In 1976 Leothy Miller Owens was a young educator when she started Nkiru in her home. At the time, Brooklyn had several African American bookstores, including Richardson's Afro-American Book Store, the Freedom Bookstore, and Akiba Mkuu, founded by the black-nationalist organization The East. Within a short period of time the store expanded into its own space at 76 St. Marks Place. Ms. Miller Owens died in 1992. Her mother, Adelaide Miller, ran the store from 1992 to 1999, when the store came into severe financial distress.