14 shops · 7 districts
The Record & Book Edit.
Fourteen shops for bookshops and record stores worth an afternoon, across 7 parts of Philly: South Street, Antique Row, East Passyunk, Chestnut Hill and more. Picked from the 208 shops we list, one location each.
- 1Records & music · South StreetRepo RecordsSouth Street's go-to vinyl destination.
- 2Books · Antique RowPhilly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni's RoomLGBTQ and feminist bookstore at 12th and Pine, founded in 1973 and now run by Philly AIDS Thrift, selling new and used books and hosting readings; pro
- 3Books · East PassyunkLittle Yenta BooksUsed bookshop stocking popular and literary fiction, classics, vintage sci-fi, poetry and rare books; moved in June 2026 from a small upstairs loft in
- 4Books · East PassyunkA Novel Idea on PassyunkCouple-owned independent bookstore with new and used books, author signings and events; marked seven years on the avenue in November 2025.
- 5Books · Chestnut HillMultiverseBookstore for speculative fiction: science fiction, fantasy, horror, graphic narrative, comics and manga, plus children's books, board games and RPGs.
- 6Books · Chestnut HillBookedWoman-owned general bookstore with literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, genre titles, literary magazines and local authors, plus a kids' nook and stationery and gifts.
- 7Books · Chestnut Hill50 Watts BooksBookshop for out-of-print and new titles, with sections on design, typography, Japanese art, music and children's books in several languages.
- 8Records & music · FishtownPhiladelphia Record ExchangeBuying, selling, and trading used vinyl, cassettes, and CDs since 1985.
- 9Records & music · South StreetDigital UndergroundIndustrial, goth, darkwave, EBM specialist since 1992.
- 10Books · Old CityBrave New WorldsComic book shop in Old City; has added a second location in Willow Grove.
- 11Records & music · ManayunkMain Street MusicManayunk's independent music shop since 1997.
- 12Art & gifts · South StreetGarland of LettersNew Age bookshop, gifts, and metaphysical supplies.
- 13Boutiques · ManayunkThe Spiral BookcaseTiny independent bookshop celebrating queer-centric, diverse, and feminist stories.
- 14Boutiques · ManayunkCupid's BookshopPhiladelphia's first romance bookstore, opened May 2025.
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