From the time she was a young girl, Denisha Williamson-Walker was a voracious reader who dreamed of one day owning her own bookstore. When she turned 41 last year, she decided it was time to make that dream a reality. A lifelong entrepreneur, Williamson-Walker saw this as her final and most meaningful venture.

She connected with a local commercial real estate agent and quickly found what seemed to be the perfect location: 1024 NE 8th Street in Ocala. Her vision was clear — a cozy, adults-only space offering extended hours for reading, relaxation, and decompression.

On November 19, 2025, a Letter of Intent for the space, stating that it would be used as a bookstore, was submitted and approved the same day. A month later, on December 18, the listing agent informed her that their lawyer was not experienced in commercial leasing. Her own agent recommended an attorney, and by December 22, the commercial lease set to begin January 1 was signed.

Over the following weeks, Williamson-Walker worked diligently with the City of Ocala to establish utility services, submit a change-of-use form listing the property as a bookstore, and schedule necessary inspections. Meanwhile, excitement for her project — now known as The Cozy Bookshop on 8th — was spreading online. Followers from as far as Jacksonville and Tampa engaged with her posts, while local residents expressed enthusiasm about a Black-owned bookstore coming to their city.

By January, however, obstacles began to appear. On January 21, Williamson-Walker visited City Hall to ask why utilities had not yet been activated. She was told she needed to provide original and current floor plans. Repairs promised by the property owner had not begun, so she obtained permission to hire a contractor herself for a window repair, with reimbursement promised later. On January 26, she returned with documentation verifying the completed repair and installation of new fire extinguishers only to be told her utility request was still under review.

Then, on February 1, disaster struck when a pipe burst due to freezing temperatures in the unheated building. The next day Williamson-Walker again visited City Hall to plead for emergency access to power and heat. Instead, she learned that the property she had leased was not zoned for commercial retail use. It was approved only for office space.

Her agent, the property owner, the property owners agent, and Williamson-Walker attempted to explore rezoning options, but city officials informed them that a change was not possible for bookstore operations. The property owner offered to reimburse her for completed improvements and even suggested she open a different kind of business under the zoning restrictions, quietly transitioning into a bookstore later. Williamson-Walker declined.

With deep disappointment but determination intact, Williamson-Walker terminated her lease on February 9. The property owner then stated that reimbursement was not owed due to a clause in the original lease — a lease which was agreed to under the understanding of commercial use. Her agent has since issued a formal request for repayment, but, as of publication, no response has been received and litigation is pending.

Despite the setbacks, Denisha Williamson-Walker remains optimistic. She continues to search for a new location and insists her dream of a welcoming, Black-owned community bookshop in Ocala is far from over.

A GoFundMe page has been created to help Williamson-Walker move forward with her bookstore opening.

As this is now an ongoing legal matter, names of other parties involved will not be shared at this time.