In 1960, in the thriving Black business district known as the Fillmore, Julian and Raye Richardson were co-owners of The Success Printing Co. and avid readers. When friends didn't return their books, they realized the need for a Black bookstore. It was named Success Book Store. After reading Marcus Garvey's Philosophy and Opinions, they decided to change the names of their 30 year-old printshop and ten year-old bookstore to Marcus Books Printing and Marcus Bookstores, opening another store in Oakland, California.