PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — An iconic Center City bookstore is closing its doors, and both the owners and customers are sorry to see it go.
Joseph Fox Bookshop, in business since 1951, is set to close by the end of the month. The small shop at 1724 Sansom Street is lined with books of just about every genre in just about every space, leaving just enough room to reach for a favorite author. It is quaint, cozy and comfortable, and the workers are friendly.
Joseph Fox Bookshop is is quaint, cozy and comfortable.Racquel Williams/KYW Newsradio
Judy says she and her husband have been customers of the shop for many years.
"It's the best bookshop for children, for everything. It's going to be such a sad loss," Judy said. "The whole city is going to suffer."
Earnest, who says he has been stopping by on his lunch break for years to browse and buy, says he will miss the place.
"It's been a staple of my life for a long time," Earnest said. "It's the best-stocked store, I think, in the city. It has a long legacy, … and I'm very sorry to see it go."
The bookstore has been serving the community for more than 70 years. Michael Fox took over the store after his father died in 1998.
He says even though the coronavirus pandemic put some strain on the business, the store was doing fairly well. However, he says, just after the new year, he and his wife decided that the time had come.
"We're closing because my wife and I want to retire. She works incredibly hard and she's been responsible for the last 10 or 15 years for curating the bookstore."
Fox says he truly feels bad for his loyal customers.
"I mean, I really do feel badly for them – and not to be egotistical, but because they love the store. And so I feel bad that I'm taking it from them. I knew parents who bought books for children who now buy books for their children."
Fox has received nothing but kind words since he announced the closing, and a few customers even cried, he said.
"I'm besieged with emails, and reading the comments online – it's just a beautiful thing. I'm happy for myself but I'm sorry for my customers."
More than one independent bookstore in the United States has closed each week since the pandemic began, according to the American Booksellers Association. For Fox, the doors will close on Jan. 29.
