A Review of Big Blue Marble Bookstore
551 Carpenter Lane, Philadelphia, PA
The Mt. Airy neighborhood just north of Philly is packed with lovely homes that all seem to have front gardens of tomatoes or colorful flowerbeds growing right along the sidewalk. It’s a lovely, walkable neighborhood, the kind you’d like to get lost in on a Halloween night. But the intersection of Carpenter and Greene is a quaint pocket of cafes and shops, including a co-op grocer and this small but impressive bookstore.
With a focus on progressive and multicultural offerings, the shop has multiple floors and rooms with books, gifts, tea, and free wifi, with a room upstairs that looks like a quiet place to tuck away and write, read, work, or have events and readings. It was nice and cool on the hot July afternoon when I stopped in, and I’ll bet it is cozy and warm on a winter day too.
As for the books, the main rooms downstairs had tables and shelves of new releases, mainstream fiction, mystery, sci-fi/fantasy, poetry, memoirs, graphic novels, YA, gardening, birding, and those examining our current cultural and political issues. There’s a room downstairs that leans further into the children’s offerings, running from beginner books all the way through middle readers and YA.
And aside from the books, Big Blue Marble also has a good dose of cards, puzzles, literary gifts and merch, notebooks, stickers, bookmarks, and much more. The shop was busy and lively when I dropped in, and it felt like a comforting, welcoming spot that is connected and tapped in to neighborhood interests and needs. I live a long way from Philly, but if I were a local, I’d be proud to have Big Blue Marble in my backyard
Atmosphere — A narrow but multilevel bookshop with a progressive mindset and welcoming vibe.
Quality — The books are new and current with the times, even the newer editions of classics.
Quantity — A solid amount for a smaller shop, and spread out well. It was a nice browsing experience.
Diversity — This shop hits many categories, with a slight emphasis on children’s literature, and current cultural topics.
Affordability — The new books are at new book prices. They also have a little free library out front!
Amenities — The shop had a nice lounge upstairs and tea on offer, with gifts and cards available.
Location — The Mt. Airy neighborhood is north of Philly by about 15 to 20 minutes by car, and it’s a lovely, walkable neighborhood that feels set away from everything.
Overall — This shop offers locals a great way to keep current with new releases and well stocked on literary gifts, merch, cards, and puzzles. It’s the kind of shop every neighborhood wishes they had. Visit if you can!
