The Fate of Giovanni’s Room

Executive Director of PhillyGayCalendar

Mary Malinconico of Drexel Hill found solace at Giovanni’s Room, the well-established gay bookstore on the corner of 12th and Pine Streets in Philadelphia.

“For me it was a place to feel comfortable finding literacy materials for me to read as a young gay person,” she said.  “It was a needed place to find out about community social events and safe spaces in the community.”

Malinconico, along with countless others, reacted strongly to the news that the owners of Giovanni’s Room would be selling both the business and its physical storefront.  Although there is the possibility that a new owner could purchase the business and continue operating the establishment as a gay bookstore, the chances are unlikely.

In a press release, Ed Hermance, who has been at the helm of Giovanni’s Room since 1976, said, “it is time to find a successor, if there is to be one.”

The press release continues, “For the store to continue, the new owner(s) must have the financial resources to carry the store forward.  The store needs new ideas, new money, and new energy to take advantage of the news resources available to a 21st-century business.”

Bookstores, as a whole, have turned into a vanishing breed, especially given the rise of popular online retailers, such as Amazon, and the growing trend of e-readers.  In his recent article “The Endangered Fate of Barnes and Noble” from The Atlantic, author Peter Osnos discusses the downfall of the bookstore as a form of business, period.  He writes, “There was an initial belief that Borders’ bankruptcy would bring a substantial portion of its in-store business to Barnes and Noble, but that has not turned out to be the case.”  Osnos explains that even Barnes and Noble, one of the last great bookstore chains, cannot keep up with the changing tides of the market; the company’s post-holiday report for 2012 “reflected a drop in same-store sales of 3.1 percent.”

However, when discussing the fate of small niche bookstores, such as Giovanni’s Room, one can imagine the far greater challenge to operate in the 21st century.  Nevertheless, many agree that should Giovanni’s Room, indeed, shutter, it would be a great loss to the community.

R. Eric Thomas, a Philadelphia resident and long-time supporter of Giovanni’s Room, claims that the establishment is more than just a store.

“It’s a hugely important part of American history and LGBT history,” Thomas said.  “The store contains more than books; it contains our past, our culture as a people.  Without genetic connections and family dinners to pass the stories down, we need places like Giovanni’s Room to gather, to learn, and to become more ourselves.”

Malinconico agrees.

“The death of independent bookstores like Giovanni’s Room will impact our community in many ways, especially young people discovering their sexual identities,” said Malinconico, adding that it is “another sad milestone in the GLBT community.”

Nevertheless, many in Philadelphia are holding out hope that Giovanni’s Room will remain open in some form.

“I have high hopes for the space,” said Thomas.  “I believe that it will carry on and continue to grow; I’d love to be a part of it.”

Read Related Posts...