Today, we’d like to introduce you to Chi “Auntea” Hughes.
Hi Chi, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for sharing your story with us – to start, maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
In 2019, Kyle Brown (my nephew and co-owner of Bookstore Gallery) and I were sitting at my kitchen table discussing various ways to enjoy the benefits of hemp flower, other than smoking. Since relocating from California to Georgia, I would occasionally get together with Kyle to talk, braid his hair, and catch up on family stuff.
After smoking a joint or bowl, these outings were always more animated, and he would share his dreams and ambitions. I had been smoking cannabis off and on since high school, but now, in my sixties, I was ready to give my lungs a break from the harshness of smoking. We created a hemp-infused tea concoction using some of the ingredients I had in the cabinet and my yard. We found black tea, hibiscus, ginger spices, and, of course, hemp. I created a few recipes and brews we shared with family and friends.
Their comments were positive, and we were encouraged to expand the tastings. Soon, we did a few popups in Georgia and Tennessee, and the responses were tremendously favorable. We also started selling the tea online for Malawi Plant and Oil. And this was during the Covid pandemic!! During this time, online sales of our CBD products remained steady.
We were so encouraged by these positive results that we looked for a brick-and-mortar to relaunch and reconfigure the CBD/hemp offerings. After being turned down by numerous timid property owners, we stumbled upon a location in Castleberry Hills – a gritty area in transition where creatives live and gather. The building owners were very supportive of Black entrepreneurs and cannabis enthusiasts and agreed to a lease.
The building still had the sign “Bookstore” from a previous business on the façade of the building. Bookstore was incorporated into our business name, “Bookstore Gallery,” partially as a homage to the history of the community. As part of the speakeasy nature of the name, we’ve placed bookshelves around the CBD and hemp lounge. We’re 16 months into operating GA’s first Black-owned CBD/hemp/tea lounge.
Bookstore Gallery is a modern-day apothecary strategically situated down the street from the Mercedes Benz stadium. We use the term apothecary loosely to speak to the different healing needs of communities of color.
The black brick building with teal accents has intentionally morphed into a community center offering jazz nights, comedy nights, men’s mental health meetups, financial planning workshops, first-time homeowner workshops, women’s groups, and so much more. The healing spot also continues to offer premium CBD and hemp products (including teas) every day of the week.
People often compliment our team on the chill and welcoming vibe they experience while visiting our shop. The background music is as diverse as the visitors to the shop. During every new moon, the shop is smudged with sage that has grown in my garden. A rainbow flag can be seen from the window. Flowers and herbs are planted in raised beds around the perimeter.
Recently, it occurred to me that part of my journey has included creating safe spaces for those of us on the margins. Bookstore Gallery has become another one of these safe spaces.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Black entrepreneurship is rarely easy, partially due to institutional barriers such as racism and limited access to capital. Add to that an emerging hemp industry that’s still highly stigmatized and strangely regulated from state to state. Due to tight financing restrictions for cannabis businesses, the venture had to be privately financed. Messaging and social media advertising and posts remain a challenge in light of the existing stigma of cannabis and confusing regulations.
Finally, there is a fair amount of miseducation and skepticism in the general population regarding cannabis and, more specifically, hemp and CBD. Many people are unaware of the studies that speak to the medicinal properties of this amazing botanical. That being said, an educated consumer is our best supporter. One of the things that sets Bookstore Gallery apart from other CBD/hemp retailers is our willingness and ability to educate shoppers.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Most of my professional career has been in the nonprofit sector. Many may not realize it, but the nonprofit sector is the safety net for many people. When the government fails its citizens, nonprofit and social service organizations often fill the gaps. In my purpose-driven life, being of service is important, especially to communities of color. This work began in Washington, DC, during the AIDS epidemic in the early 1980s.
While AIDS was thought to be a problem for “white gay men,” HIV disease was having a devastating impact on communities of color in DC. In other words, my friends were succumbing to the prevalence of misinformation as well as the effects of HIV disease. I had to get involved and become part of the solution by creating educational and outreach programs for people of color at the Whitman-Walker clinic.
At this time, I was an activist in the LGBT community. Along with a group of Howard University students, I cofounded the Lambda Student Alliance, the first LQBT organization at an HBCU. In 2015, I received the Community Pioneer Award from the Rainbow History Project.
When I moved to Los Angeles, I was hired as the Deputy Director of The Los Angeles Community Services Center. This was the first time women of color served in that position. I have spent almost forty years of my professional career in the social service sector, creating programs and initiatives for marginalized communities nationally and internationally. It has been extremely rewarding.
I am semi-retired and have become a master gardener through an extension program at the University of Georgia. My knowledge as a master gardener informs my hemp teas and herbal concoctions sold at the Bookstore Gallery. My new name is Auntea, and I revel in the joy and healing customers share with me after trying an Auntea blend. Tea has become my new passion and a way to continue being of service.
What changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
Currently, the cannabis industry is compared to the Wild Wild West. Much of the industry is uncharted land where many seek their fortunes, including big pharma, building and construction, corner convenience stores, and vape shops. The hemp global industrial market was valued at USD 6.8 billion in 2022 and is expected to climb to USD 18.1 billion by 2027.
As recently as 2018, the U.S. federal government legalized industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity and removed it from the list of controlled substances. But there is currently a complex regulatory structure governing the use of industrial hemp. For instance, as I write this, the Georgia State Legislature reviews a bill (HB1322, The Georgia Hemp Farming Act) that will “regulate consumable hemp products.” This bill has the ability to restrict the use of consumable hemp in Georgia. This is a serious threat to Bookstore Gallery and all people (veterans, etc.) seeking to use hemp legally to address a myriad of health conditions. Last year, Florida passed a similar bill and law that will be enacted soon.
At the same time, more people are becoming aware of the wonderful attributes of the hemp plant. With knowledge comes power, and I desire to see a powerful movement at the grassroots level to decriminalize hemp at all levels and make it available for legal consumption in every state. Bookstore is exploring ways to pivot should hemp consumption become illegal once again.
Contact Info:
- Website: bookstoregallery.com
- Instagram: @bookstoregallery_atl
- YouTube: bookstore gallery
- Other: @auntea_chi
