At Kitchen Kapers, Liam O'Connell shops the wall of books for his mom.

When Borders locks their doors for the final time this January, Germantown Ave. will lose a store that housed Chestnut Hill’s favorite authors and page-turning bestsellers. But not all is lost – hard cover thrillers, exotic cookbooks, and inspirational gift books can be found, mixed and merchandised among the spices, toys, and home goods in many of the other local shops on the Avenue. Their storefront signs may not read “bookstore,” but we’re very certain these businesses on Germantown Ave. and privately owned book shops in Mt. Airy will keep Chestnut Hill in good reads long after Borders.

Reading on the Avenue

Browse newly released and seasonal cookbooks while you enjoy your morning cup of complimentary coffee in the cozy café nook at Good Food Market. And beyond the display of teacups at Kitchen Kapers, you’ll find an even larger collection of cookbooks on their book wall – inspiring customers to find delicious recipes to accompany their new kitchen tools!

Intermission has more than bound pages of music notes. Inside Intermission’s gift shop you’ll discover an inspiring edit of pocket-sized gift books among other non-fiction bestsellers, and across the street at Artisans on the Avenue, you’ll find a mix of fiction and non-fiction titles in their own mini library.

Encourage the pint-sized shoppers you take to O’Doodles to search the large selection of fun and adventurous kid’s titles at their exciting toy shop – where store employees sell best-selling children’s titles with as much enthusiasm as their top toys!

Need a home décor photo book to compliment a vase or flower arrangement? Find both at Robertson’s Flowers where interior design publications, home decorating books, and inspiration design titles are blended seamlessly with exquisite home merchandise.

Worth the trek – Books in Mt. Airy

Two of our favorite book shops are in our neighboring town, Mt. Airy, but these shopkeepers have been enthusiastically serving the Chestnut Hill community for years, and now expect to have even more foot traffic with the exodus of Borders. Claudia Vesterby, of Big Blue Marble Bookstore in Mt. Airy, says she is sad to hear Borders is closing but hopes, of course, more CH customers will be lured to visit the neighboring town’s shop for books. Even though you’ll have to use your car to get to Big Blue Marble Bookstore and Walk A Crooked Mile, these unique stores are worth the drive.

At Big Blue Marble Bookstore customers can do more than just read – writer workshops are offered year-round, and in January they will hold both poetry and fiction themed sessions. Unlike a national book distributor, small-town shop owners and employees at Big Blue Marble pride themselves on the intimate feel and ability to truly know their customers. “Customers here are members of our community, and they really trust our book recommendations,” says Vesterby. Right now, the 3 top sellers at this cozy shop are: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, an award-winning crime novel by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, Three Cups of Tea, a mission to promote peace by Greg Mortenson and David O. Relin, and True Compass, a landmark autobiography by Senator Edward M. Kennedy.

Located in the historic 1882 Mt. Airy Train Station, Walk A Crooked Mile, has some of the rarest books and best $1-$2 book deals in greater Philadelphia. Known for its unique funky atmosphere, bookkeepers here are very involved with the community and frequently donate books to prisons, mail titles to home-bound people, and give away books to various charities. The history rich location, charming interior, and complementary coffee and tea will enchant you to explore their shelves until you discover the perfect $2 literature paperback or $1 children’s soft-cover story. Among these thrifty selections, you’ll also unearth one-of-a-kind collectables like an original photograph by William H. Rau, the official photographer of the Pennsylvania Railroad, priced at $1,250. Between April and October the book store also holds a free concert series.