Farmers Branch bookstore owner plans to reopen amid legal fight over stalking concerns
FARMERS BRANCH — The owner of a Farmers Branch bookstore says after dealing with a relentless stalker and having to close her business, she's now planning to reopen.
When we first met Nia Tayler-Clark earlier this year, she was excited to show us her Farmers Branch bookstore, BLACKLIT, which features Black authors.
"We were celebrating the space," she said. "We were highlighting authors in the space."
However, as time progressed, she said a man repeatedly started showing up with a drink in hand.
"Some of the things that he's doing, the words slurring, the way he's interacting with people, they show intoxication has affected his behavior," she said. "We filed the reports. We were able to get a no trespassing warning issued against the individual and that has not stopped him. We're dealing with a persistent individual who is targeting women business owners, and customers, but then we're also dealing with a property management company who doesn't protect their tenants."
Clark said she is suing the man and the property management company. She feels Willow Bridge Property Company did not do enough to keep her safe.
Meanwhile, she's started an online petition called Black Bookstores Don't Have to Die that's gained more than 1,000 signatures and is now looking at properties.
She hopes to officially reopen in Dallas early next year.
"We have limited and narrowed down our search to the State Thomas and Trinity Groves area," she said.
CBS News Texas received the following statement from Willow Bridge Property Company:
"At Willow Bridge, our mission is to deliver impeccable service with integrity. That mission extends to our staff at Midway Urban Village, who pride themselves on the strong relationships they have built with residents and tenants alike.
Over the nearly two-and-a-half years of Ms. Tayler-Clark's lease contract, issues were addressed in a prompt and professional manner. Most importantly, harassment of any kind is unacceptable and not tolerated. When Ms. Tayler-Clark alerted us of the harassment from a Midway Urban Village resident, we moved to evict the individual which requires filing for eviction through the legal system. We cannot act on the eviction until the court issues a judgment, and, unfortunately, the court has not yet ruled on any of our three filings. Progress on these filings can be tracked on the Dallas County website. Any other questions regarding the response to Ms. Tayler-Clark's harassment allegations should be directed to local authorities."