

Kelly said the owner and the manager of Watermark Books & Cafe reached out to her with their expertise and to let her know about a grant that was available for her to apply for.

She said the information they shared “was a game-changer for us.”

Kelly said she particularly wanted to give them credit, but she said she’s received a lot of other positive reaction, too.

“The community has been very, very supportive already.”

The store’s name has a few different meanings.

One reference is how some phones indicate someone has seen a text message but “left on read.” Meaning they didn’t reply.

Kelly said that Black authors and others often are “left on read” by the mainstream media, and she said she wants to amplify those voices and untold stories.

Finally, Kelly has an umbrella media organization called the Millennial Black Professor, which she said is rooted in wellness. She said she often asks,” What are you leaving on read today?”

She has a sign in her store window that says that as well.

Kelly explains to people that what she means is what are the things they’re leaving on read that might be creating negativity for them?

“We want you to leave those things on read when you enter Left on Read and allow the books, stories, experience, etc. take you to a more positive place.”