Giovanni's Room Bookstore is a gay bookstore in Philadelphia. It is the oldest gay bookstore in the United States still operating and has been called 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, also known as PAT @ Giovanni's Room.[2][3][4]
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, and the second building, which became part of the store several years after the store opened, was built in the 1880s. 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.[5]
History
Giovanni's Room Historical Marker
In 1973 three Gay Activist Alliance (GAA) members, Tom Wilson Weinberg, Dan Sherbo and Bern Boyle, opened Giovanni's Room at 232 South Street.[5] The store was closed shortly afterward due to a homophobic landlord. The store changed hands to lesbian activist Pat Hill in 1974 and then to Ed Hermance and Arleen Oshan in 1976.[5] Hermance and Olshan moved the store first to 1426 Spruce Street and then to its final location on 12th and Pine in 1979.[1] Olshan left the partnership in 1984.
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 still operating.[6][7]
In April 2014 the store's owner of 38 years, Ed Hermance, announced his retirement plans and closed the store on May 17, 2014.[8][1] He soon after made an agreement with Philly AIDS Thrift and they reopened the store as its proprietor that fall.
References
^ abcGillespie, Tyler (21 May 2014). "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.
^. ABC News. Archived from the original on 2014-08-27. Retrieved 2020-06-28.
giovanni, room, bookstore, bookstore, philadelphia, oldest, bookstore, united, states, still, operating, been, called, center, philly, founded, 1973, philadelphia, named, after, james, baldwin, novel, giovanni, room, philly, aids, thrift, took, over, store, af. Giovanni s Room Bookstore is a gay bookstore in Philadelphia It is the oldest gay bookstore in the United States still operating and has been called 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 also known as PAT Giovanni s Room 2 3 4 Giovanni s Room BookstoreGiovanni s Room in February 2014TypeBookstoreFounderBern BoyleDan SherboTom Wilson Weinberg HeadquartersPhiladelphia Pennsylvania United StatesHistoric BookstorePennsylvania Historical MarkerLocation345 S 12th StreetPhiladelphia Pennsylvania 19107Coordinates39 56 42 N 75 09 41 W 39 94501 N 75 16128 W 39 94501 75 16128 Giovanni s Room PHMC dedicatedOctober 15 2011Websitewww wbr queerbooks wbr com Contents 1 Location 2 History 3 References 4 External linksLocation EditGiovanni s Room Bookstore is located on the corner of 12th and Pine Street in Philadelphia s gayborhood The main building was built in 1820 and the second building which became part of the store several years after the store opened was built in the 1880s 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 5 History Edit Giovanni s Room Historical MarkerIn 1973 three Gay Activist Alliance GAA members Tom Wilson Weinberg Dan Sherbo and Bern Boyle opened Giovanni s Room at 232 South Street 5 The store was closed shortly afterward due to a homophobic landlord The store changed hands to lesbian activist Pat Hill in 1974 and then to Ed Hermance and Arleen Oshan in 1976 5 Hermance and Olshan moved the store first to 1426 Spruce Street and then to its final location on 12th and Pine in 1979 1 Olshan left the partnership in 1984 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 still operating 6 7 In April 2014 the store s owner of 38 years Ed Hermance announced his retirement plans and closed the store on May 17 2014 8 1 He soon after made an agreement with Philly AIDS Thrift and they reopened the store as its proprietor that fall References Edit a b c Gillespie Tyler 21 May 2014 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 Oldest US Gay Bookstore to Reopen in Philadelphia ABC News ABC News Archived from the original on 2014 08 27 Retrieved 2020 06 28 EPGN epgn com 18 September 2014 Retrieved 2020 03 30 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint url status link a b c Giovanni s Room records circa 1975 1991 PDF John J Wilcox Jr LGBT Archives July 19 2019 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a 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 Archived from the original on 2 July 2014 Retrieved 28 April 2014 External links EditOfficial 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 Giovanni s Room records at John J Wilcox Jr LGBT Archives William Way LGBT Community Center 39 56 43 N 75 09 40 W 39 9452 N 75 1612 W 39 9452 75 1612 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Giovanni 27s Room Bookstore amp oldid 1131173298, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
