About The champion newspaper. (Decatur, GA) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 9, 2025)
BUSINESS THE CHAMPION, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2025 • PAGE 9 Bookstore/coffee shop is newest addition to Privi at Stonecrest BY KATHY MITCHELL BUSINESS EDITOR Developer Vaughn Irons said when he and his wife, Cassandra, were planning Privi, a culinary, entertainment, and cultural center in the Mall at Stonecrest, there was one feature he strongly hoped it would include. "I really wanted there to be a bookstore," he said, speaking Oct. 2 at the ribbon cutting for Privi's newest business—Akoma, a bookstore and coffee shop. "When I was growing up in New York, my parents owned a book- store," Irons said. "I knew it was more than a business; it was a cul tural gathering place, a safe space for people to discuss ideas freely. It's where the past and the present merge. It was the first thing I said I wanted for Privi." Privi occupies what had been the Mall at Stonecrest's Sears store and includes an art gallery, a food hall, an upscale spa, event spaces and other features. Kazemde Ajamu, owner of Ako ma, owned a small bookstore and coffee shop in downtown Lithonia, Black Dot, when Irons invited him to expand his business with a location in Privi, Ajamu recalled. "I loved that idea of a place Kazemde Ajamu, owner of Akoma, says books and coffee are the perfect combination for a community gathering place where ideas and information can be shared. Photo by Kathy Mitchell focused on local authors, where authors could discuss and promote their work. I wanted to help them learn to maximize distribution of their work through independent stores such as mine instead of on- line sales, where they get little if any promotion," Ajamu said. Ajamu said the name Akoma de rives from a west African language. "It means 'heart,' but more than that patience, unity, love are all part of the meaning," he said, explaining that the store specializes in Black literature and history, "but we're not exclusively about those subjects. There's lots more here. We're also not exclusively for Black patrons. I want this to be a place all people can come to and enjoy." The bookstore owner said he had careers in a variety of indus tries, including sales and mortgage banking, adding, "I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur. I love the way the business commu nity in the Lithonia/Stonecrest area supports its own. Business owners help other business owners. My first bookstore in Lithonia started inside a restaurant and that's where I oper ated until a space next door became available." Coffee and books are a great combination, according to Ajamu. "I love good coffee, and I love good books. I wanted to bring those two things together." More than anything, Ajamu said, he wants people to feel at home and free to learn and discuss at his shop. He brought from his Lithonia business his business motto: "One cup, one book, one mind at a time." Ajamu, who grew up in New Jersey, described his youth as "troubled," recalling, "books saved my life. Although there were problems in our household when I was growing up, my parents were readers and I learned to be a reader, too. Reading changed me. I hope to lead other people, especially young people, to books that change their lives as well." When selecting books for his store, Ajamu said he started with books that changed his life. "After that, I worked with publishers to find books that fit my business model. Publishers are very good at helping you find books that are a good fit for your store," he noted. Ajamu said he recently complet ed a class on rare books. "I would like to bring more people of color into the rare book arena. I would like them to learn to recognize authors and books worth collecting. Rare books are like art; each has a special value. I want to grow that market in the African-American community." Others participating in the rib bon cutting include DeKalb County Super District 7 Representative LaD- ena Bolton; Lithonia Mayor Shame- ka Reynolds; Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble; and Doreen Carter, 93rd District representative of the Georgia House of Representatives. Congressman announces opening of annual app challenge BY REGINALD FULLER RFULLER@DEKALBCHAMP.COM Congressman Hank John son recently announced the opening period of submis sions for his 2025 Congres sional App Challenge (CAC), now through Oct. 30. The challenge is a nation wide competition encour aging students to develop their coding and program ming skills while promoting STEM education. Officially launched by the U.S. House of Representatives in 2015, this nationwide effort allows students to compete against their peers by creating an application or "app," for mobile, tablet, or computer devices. Johnson's challenge invites students from Geor gia's fourth district, which includes DeKalb County, to submit original app creations for a chance to showcase their innovation, creativity, and technical expertise. This competition is open to all middle and high school students who reside in or attend school in Georgia's 4th Congressional District. Whether a seasoned app de veloper or a first-time coder, this is an opportunity to de velop valuable technical skills and make a lasting impres sion, district officials state. To enter, students must register on the official Con gressional App Challege website at https://www. congressionalappchallenge. us/students/student-regis- tration/. The deadline for app submissions is Oct. 30 at noon. Judging will take place from Nov. 5 to Dec. 1. A panel of judges will evaluate submissions based on cre ativity, design, functionality, and overall impact. Final winners will be announced by Dec. 31. According to a press release, the winners will receive a special recognition from Johnson with their app featured on the Congressio nal App Challenge website and displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Winners may also have the opportunity to attend a special reception to showcase their app to members of Congress and the broader technology com munity. Last year, it was Cham blee students Emma Lane, Nicholas Jovanovich, Mary Lawton Jones, and Ella King who won 2024's Con gressional App Challenge in Georgia's 4th Congressional District for their app called Voting Buddy. Voting Buddy gave users information about the entire voting process, from register ing to vote to election day in formation. The app also gave detailed information about mail-in ballots and absentee ballots with a focus on assist ing first-time voters. "We are excited to once again host the Congressional App Challenge, an event that inspires young minds to engage with STEM and demonstrates the power of creativity and innovation," said Johnson. "I encourage students across our district to take part in this incredible opportunity to showcase their talents and create the Public Notice: Kleinfelder proposes the construction of a 220-ft (240-ft AGL overall with appurtenances) self- support telecommunications tower to be located at Latitude: 33 deg 41 min 40.5 sec N Longitude: 84 deg 20 min 26.7 sec W within DeKalb County, Georgia (Dekalb County Parcel ID: 15 081 08 001). Kleinfelder seeks comments from all interested persons on any potential significant impact the proposed action could have on the quality of the human environment pursuant to 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1307, including potential impacts to historic or cultural resources that are listed or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Please submit any written comments within 30 days of this notice’s first publication regarding the potential effects that the proposed tower may have on Historic Properties that are listed or eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places to: TEP OpCo, LLC. (Attn: Ryan Malek) 326 Tryon Road, Raleigh, NC 27603 Telephone: (919) 661-6351 Fax: (919) 661-6350 next big tech breakthrough." For more information, visit the official Congressio nal App Challenge website or contact Kaitlyn Brewster at (770)-987-2291.
