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City Cast Philly

Keep It Local by City Cast Philly features spotlights on local businesses we love and personal, curated, and neighborly recommendations that will help you live your best Philly life right now. So, if you’re ready to ditch the national chains, e-commerce giants, and big box stores,

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Marie Albiges

Ariel Censor once told her mother her passion for bookselling came from the thrill of getting to know someone’s reading taste and matching them with the right books. Her mother responded that Ariel was a 

 — Yiddish for busybody, often used to describe a matchmaker — and the name stuck.

Ariel and her husband Simon Censor opened used bookshop Little Yenta Books on 

in February in the back of a children’s dressmaking shop, cramming over 1,500 titles into a lofted 150-square-foot space. When a 700-square-foot storefront became available next door, the Censors gave Little Yenta Books a 

“We still have to think very carefully about what books would be a fit for our store and our customers versus what would work better for another shop,” Ariel said, adding that 

 has a wide variety of books covering most genres, with a special focus on contemporary and classic literary fiction, science fiction, and philosophy. Most of the books are under $10.

“We source inventory from all over, all the time. We buy books from our customers for cash or store credit, we do house calls for big collections, we attend library fundraisers, we go to estate sales — pretty much wherever you can find books, we'll be there,“ she said.

A tiny room in the shop — which used to be a shower — is now known as the Museum of Bookmarks, where the Censors have bulletin boards covered with things people used as bookmarks. “We've found very sweet handwritten notes, pressed flowers, recipes, newspaper clippings, Pokemon cards, family photos, the list goes on,” Ariel said.

Ariel is now truly a book yenta, offering a 

where for $35, you’ll get three hand-picked books based on your preferences, plus a bookmark, a sticker, and a note explaining Ariel’s picks.

 Little Yenta is the southernmost bookstore in the city, so Ariel suggests starting there (the shop 

Ariel and her husband Simon Censor opened used bookshop Little Yenta Books on East Passyunk Avenue in February in the back of a children’s dressmaking shop, cramming over 1,500 titles into a lofted 150-square-foot space. When a 700-square-foot storefront became available next door, the Censors gave Little Yenta Books a bigger, more permanent space in June.

Philadelphia's Little Yenta Books Will Match You With A Good Used Book

Get Matched With a Good Used Book at Little Yenta Books

Keep It Local

The American Booksellers Association says 

more than 600 bookstores opened across the country last year

, double the number of new shops from the year before, and membership in the association is the 

Philly is no stranger to independent, niche bookstores. Here are six of our favorites.

Philly’s first horror, thriller, and true crime bookstore, Thrillerdelphia, is stocked with stories that invoke fear, terror, dread, tension and curiosity — and the store decor reflects that, with homages to everyone’s favorite horror stories like Scream and It. 

 of her psychological thrillers “The Writing Retreat” and “The Last Session” Saturday from 5-7 p.m.

Known locally as H&H, this nonprofit is both community bookstore and publisher. H&H has published more than 100 authors, and it hosts 

writing workshops and hybrid arts programming 

 — 90 minutes alone in the bookstore with dinner or drinks — is definitely going on my Christmas list.

, Book Corner is run by the Friends of the Free Library, and all profits support the Philly library system. Book Corner accepts gently-used books, records and CDs, and most items are priced under $4. Follow the shop on Instagram to hear about 

Philly’s only cookbook shop is rightfully placed among the pasta and cheese shops of the Italian Market. Find culinary titles for all levels, plus author talks and signings every month. The first 50 people through the door during this weekend’s book crawl 

Serving Mt. Airy since 2005, Big Blue Marble Books is a woman-owned shop that aims to have its bookshelves reflect the neighborhood: diverse, politically engaged, and family oriented. A renovated second floor reading room offers a quiet place to read and drink tea, and the shop often has 

Independent, Niche Bookstores on the Rise in Philadelphia

Independent, Niche Bookstores on the Rise

When Jen Kinka was in the throes of motherhood, she was looking to solve a few issues.

First, she needed a solution to the perpetual kid problem of constantly outgrowing clothes and toys.

Second, she was looking for a more sustainable way to raise children without breaking the bank.

Third, she was looking for a community — a support system for parents.

“I wanted to build a place where people feel like they can walk in, with no judgment, everyone doing their best,” Kinka said.

 was born in 2010: A local baby and children’s marketplace where parents can buy and sell gently used clothing, shoes, toys, books, and baby gear; and a 

where new parents meet, where mothers receive breastfeeding support, and where parents of neurodivergent children make connections.

Sixteen years later, Nesting House has two locations, in Mount Airy and Queen Village. It also has two showrooms for larger baby gear items such as strollers and cribs, and a

that lets you add used gifts from Nesting House.

The business is diligent in its quality care checks, only accepting items that can last through multiple families before they are considered “hand-me-downs” and are no longer sellable.

 stocked, including everything you need for your backpack and everything you need to pack a lunch without having to use plastic.

New parents can also test-drive strollers, wagons, car seats, and nursery furniture in both 

. Kinka said customers’ opinions toward thrifting have changed dramatically since Nesting House first opened.

“I remember people not really responding super well to it in the beginning. We had to explain ourselves,” she said.

Today, the stigma of buying used is long gone. Online clothing platform ThredUp projects that U.S. online resale will 

“Now people are hungry for it,” Kinka said.

The Nesting House is diligent in its quality care checks, only accepting items that can last through multiple families before they are considered “hand-me-downs” and are no longer sellable. 

The Philly Shop Making Back-to-School Shopping More Sustainable 

If you’re looking for unique places to upgrade your writing supplies or stock up on children’s books, these local businesses make back-to-school shopping a little more fun.

This boutique stationery-and-gifts store has a collection of journals, notebooks, pens, notecard sets, greeting cards, and Philly-themed gifts. Paper on Pine collaborates with local Philadelphia printing companies and offers 

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, OMOI is a thoughtfully curated lifestyle shop known for its beautifully designed stationery, planners, notebooks, pens, books, bags, and home goods. Inspired by Japanese retail culture, the Old City store is the perfect place to find back-to-school supplies that are as functional as they are beautiful. If you’re a handwritten-planner kind of person, OMOI 

A youth-focused independent book store serving children up to 18 years old, Midsummer Books began as a pop-up in 2025 inside the shared retail space 

on Frankford Avenue. The store features a curated selection of fiction, nonfiction, and educational books. It also has a 

The woman-owned stationery store opened in February and carries everything for planners, crafters, and writers. Picture walls of stickers, pens, and notebooks of all colors and sizes. Open Friday through Sunday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Notes from Neko also has a 

 where you can test various fountain pens.

If you’re looking for unique places to upgrade your writing supplies or stock up on children’s books, these local businesses make back-to-school shopping a little more fun. 


4 Places to Shop for Back-to-School

If your ideal Saturday includes drinking espresso and inspecting monsteras, congratulations: You've found your people. Here are our favorite Philly spots where you can get your caffeine fix and your plant fix in one trip.

Sitting at the busy intersection of Main Street and Green Lane in Manayunk underneath the iconic Green Lane Bridge, Artesano has an expansive space distinguished by its iron and metalworks interspersed among the plants and coffee. Starting Aug. 8, Artesano will be offering 

weekend breakfast and brunch table service

. Artesano also recently transformed a section of its space into a bar, open on weekends and serving signature cocktails and small plates.

Founded by a mother-daughter duo in 2020, this West Philly boutique shop has everything from low maintenance and pet-friendly plants to seeds and supplies. On the coffee side, I highly recommend the 

, a creamy, sweet latte made with chaga mushrooms that is packed with antioxidants. Plant and People also offers 

temporary plant rentals, plantscaping, and plant consultations

The women-owned coffee, gifts, and plant store has a collaborative, community feel, with an entire second floor of open seating and a children’s play area. In addition to plants and coffee, the shop sells locally-made jewelry, soaps, candles, art, stationery, drinkware, and honey. Vault + Vine carries beans from 

Yes, Manayunk has not one but two plant stores that also sell hot beverages, although they are on the opposite ends of Main Street. This boutique nursery carries a variety of houseplants, ceramics, and home decor, and its café offers a wide selection of loose leaf tea and pastries. Its 

has a selection of exotic, hard-to-find plants that can be purchased online or in-store.

Billed as an outdoor lifestyle garden center and café, Terrain has several locations in the suburbs worth the drive. Started by Urban Outfitters co-founder Dick Hayne (and still owned by its parent company URBN), each sprawling Terrain location also serves as a 

 that can be used for gorgeous, nature-inspired celebrations.

Here are our favorite Philly spots where you can get your caffeine fix and your plant fix in one trip. 


The Only Thing Better Than Coffee? Coffee With Plants

Long before she owned two plant-and-coffee shops, 

co-founder Michelle Miller had more than 100 houseplants at home and was a self-proclaimed “serious plant enthusiast.”

Miller said the same thing of her co-founder Molly Kiriacoulacos. Miller, who was consulting for the owners of a multi-use brick building on North Second Street in Norris Square during COVID-19, thought that a plant-and-coffee shop would be perfect for its corner unit. Then she and Kiriacoulacos decided they should be the ones to open it.

The Ground was born in 2022, and the two entrepreneurs opened their second location on 18th Street in Rittenhouse in 2023.

The plants are mostly sourced from small, independent growers located within 100 miles of Philadelphia, which tends to result in healthier plants. Inside both locations, you’ll find a variety of tropical houseplants with diverse light options.

On the coffee and restaurant side, The Ground’s beans are from 

 in South Philly. Signature drinks include a chocolate-covered strawberry latte made with Ghirardelli cocoa and a rose pistachio latte topped with dried rose petals.

But what Miller is especially proud of is The Ground’s

. Almost every dish is made from scratch with fresh ingredients. Miller, who is half-Korean, has added Korean influences to some of The Ground’s newest menu items, including a Bulgogi cheesesteak quesadilla made with thin-sliced beef ribeye, Cooper Sharp cheese, and a charred scallion crema.

The Ground also has an in-house baking program with rotating pastries, including a gochujang banana bread made with a Korean fermented red pepper paste that mixes saltiness, heat, and sweetness.

“Bringing some of those flavors to our menu has been really big for me, and I think it’s resonated well with a lot of our clients,” Miller said.

Inside both locations of The Ground, you’ll find a variety of tropical houseplants with diverse light options.


This Plant and Coffee Shop Serves One of Philly's Most Unexpected Menus 

When William Reed first envisioned shutting down the corridor from Girard Avenue to Spring Garden Street for a neighborhood music festival, he approached it with a mission of trying to reduce the number of cars speeding down Second Street.

Reed, who opened the Northern Liberties tavern 

 in 2000, was tired of witnessing accidents and fighting with the city to get adequate traffic safety measures in place.

“I wanted to pedestrianize [Second Street], have people enjoy it in a different way,” he said. He joined forces with 

 Alexis Rosenzweig to bring the festival to life in 2008.

The first two years, Reed knew 90% of the people attending the festival. By its third year, that was no longer the case; it had expanded beyond music to include vendors and food trucks, and Reed realized it was becoming one of the city’s most significant festivals.

Now in its 16th year (the festival was postponed for two years during COVID), Reed is expecting over 40,000 people to experience the three-quarter-mile stretch of Second Street packed with local food trucks, artists, street performers, and vendors on Aug. 2.

“The festival has been really beneficial to bringing new eyes to the neighborhood,” Reed said.

It’s designed strategically to showcase Second Street’s 

, with food trucks in the middle of the street rather than on the sidewalk to avoid blocking the storefronts. Reed and his co-organizers put thought into curating a local experience in the vendors they select — there’s a waiting list for vendors every year — and received a special grant from the city this year to help pay for more street performers.

 is previewing a few recipes from his new slow-drinks-style bar Field Day, set to open in September inside the Cescaphe Ballroom.

As the festival winds down, North Bowl’s parking lot is the place to be, with Philly house music event company The Shakedown 

Tired of the crowd and heat but still want festival vibes? Reed recommends snagging a spot under a ceiling fan on Standard Tap’s second-floor porch to enjoy a plate of oysters and people-watch.

Over 40,000 people are expected to experience the three-quarter-mile stretch of Second Street packed with local food trucks, artists, street performers, and vendors.

2nd Street Festival Celebrates 16 Years on Aug. 2

The annual 2nd Street Festival may be the neighborhood's main event, but Northern Liberties' small businesses are the reason to come back. These are some of our favorite spots in NoLibs to shop year-round.

Beginning in 1993 as a record label in West Chester, this indie record store on Second Street has a wide selection of new and used vinyls, deep cuts, and $1 cassette tapes. Located within walking distance of live music venues like 

, Creep Records also gives away show tickets on its 

The North Fourth Street shop carries a wide variety of indoor tropical houseplants as well as outdoor annuals and perennials. The shop will occasionally host terrarium-making classes and is a 

pick-up site for the Lancaster Farm Fresh CSA

Owner Alané Dame has curated a collection of vintage clothing and accessories for all genders. Digging through the racks, you’ll find vintage items such as fur coats, purses from the 1950s, vintage Fendi leather pumps, and bomber jackets. Dame said in 

 that opening a store like this has been a dream of hers since she was 18 years old.

Low-waste sustainability company Ray’s Reusables started out of a van in 2020, doing the local farmer’s market circuit until it opened a storefront on Second Street in 2022. The store has everything you need to have a more sustainable home, with stations to refill everything in your personal containers from liquid dish soap to face wash. It also partners with 

We have a guide to the Northern Liberties shops that deserve a spot on your festival itinerary.


Our Favorite Places to Shop in NoLibs

There’s a few things that you can find at 

that you can’t at the big box hardware stores, starting with Carl.

Carl, the chillest black-and-white shepherd mutt I’ve ever met, greets you at the door with soft, watery eyes and a tail wag that tells you he’s happy you’re here, but he’d appreciate it if you met him on his level of chill.

Carl only has eyes for his owner, Jesse Prager, and upon meeting Prager, I understand where Carl gets his chill.

Prager points out a few more things you can find at Rittenhouse Hardware that you can’t find at the big box stores: knowledgeable, attentive staff that will give you free advice and find what you’re looking for within seconds; parts for older homes that many hardware chains don’t carry; and the convenience of having a hardware store you can walk to.

 Rittenhouse Hardware has received, “This store is stocked as if it was in Diagon Alley; not one inch of the wall/ceiling is wasted.”

If we’re sticking with the Diagon Alley theme, even the most obscure requests at Rittenhouse Hardware are handled with the same individualized care and attention that Ollivander gave Harry in the wand shop. The guys at Rittenhouse can tell you exactly what nut will hold a faucet to a supply line, what masonry drill bit mounts a television onto a brick wall, and they’ll help you find a replacement lightbulb in about 30 seconds (Prager even gave me some advice on how to handle a sticky front door).

Prager said he’s worked hard to train his employees to make even the most unknowledgeable customers feel confident about finding and using the right tool or part without making them feel inferior.

“We want everyone to feel comfortable coming in no matter where you came from,” he said. “That’s consciously brought up here.”

Like Prager, original owner Ken Kemp started working at a hardware store in college, fell in love with the business, and turned what was then a small market into Rittenhouse Hardware in 1994. Prager began working there in 2001 and bought the store from Kemp in 2021.

“This is one of the most fun jobs I’ve ever had,” Prager said. “We have fun here. We’re always joking around, picking music, hanging out, it’s a fun environment.”

At Rittenhouse Hardware you can find knowledgeable, attentive staff; parts for older homes that many hardware chains don’t carry; and the convenience of having a hardware store you can walk to.

What Rittenhouse Hardware Does Better Than the Big Box Stores 

Philadelphians are a resourceful bunch! So it’s no surprise we’ve got an abundance of local hardware stores to rely on for everything from potting soil to shelving hacks.

This North Philly nonprofit shop and creative reuse center is a treasure trove of donated reusable materials such as art supplies, building materials, lumber, textiles, and furniture. The Resource Exchange also features a 

 whose artwork features a sustainability component, and offers monthly workshops and creative events.

This Germantown Avenue corner hardware store has been a staple in the Chestnut Hill community since 1913. Specializing in functional and decorative hardware for wood doors and windows, the store has a variety of housewares, garden supplies, and paint. Kilian’s also offers 

 for items like vacuums, windows, screens, and lamps.

Many folks still refer to Henry’s by its old name, 1540 Hardware (its black-and-white sign still hangs over the façade). Your typical small neighborhood hardware store, Henry’s offers a decent selection of tools, lightbulbs, gardening supplies, and repair items you might need in a pinch.

The family-owned South Street shop has been owned by three generations of Cohens. In addition to your typical hardware inventory, Cohen & Co. has one of the largest 

 in the South Street area for all your framing, window, and mirror needs.

Here's a list of independent hardware stores where you’ll find what you need, support a small business, and probably leave with some free advice.
