Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni's Room
Giovanni's Room Bookstore is a gay bookstore in Philadelphia. It has been called the oldest gay bookstore in America and the "center of gay Philly".[1] Founded in 1973 in Philadelphia, Giovanni's Room Bookstore is named after James Baldwin's gay novel Giovanni's Room. Philly AIDS Thrift took over the store after the owner retired in 2014 and the bookstore is now called Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni's Room.[2][3]
Location
Giovanni's Room Bookstore is located on the corner of 12th and Pine Street in Philadelphia's gayborhood. The main building was built in 1820. The store was originally located on South Street and changed locations often in its first few years. It has been at 345 South 12th Street since 1979.[4]
History
In 1973 three Gay Activist Alliance (GAA) members, Tom Wilson Weinberg, Dan Sherbo and Bern Boyle, opened Giovanni's Room at 232 South Street.[4] The store was closed shortly afterward due to a homophobic landlord. The store passed hands to lesbian activist Pat Hill in 1974 and then to Ed Hermance and Arleen Oshan in 1976.[4] Hermance and Olshan moved the store first to 1426 Spruce Street and then to its final location on 12th and Pine in 1979.[1]
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission unveiled a marker on Sunday, October 15, 2011, to commemorate the location of Giovanni’s Room, as it is the country's first LGBT bookstore.[5][6]
In April 2014 the store's owner of 38 years, Ed Hermance, announced his retirement plans and closed the store on May 17, 2014.[7][1] He soon after made an agreement with Philly AIDS Thrift and they reopened the store as its proprietor that fall.
References
- ^ a b c Gillespie, Tyler. "The Last Day at Giovanni's Room, America's Oldest Gay Bookstore". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ Connie Wu (July 25, 2014). "Nation's Oldest LGBT Bookstore Rescued from Closing". OutTraveler.
- ^ http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/oldest-us-gay-bookstore-reopen-philadelphia-25119146
- ^ a b c "Giovanni's Room records, circa 1975-1991" (PDF). John J. Wilcox, Jr. LGBT Archives. July 19, 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Schechner, Karen. "Giovanni's Room Honored With Historical Marker". American Booksellers Association. Archived from the original on 29 April 2014. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
- ^ "William Penn's Legacy, PHMC 2010-2011 Annual Report" (PDF). Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 July 2014. Retrieved 26 June 2014.
- ^ Thomas, Angela. "Giovanni's Room to close next month". Philadelphia Gay News. Retrieved 28 April 2014.
External links
- Official website
- Barned-Smith, St. John (28 July 2009). "LGBT bookstore in peril: Giovanni's Room needs 50G for renovations". Philly.com. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
