About Us
Celebrating black stories and culture while writing our own narratives
Second Chapter Bookstore is a Black-owned small business operated in Buffalo, NY. We don’t just sell books! As a mother-daughter duo, we combine our mutual passion for Black culture and love for reading to create spaces that cultivate joy, community, and shared learning while centering the Black experience.
Meet The Team
Stephanie Peete was born and raised in Buffalo, NY and is a product of the Buffalo Public School system. Her mother and business partner is a lifelong educator who always stressed the importance of reading and education. She remembers reading her mother’s books around the house whenever she got bored with her own and skipping math class in high school to read in the library.
Currently, she is the Director of Workforce Development at Say Yes Buffalo, where she leads strategy and stewards relationships to create equitable opportunities for Buffalo youth. She is also a racial equity coach and contributes to strengthening the youth employment ecosystem in the city of Buffalo, with nearly 15 years of experience working with youth and families.
Stephanie sees Second Chapter Bookstore as a full circle moment for everything she loves – reading, antiracism, and her adoration of Black culture.
Lisa Queener-Johnson is a retired Buffalo educator, who had the privilege of teaching students and molding young leaders for nearly 30 years in her hometown. She developed a love for reading through her late mother, who always kept a book nearby.
She earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Education degrees from SUNY Buffalo State College and earned numerous awards during her career, and was a two-time recipient for Apple for the Teacher. Currently, Lisa is a Community Advocate who promotes healthier food options in Buffalo’s local corner stores.
Her mantra is to live your best life, happily. Through her love for hosting, traveling, and service to her community, her hope is for Second Chapter Bookstore to become an anchor in our community.
