Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni's Room
| Company type | Nonprofit (since 2014) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Bookstore, Retail |
| Founded | 1973 |
| Founder | Tom Wilson Weinberg, Dan Sherbo, Bern Boyle |
| Fate | Taken over by Philly AIDS Thrift in 2014 |
| Headquarters | Philadelphia , United States |
| Products | Books, music, artwork, comics, apparel |
| Owner | Philly AIDS Thrift (since 2014) |
Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni's Room, also referred to as PAT @ Giovanni's Room and previously known as Giovanni's Room Bookstore, stands as a leading gay bookstore located in Philadelphia. Established in 1973 and named after James Baldwin’s novel Giovanni's Room, it has earned the reputation of being the "heart of gay Philly".
In 2014, following the retirement of proprietor Ed Hermance, Philly AIDS Thrift—a nonprofit thrift shop founded in 2005 and classified as a 501(c)(3)—took ownership of the bookstore. This merger allowed PAT to diversify its business approach by integrating retail with nonprofit initiatives, thereby strengthening its influence within the LGBTQ+ community.
Location
Located at 345 South 12th Street within Philadelphia’s Gayborhood, Giovanni’s Room occupies historic structures dating from the early 19th century and the late 1800s. After several moves during its early years, the bookstore established its permanent site here in 1979, anchoring itself in a significant cultural and commercial neighborhood.
Description
At its inception, Giovanni’s Room stocked approximately 100 books featuring seminal queer writers such as James Baldwin and Gertrude Stein. Over time, its collection grew to more than 15,000 titles encompassing subjects related to gay, feminist, transgender, and bisexual experiences, including biographies, nonfiction works, and niche periodicals.
Following its transition to Philly AIDS Thrift at Giovanni’s Room, the store expanded its inventory to include music, artwork, comics, and apparel. Currently, it offers around 7,000 titles on-site and maintains a catalog of 48,000 items sold internationally across Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Former owner Ed Hermance emphasized the store’s worldwide reach: "In one year, we sold books to 88 bookstores in 17 countries."
History
Giovanni’s Room was founded in August 1973 by three members of the Gay Activist Alliance—Tom Wilson Weinberg, Dan Sherbo, and Bern Boyle—at 232 South Street. It holds the distinction of being the second LGBTQ bookstore established in the United States.
In September 1975, lesbian activist and artist Pat Hill purchased the store and broadened its selection to better serve lesbian and feminist communities. The following year, ownership passed to Ed Hermance and Arleen Olshan; they relocated the shop twice before settling at the corner of 12th and Pine Streets in 1979. Olshan left the partnership in 1986.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission honored Giovanni’s Room with an official historical marker in 2011, recognizing it as the oldest continuously operating LGBT bookstore nationwide.
After nearly four decades of ownership, Ed Hermance retired in April 2014 and closed the store in May. Soon thereafter, an agreement with Philly AIDS Thrift facilitated a grand reopening under new stewardship during Philadelphia Outfest in October 2014.
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Giovanni’s Room pivoted toward online sales to maintain business continuity. By 2023, its e-commerce operations experienced significant growth.