By: Nate Kuhn, Liam Duke, Norah Prasad, Suri Khorram, and Ella Milby
Philadelphia has a rich history of love for literature and has inspired many writers and readers. All of the book stores in Philadelphia are at the center of this. But in recent years things have changed, due to an increase in online shopping and social media influence. Think about how often you buy something online simply because of convenience. The WHYY youth media team interviewed two second hand bookstores to see how they are thriving and the importance that they have to their communities.
The Book Trader, in the heart of Old City Philadelphia, has been trading books since 1975 when it was located on South Street. It runs purely off of books that have been donated to the store. They have over 130,000 books that they have been collecting for years, including rare books and an entire room of records. The two story building is filled with stacks of books from the floor to the ceiling.
Molly’s Books and Records, located in the middle of the Italian Market, has been open for over two decades. This bookstore searches for their second hand books at markets, book giveaways, libraries and auctions. Molly Russakoff specializes in books while her husband collects the records. The books are perfectly organized as you walk back through the maze-like shelfs in the one story shop.
As online sales rise, the importance of in person shopping for books is becoming even more important. Both stores we visited were packed with people browsing for books, and it was clear how enjoyable the act of book shopping is for Philadelphians. “I think people want to have a physical connection to the media they consume, and I think having everything online can make people feel kind of alienated,” said Zach, an employee at The Book Trader.
On the other hand, several people we talked to mentioned the ease of shopping online. The Book Trader and Molly’s Books and Records have had to adapt to the new age of technology. The Book Trader has a website and does some online sales, although Zach says “they are a fraction of what we do.” Molly’s has a very small online presence now, but relied heavily on Instagram during the Covid pandemic. She spoke about the difficulty of maintaining a website for shoppers, and said “it’s like a second job.” Despite the influences of big companies, small businesses can benefit from staying within themselves. “We just keep doing what we do. We don’t really look at what other people are doing,” said Molly.
Small businesses like the Book Trader and Molly’s Books and Records have something that big corporations cannot, personal connections with their customers. “I save things for people if I know them,” says Peter Hiler, the owner of The Book Trader. Having been open since 1975, The Book Trader has created a strong sense of community with its many regulars over the years. Molly mentioned the neighbors who are a central part of the store’s culture, and also acknowledged the great location in the Italian Market. Both stores are comfortable and welcoming to passersby, and play an important role in their communities.
With each person who wanders in, spends an afternoon browsing, and buys a book or two, these bookstores are quietly changing Philadelphia for the better. Molly added that “our store and stores like us really make Philly what it’s supposed to be.”