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Head House Books
Category: Shopping Books, Mags, Music and Video Bookstores Bookstores [Edit]
619 S 2nd StPhiladelphia, PA 19147
Neighborhood: Queen Village
(215) 923-9525
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 7 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 8 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
10 reviews for Head House Books
10 reviews in English
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Review from Allie H.
6/9/2011 3 Check-ins Here
There's something magical about the way a little bookstore smells. You can't replicate it in big-box chains, not really. A little shop like this has that distinct smell of old paper, vague wisps of leather and coffee and worn oriental rugs. A smell of hundreds of thousands of pages, pressed together, bound, selected and arranged by loving hands.
You can't get that in the flourescent-lit megastores, even with all their miles of magazines and picture frames next to the Starbucks cafe.
You also can't get the personal service.
I'm lucky enough to live directly across from this cozy, tightly-packed shop and have found myself browsing through its tall wooden shelves many times. There's a great selection of best sellers, cookbooks, art books, children's titles and other gems tucked away. I love browsing the front of the store for titles and authors I haven't heard of before and chatting with the lovely employees about stories someone recommended or we heard about on the radio.
This weekend, I ordered several books as gifts and they arrived just a few days later. A friendly clerk kindly giftwrapped one and sent me home with nice paper to wrap the other (after I'd finished reading it, of course). Happy to spend a few more dollars per order if it means keeping businesses like this in our community.Listed in: YAY
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Review from Di P.
12/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
ahhhhhhdorable, small bookstore that has like all the new released books and a cozy back corner where I could sit with my imaginary toddler while we read stories.
it's the place you cross your fingers that online bookstores don't become too popular and drive little places like this out of business. :-/ -
Review from Sheri D.
New Castle, DE
10/16/2011
This is a great, cozy independent bookstore. They have a great selection of suggested books towards the front the of store and a cozy window seat complete with coffee, I believe. This is a good place to shop if you like to browse a bit, without being overwhelmed by titles.
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Review from Bill M.
3/28/2009 1 Check-in Here
With the dwindling economy and the rise of selling books on Amazon it's good to know that there's still some solid new book stores like Head House in Philadelphia. after reading about it in City Paper's book issue two weeks ago I knew that I just had to make the trek and give it a try. And I definitely found it to be a treasure trove of literature.
Inside Head House you'll find a better display of new releases than you'll find at either of the big B's (had to borrow that one Karla.) and you'll find a friendly staff who knows their literature and are capable of making good suggestions. While I could have easily walked out with 5-15 books I held back while my friend walked out with "The Lost City of Z: A Tale Of Deadly Obsession In The Amazon". But through him I got to learn that they have awesome discount offers listed in their newsletter, and you can sign up to be a friend of the store and receive even more discounts. With an incredible selection and incentives like that I know I'm sold.Listed in: South Philly, Born to Shop, Read All About It!
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Review from Taylor L.
6/26/2010
Gotta love local businesses. And this is one of them. And they're proud of it.
I went in looking for a specific title, found it instantly, and bought a second book that looked good just to show my support.
The man working the cash wrap was very friendly. While I was browsing, I overheard him searching online for an obscure book one woman was looking for. Then I heard him mid-discussion with a young child, complimenting his book choice.
Very charming spot! No complaints here :)Listed in: Local Haunts
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Review from karla g.
Philadelphia, PA
6/7/2008
Head House is one of those local treasures that often gets overlooked by the Big B's [being Borders and Barnes and Noble of course] with their internet coupons and nifty membership cards.
The front of the store is usually filled with newer titles minus the Michael Crichton novels and whatever's on Oprah's book club. Their genres range from art and architecture to environmentalism and spirituality to political science. It is more of a place for the intellectual than for the cheesy romance novel reader but their fiction collection is still worth a glance. Their Steinbeck collection caught my eye today but my favorite is still the colorful wonderland of a children's section.
Check their website for a list of in store events including book signings and chess tournaments. And if an item isn't in stock just ask someone at the counter to order it for you. A few days is usually all it takes and your money is going to help keep a local business thriving instead of being pumped into the veins of big business. -
Review from Samantha D.
Washington, DC
4/4/2010
I love this bookstore - I'll echo what others have arleady said. It is small, independent, and local. I would argue, however, that they tend to have whatever book I have needed/wanted. The few times they haven't they have ordered it and received it within 3-4 days max. The staff is knowledgable and really kind and low-key.
It's very cozy in here. I like curling into the window nook and reading the first 20 pages of whatever I'm going to buy. Warm, fuzzy and brainy at Head House Books. -
Review from Caitlin C.
PA
2/7/2007 1 photo
This bookstore receives 4 stars because it is so small that you can't come here looking for some weird title or only one specific book.
This is, however, a great place to spend an afternoon browsing and talking to neighbors. They have lots of the new books, and keep a smattering of older books as well. If you really really need a certain book, call and they will order it for you. -
Review from Jana S.
Philadelphia, PA
4/4/2010
This place is adorable. I visited on a lazy Saturday afternoon and the store would've been absolutely silent (less than a block from South Street, even!) if it weren't for some soft music playing in the background. There were only two other customers when I was there, both also browsing silently, and the woman working was very friendly during our short exchange (mostly about the gorgeous spring weather).
I'll admit I popped in with a specific book in mind (Michael Pollan's "The Omnivore's Dilemma"), which they had two copies of, though I didn't see any of his other books. I'm very glad it saved me a trip to "the Big Bs", and it seems like a great place to browse for books in a general area when you're looking to discover something new. The foodie/nutrition section (my topic of choice) was full of assorted titles that looked fascinating, and I'll definitely return once I've finished this book to find a new point of view on the subject! -
Review from Kara L.
Philadelphia, PA
5/4/2009
This is a great place to loose yourself in a book, or in selecting a book as the case may be. Their selection is pretty standard - but the staff picks are spot on. They are however always more than willing to order things and have them fairly quickly (but I have to admit, at that point, I turn to amazon). I've spent quite a few lunch brakes here - and really enjoy the comfortable, homey feeling. Just a great place to relax and enjoy books for books sake. Also - gotta love the tag line: "Local & Independent, like you" this place really strives to set itself apart & reach out to the community, and with events and e-newsletters, does a good job too.
Listed in: Born to Shop
