Follow us on a wallet-draining tour of our favorite independent bookstores in Philadelphia. Because no one at Barnes and Noble will ever say, “There’s a new author that I know you’ll love.”
House of Our Own 3920 Spruce St. As I walk into House of Our Own, located on Penn’s makeshift Greek Row, I half expect to be ankle deep in Natty Lite and surrounded by CEOs and corporate hoes. Instead, I find myself in a Victorian home being greeted warmly by the couple who opened the store in 1971. Every stair, door frame, mantle and shelf of the house is stacked with a different kind of book: from the new or less-used-than-your-Astronomy-001-textbook to the well-worn and out of print. Along with a wide selection of fiction, one can find literary criticism, poetry, foreign and academic texts and general interest books. So whether you’re searching for a biography of Leon Trotsky, the last book in the Gossip Girl series or an instructional guide on the preparation of tofu, stop in here. Don’t worry about your inability to navigate the shelves; the friendly staff will direct you to the appropriate window ledge or corner of the upstairs room.
Avril 50 3406 Sansom St. Avril 50 doesn’t carry books, per se, making it a little out of place in this independent bookstore feature. However, as the hands-down most underappreciated place at Penn, I feel it deserves a shout out. Described by John, its European owner, as “an oasis of good things in life,” Avril 50 sells international publications, along with a selection of coffee (“the best in the galaxy”), tea, chocolate and foreign tobacco products. From art, music and film magazines to newspapers from around the globe, the shop is home to all things unique. More importantly, reading anything in the shop (with the possible exception of the collection of pornography in the back corner) is guaranteed to make you 300% cooler. If you’re looking for lit you can’t find anywhere else, get over here, sign the guest book and, if you’re a broke student like me, get your credit card declined and receive an IOU (I’ll get you your $6.27, John — Scout's honor).
Joseph Fox Bookshop 1724 Sansom St. Although no one at Joseph Fox Books was interested in talking to me (maybe it was a bad idea to lead with the question of whether they were affiliated in any way with Fox Books from You’ve Got Mail), the charm of this Rittenhouse shop is undeniable. The store is small, but when I peruse the shelves I find them complete with staff recommendations, books on the arts and New York Times Book Review favorites. It becomes clear that the selection is thoughtfully chosen and is definitely worth the trek to Center City.
Robin’s Book Store 108 S. 13th St. Established in 1931, Robin’s Book Store is both the oldest independent bookseller in Philadelphia and the greatest place on Earth. It is responsible for the Supreme Court Case that allowed Tropic of Cancer to be sold in the U.S. when a few “explicit sexual passages” were keeping it off the shelves. Throughout history it has served as a safe haven for magazines and books that other vendors refuse to carry. As stated in Robin’s history of the shop, you’ll find “everything from Erotica to Mao, from small political and literary magazines to anti-war and rock posters.” The feeling of the store remains one of liberated thought and free-flowing ideas. Patrons and staff alike are always happy to converse about any and all subjects, recommend the perfect novel and direct you towards a book that just might change the way you think.
