Big Blue Marble Bookstore

Big Blue Marble Bookstore Independent Bookstore with diverse books for diverse readers. We can special order anything in print Diverse Books for a Diverse Community

Poetry reading this Saturday at 2pm with  , Deb Freedman,  , and  !
01/30/2026

Poetry reading this Saturday at 2pm with , Deb Freedman, , and !

As a tiny brick-and-mortar,  we can't afford to close for Friday's day of solidarity, but we CAN host a postcard-writing...
01/29/2026

As a tiny brick-and-mortar, we can't afford to close for Friday's day of solidarity, but we CAN host a postcard-writing table this weekend. Scripts, cards, and stamps will be provided. Friday through Sunday at 551 Carpenter Lane.

Thanks to Just Seeds Artist Collective for providing the graphic by Landon Sheely.

We are so excited to welcome back Stephanie Burt, poet, literary critic, and Swiftie, talking about her latest book in c...
11/13/2025

We are so excited to welcome back Stephanie Burt, poet, literary critic, and Swiftie, talking about her latest book in conversation with poet, novelist, and store family Rahul Mehta, this Saturday at 2pm in our second floor reading room!

Local author Eileen Flanagan is reading from her new book Common Ground at 7pm on Thursday, September 4 in our second-fl...
09/03/2025

Local author Eileen Flanagan is reading from her new book Common Ground at 7pm on Thursday, September 4 in our second-floor reading room. Come join us!

We're so excited to welcome Emily Hunsberger, Elle Charisse, and Cordelia Jensen to Big Blue Marble during the Philly Bo...
08/22/2025

We're so excited to welcome Emily Hunsberger, Elle Charisse, and Cordelia Jensen to Big Blue Marble during the Philly Book Crawl this Saturday!

08/15/2025

📸

🧡An Update to our Year-Long Grand Closing…Are You the Next Part of the Story?🧡

Hello Everyone,

It’s been awhile since a little update. How in the world are we approaching mid-August? The days have been bustling over here, the sunflowers are towering over everyone, and YES, Buttered Brown Sugar Peach will be available soon. I promise.

Many of you know that in December, I announced that Zsa’s will close at the end of 2025, our 14th year in business, and shortly after the shop’s 7th birthday. You can read my full letter to our customers and community in our pinned post.

My goal with this post is to address a subject that has been coming up frequently among our customers (and which my team has excelled at answering.)

What many of you have not formally heard from me directly, is that my goal is to find a buyer for Zsa’s before the end of the year – the right individual(s) or organization who loves ice cream, this neighborhood, and small business as much as I do, and who has the desire, strong commitment, and unwavering work ethic to take Zsa’s to the next level.

This business is unique in that it spans both manufacturing and retail, and is driven by consistency and innovation all at the same time. It is the anchor of a neighborhood, while also recognized within Philadelphia, and poised for regional growth.

The sale offering is not listed with a broker, as I truly believe finding the next person to play a role in this story, and to keep Zsa’s open, has to happen organically, and even a bit creatively. If you or someone within your network is seriously interested, you can reach me directly at: [email protected]

Buttered Brown Sugar Peach real soon. Promise 🍑🍑🍑

~Danielle🍦

Read Out Loud National Day of Action. Read q***r kids books here or as part of a 24 hour Livestream August 2 and 3
07/26/2025

Read Out Loud National Day of Action. Read q***r kids books here or as part of a 24 hour Livestream August 2 and 3

07/03/2025

UPDATE: power is back! See you between now and 5:30 PM, or see you Saturday.

Power is out at the bookstore and vicinity. Word is that we will have it back by 4:30 PM.

We are closed for Independence Day tomorrow, Friday July 4th. We will be back to our usual hours on Saturday.

05/13/2025

It's release day for our very own 's debut novel, Shampoo Unicorn! This funny, beautiful, compassionate book about q***r teens in small- town Appalachia is so good... and was written partly in our second- floor reading room!

We have a bunch of signed copies right now, so come on over!

Independent Bookstore with diverse books for diverse readers. We can special order anything in print

Virginia bluebells are in bloom out back. A very good reason to go up to our reading room!
04/18/2025

Virginia bluebells are in bloom out back. A very good reason to go up to our reading room!

Caroline M. Mar Reading & Release Celebration for Water GuestThursday, April 3, 20257:00 PM  8:30 PM
03/28/2025

Caroline M. Mar Reading & Release Celebration for Water Guest
Thursday, April 3, 2025
7:00 PM 8:30 PM

03/18/2025

‼️ADVOCACY ALERT‼️ Join us THIS WEDNESDAY morning March 19th at 8:00 am in the C.W. Henry schoolyard for a Community Rally to support our public schools and protest cuts to the U.S. Department of Education! Stop the cuts! Protect Our Kids! Please help spread the word and let's do this! 💪 Wear your school spirit gear! ❤️ Shout out to High Point Cafe for generously providing refreshments.

Address

551 Carpenter Lane
Philadelphia, PA
19119

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 5:30pm
Wednesday 11am - 5:30pm
Thursday 11am - 5:30pm
Friday 11am - 5:30pm
Saturday 11am - 5:30pm
Sunday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+12158441870

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