About Us

L.E.M.S. Life Enrichment Bookstore on #Rainier in Columbia City, the state's only black-owned bookstore. Vickie Williams founded & ran L.E.M.S. for over 2 decades, focusing on black literature, history, and empowerment. L.E.M.S. held countless community events & was a hub for community-building, learning, and organizing - as well as a space for youth that received mentorship & guidance from Ms. Vickie. L.E.M.S. also held space for African church services, recovery groups, job training for formerly incarcerated folks, and holiday & Kwanzaa bazaars for #blackowned businesses. Vickie Williams passed away in March at the age of 65, and over 1,000 attended her funeral services to pay respects. Her life & business partner, Aaliyah Messiah, expressed a desire to carry forward the work and community that Ms. Vickie nurtured. #LEMS #LEMSBookstore #LEMSLifeEnrichmentBookstore #RIP #RestinPower #columbiacity #soufend #southend #southseattle #blackseattle #blackbusinessesmatter #blackpower #supportlocal #seattlelandmark #seattlecommunity #peoplepower #servethepeople #seattlehistory #seattleicons #seattleinstitution #seattle #vanishingseattle #vivaseattle Lem's Life Enrichment Bookstore