Whenever I'm on South Street I always visit Atomic Comics.This place is a treasure trove for anyone…read morewho loves comics & collectibles. From the moment I walked in, I felt like a kid in a candy store. I wish the arcade machines worked but they're only for display. The shelves are packed w/ everything from the latest ,manga,Marvel & DC (you name it they have it)issues to rare back issues that you don't see anywhere else. I spent ages flipping through back issues, discovering old favorites, & even some titles I'd never heard of before. The manga section is amazing too! Honestly, it's one of the best I've ever seen!And the collectibles! Action figures, vintage posters, Funko Pops, & even some high-end statues sprinkled throughout the store made it feel like a mini museum of nerdy goodness. The staff are super friendly & clearly love what they do. They were happy to chat about my finds, give recommendations, or just geek out w/ me over classic storylines. I even found a few hidden gems in the dollar bins that felt like little victories. Atomic Comics isn't just a store it's an experience. It's cozy & full of charm. If you love comics, collectibles, or just want to spend a few hours exploring a place where fandom really comes alive, this is the spot! I'll def be coming back!

Stopped in during a trip to Philly and felt so welcomed and cozy in the store. Huge selection of…read morecomics and manga and more. Staff were very helpful and friendly as well. Walked away with some comics to bring home!

Stopped by here when I was in town for a Spartan race late last year and I always try to find local…read morecomic book shops if I can. The place was pretty small and cramped but that's usually has these stores go as they try to cram as much product as they can into a finite space. Place had all you looked for with comics, graphic novels, toys. If you're in the area come and support small business.

Cute store! Didn't know it was here…read more There are a lot of comic books, collectible figurines, board games in the back and other neat comic related items. We found a section where they bunch 20 comic books into a mystery pack, just $10!

What a fabulous spot! So many good finds from "retro" dvds and vinyls to current reads. This shop…read morehas what you need. I LOVE that they have an "adults only" section that is an array of videos and books. Made me feel human. Beautiful! Definitely check it out!

What a lovely little shop. Great selection of books and gifts etc. Great quotes throughout. As soon…read moreas you walk in you get a sense of history of the area and the staff are very knowledgable. Love that it's named after a James Baldwin book. We need more down to earth bookstores like this one. Can't wait to visit again.

Huge used bookstore! They have no database so you definitely need to spend some time in there and…read morelook around.

Loads of books. Arranged pretty well given the size of the shop and the amount of books. It was a…read morefun stop!!!!

A very unique store, with unexpected & enjoyable surprise finds- i.e not your average book store-…read morethis is a bookstore for a deep book lover. The stock doesn't seem to rotate, promote the new and mass market, but is more for the deep cuts, the obscure, and the 'I've always wanted this' or the 'new discoveries'. Prices are higher, yes, but look at the style and know what you are supporting & it makes sense.

This is one of my favorite bookstores in Philly. The selection here is choice. The store is not one…read moreof the huge dump of books stores. It is organized well and the recommended or featured books are often a win!

We liked stopping by this bookstore. Wooden Shoe Books had an array of books on race, social…read morejustice, and so much more. Their prices are a bit higher than you'd expect online or at a chain bookstore, but I find that very justifiable as all of their profits go towards running the shop and other social justice missions. The volunteers at the store were great as well and were happy to answer questions or direct us to where certain books were.

First, to address the person claiming "they are all racist here"…read more This is an ANARCHIST BOOK STORE. They have books on critical race theory, yes. They also have books on queer studies, feminist literature, Muslim education... the list goes on and on. Do you understand what anarchy is? At any rate I seriously doubt the black and brown employees who have or do currently work or volunteer at Wooden Shoe would appreciate being called racist, so why don't you, you know, fuck off and shop somewhere else? That being said. Wooden Shoe is an exceptional resource for books on any number of topics. They tend to skew toward literature on social justice issues that run the gamut, so you're not going to find the latest pop culture biography or new fiction. Books are full price, so expect to pay $35 for a new hardcover, but they also have a ton of $1-5 second hand books, plus a really cool section of free and cheap zines and small print publications. I've been shopping here for it seems like a decade, and as a queer, gender non-conforming biracial person, the idea that they are racist is comical bordering on fully ignorant.

I loved my visit to The Book Trader. My brother is local to the area and suggested we pop by this…read morebookshop for a visit because they have a shop cat! I met him immediately upon entering the store, as he was sitting right near the door. His name is Dr. Pickles and he is just as lovely as the shop he calls home. The shop itself is well organized and has so many niche categories to browse and appreciate. As the shop's name suggests, they have ample signage outlining the rules and guidelines for trading with them. As a bonus, the shop (and Dr. Pickles!) are active on Instagram sharing the latest that's up with the shop. I am absolutely planning on returning to this shop during my next trip to Philadelphia.

The Book Trader is one of my favorite bookstores in Philly[1]. It's well-lit and has quite a stock…read moreof books, mostly used, but some new. They've also got records, old postcards, and I think I spotted a tote. To me, it felt *generally* organized inside, but YMMV, right? Bring your old books in to trade - read their policies on their site: https://www.phillybooktrader.com/menu - and while you're there, search for deals. The more books you buy, the more you'll save. Find them in Old City, convenient to the 2nd Street SEPTA subway stop. [1] There's a shop cat here! The famous Dr. Pickles is usually taking a catnap, so respect their space. Meow.

Garland of Letters is a quiet store filled with treasures! From tarot card decks, crystals and a…read morewide variety of witchy to wellness books, there's certainly something for everyone here. The staff is attentive and friendly, but not overbearing. Happy to help when you need it, but otherwise allows you to shop solo. Prices of books are standard ranging from 10-30 dollars, crystal prices are a few bucks per piece, but cheaper if you buy more. Overall a great store with great folks!

Such a freaking cool store. Holy crap. It made me feel instantly calm entering the store. The staff…read morewas so sweet and incredibly helpful. The selection was phenomenal. So many crystals, incense, books, figures, and more, it was insane. Some of the things were really pricy but it was high quality things. Definitely worth stopping by

The most beautiful unique antique decor! Discovered this Vintage shop a few weekends ago and have…read morebeen back about 5x since! Jim & his wife own the store and add new items every week. They have everything - art, records, antique mirrors, glassware, cards, candles, soaps, vintage magazines, purses, etc. Also, the prices are super reasonable! I got a set of 4 antique Coca-Cola glasses (picture attached) for $20.

The cutest little store! I stopped in here the other day with a friend just to browse and ended up…read moremaking a small purchase. The shelves and walls are covered with cools finds and they have everything from old comic books to birdcages here. They also have some newer items like greeting cards, magnets, and soaps. The man behind the counter (owner, I'm assuming) was very friendly and easy to talk with. I do hope this place will be able to stay afloat since I know there's not much foot traffic down this way!

This is my favorite independent book store. It's so nice to take your time looking around,…read morechecking out all of the wonderful books and other items (totes, cards, journals, etc.) they have. It's welcoming and relaxing! The staff is always friendly and willing to help with any questions you may have.

A fabulous little shop with so much to offer. I love the ways the categories were broken down- and…read morethe displays had a lot of unique genre features. We toured for a bit- hiding little treats throughout the books in the store! So go buy a book & you may find a sticker, bookmark, or word of affirmation :) The staff were wonderful too- we overheard them chatting with online buyers picking up- and they seemed to have a great operation with ordering unavailable books, so options are limiteless!