Blackbird Books & Coffee brings a new bookstore and cafe to downtown Raleigh

Why it matters: Blackbird brings a much welcomed addition to downtown's City Market district — known for its cobblestone streets and restaurants like Big Ed's — which lost many of its tenants since the start of the pandemic.

• "We've been aiming for a cozy atmosphere and [City Market] felt like a great match," co-owner Hannah Brunswick said. "And we know retail is kind of up and coming here and we just felt more [retail] brings the market back to life."

Details: Sisters-in-law Hannah and Bre Brunswick, who previously managed a coffee shop and started a jewelry company respectively, run the store and handpick its small selection of books with a focus on female and queer authors.

• The coffee bar, which features espresso drinks as well as teas, uses beans roasted by Raleigh's Black & White Coffee.
• The store also carries a selection of artisan-made jewelry, notebooks and other gifts, and offers a monthly book box that includes a book and handmade gift.

What they're saying: "We're really hoping this is a place where people become regulars, where we know everybody's names and where people feel like they're welcome and like they belong," Hannah Brunswick told Axios.

• "I know we've both personally struggled with finding places where we truly feel like we're seen and accepted," she added, "and I think a lot of people struggle with that. So our vision is to make everybody feel like they belong here."

What's happening: The store will be open from 9am-9pm Friday.

• Poetry Fox will be writing $10 poems starting at 5pm.

Go deeper: Triangle sees a surge in new independent book stores