Philadelphia Is Home to 40 Independent Bookstores
The Philadelphia scene of independent bookstores is thriving. Today, more than 40 shops and a network of niche chains attribute their growth to strong community support and collaboration among owners….
The Philadelphia scene of independent bookstores is thriving. Today, more than 40 shops and a network of niche chains attribute their growth to strong community support and collaboration among owners.
Writing for Billy Penn at WHYY, Violet Comber-Wilen notes that Philly's reading culture remains vibrant and thriving.
Beyond the Covers: A Peek at the Shops
A Novel Idea in East Passyunk opened in 2018 to fill a gap in the community bookstore market. This bookshop focuses on local authors and presses and provides space for self-published and small-press works.
Head and the Hand in Fishtown highlights local literature, featuring Philly-based authors, regionally set books, and local publishers.
Julia de Burgos Bookstore in Kensington offers bilingual English-Spanish children's books and features works by Latinx artists. Proceeds from book sales support Taller Puertorriqueño and ongoing community programs.
Multiverse in Chestnut Hill specializes in comics, sci-fi, fantasy, and manga. It hosts inclusive events like Dungeons & Dragons and Valentine's Day date nights to welcome comic fans of all levels.
Niche stores such as Thrillerdelphia (horror) and Cupid's Bookshop (romance) in Manayunk curate themed events and decor that align with their genres, enriching the indie bookseller landscape.
Challenges Facing Philly Independent Bookstores
While these bookshops occupy an integral role in the communities they serve, operating an independent bookstore is not without its challenges today. Jon Bekken, who opened the West Philly bookstore Bindlestiff Books in 2005, has seen the city's bookstore climate change over the last two decades.
“In the city, there have been some new bookstores that have come in,” he told Billy Penn. “But, we've had a couple of long-established bookstores that have gone under in the time we've been open.”
Tina Long of Thrillerdelphia and Cupid's Bookshop said that creativity has been the key to her businesses.
“I know it's a really tough environment right now to help an all-general bookstore, because there are just so many titles that come out every week, and [it would just be hard to] store all of it,” she said. “And so, again, it's tough. The margins are tight, so you have to find other ways to make it work.”
Tina's husband and co-owner, Anthony Long, said that owning a bookstore entails myriad roles and responsibilities. “You have to engage with your community, but you also have to engage with authors, and you have to engage with the publishers,” he said.
