Robin's Bookstore Picks a Fine Time to Turn 70

Larry Robin outside of Robin's Book Store.

It would probably be an understatement to say that Larry Robin of Robin's Book Store in Philadelphia chose a good weekend to celebrate his store's 70th anniversary. On the weekend of September 23 and 24, the streets around his store were closed to traffic as the neighborhood was host to an Oktoberfest celebration and a fall festival -- and, of course, a two-day 70th birthday party for Philadelphia's oldest independent bookstore.

"What happened was really serendipitous," Robin told BTW. "We're on the corner of a cross street and it was all closed to traffic. There were four different bands and tents with music and food and beer. There is a new art gallery [in the area] and artists were outside painting."

On Saturday, Robin's held a "Books by the Pound Sidewalk Sale" and featured Jane Golden (More Philadelphia Murals and the Stories They Tell, Temple University Press), who led a walking tour of Center City murals. All told, Robin reported, Saturday's sales nearly matched his best Christmas (at least in recent memory). And on Sunday, the store held a Banned Books Week Celebration featuring a reading of Allen Ginsburg's Howl and reminiscences by Daniel Moore, who knew Ginsburg in San Francisco in the 1960s. An open reading of "Beat" poetry followed the presentation. Robin said about 50 people turned up for Sunday's event.

As for how it feels to run a 70-year-old independent bookstore, Robin told BTW that, while being a bookstore owner certainly has its ups and downs, he's doing what he loves.

The store was founded in 1936 by Robin's grandfather and today includes an annex that is exclusively bargain books and magazines. Robin has lived in Philadelphia's Center City for over 60 years and has worked in the book business for over 40 of those years.

"It's been years of struggle," Robin said with a chuckle when asked what it feels like to be the owner of a bookstore turning 70. "It's a really interesting thing. On the one hand, we're a small independent business and a bookstore, and independents have been under attack and under stress as long as I can remember. This is a business that never made money, though it supported three generations. But it's what I love doing. I love art and education; I love talking to people about books and doing what I love. The only reason I'm still here is because I'm obstinate." He added: "It's great fun, and it's exhausting." --David Grogan