Philly Bookstores by Neighborhood

Published On: August 9th, 2021

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11 Indie Neighborhood Bookstores

curated & written by @maggie

There’s something magical about entering a bookshop. The smell of new and used books, the immediate calm you feel as soon as the door clicks behind you, the thrill of opportunity — which book will I leave with? Philadelphia is home to countless bookstores, each with their own personality. Check out these 11 bookstores by neighborhood and support local businesses in the process.

each tile is linked to the book stores location & store

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photo cred: @rowhousepub

Harriett’s Bookshop

Fishtown

Located in Fishtown, Harriet’s Bookshop is named after Harriet Tubman. Its mission is to highlight women authors, artists, and activists. 258 E. Girard Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19125. They also just opened up an amazing outdoor book garden!

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photo cred: @hakimsbookstore

Hakim’s Bookstore

West Philly

Hakim’s was first opened in West Philly in 1959. It has now since been revitalized by Hakim’s daughter and specializes in African American books, history, and authors. 210 S 52nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19139

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photo cred: @katyisreading

Neighborhood Books

Graduate Hospital

A used bookstore on South Street in Graduate Hospital, Neighborhood Books does its best to support local authors. 1906 South Street, Philadelphia PA 19146

Free Little Library Map

find the free little library close to you

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photo cred: @phillybookgirl

Molly’s Books & Records

Italian Market

Located in the heart of the bustling Italian Market, Molly’s Books and Records offers both new and used books and records alike. 1010 S 9th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

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photo cred: @anovelideaphilly

A Novel Idea

East Passyunk

An independent bookstore in Passyunk, A Novel Idea’s mission is to reflect and support the community. 1726 E Passyunk Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19148

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photo cred: @phillybookgirl

The Book Trader

Old City

A used bookstore in Old City featuring classics, records, and a handful of new titles. 7 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

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photo cred: @feakbetweenthesheet

Book Corner

Logan Square

The Book Corner is a secondhand bookstore located in Logan Square. It works to benefit public libraries. 311 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103

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photo cred: @phillybookgirl

Bookhaven

Fairmount

A used bookstore in Fairmount with a wide selection of titles, authors, and subjects. 2202 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130

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photo cred: @educatorsoncall

TreeHouse Books

North Philadelphia

TreeHouse Books is more than a bookstore. It’s also a giving library and literary center whose mission is to make sure all children in Philadelphia have access to books. Located in North Philadelphia at 1430 W Susquehanna Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19121

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photo cred: @mostlybooksphilly

Mostly Books

Society Hill

This bookstore is a hidden gem between Queen Village and Society Hill with multiple rooms of mostly used books to peruse. They also have a large selection of VHS tapes, CD’s, DVD’s, and more. 529 Bainbridge St, Philadelphia, PA 19147

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photo cred: @kareemahsurbanbooks

Kareemah’s Urban Books

South Philly

This bookstore in South Philly also sells candles and other gifts. 2200 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19145

Meet the Blogger

maggie

Maggie Blehar is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor. Her passion for writing started as soon as she could hold a pencil, filling up journal after journal. When she isn’t writing, you can find her showcasing her amateur cooking skills, digging deeper into her zodiac sign, exploring Philly neighborhoods with her dog, or refurbishing wooden chairs to resemble cherished book covers, a hobby she calls Literachair. Learn more or connect with her on her website.

Meet the Blogger

maggie

Maggie Blehar is a Philadelphia-based writer and editor. Her passion for writing started as soon as she could hold a pencil, filling up journal after journal. When she isn’t writing, you can find her showcasing her amateur cooking skills, digging deeper into her zodiac sign, exploring Philly neighborhoods with her dog, or refurbishing wooden chairs to resemble cherished book covers, a hobby she calls Literachair. Learn more or connect with her on her website.