Philly AIDS Thrift to Re-Open Giovanni’s Room as a Thrift Shop

Exciting, rather shocking news: Philadelphia Gay News reports that Philadelphia AIDS Thrift (PAT) has just signed a two-year lease to take over our recently shuttered LGBT bookstore Giovanni’s Room. According to the article, the new business will be called Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room, and will, much like PAT in Queen Village, house books along with secondhand clothing, furniture, and jewelry.

Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room will open Oct. 10, with sneak-peak shopping days throughout September. The store will offer new and used LGBT-centric books, as well as a wide variety of higher-end thrift-shop items.

The new store will be considered an outpost of PAT’s successful flagship store at 710 S. Fifth St. PAT is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization, which donates proceeds from sales to AIDS Fund, which distributes funding to area HIV/AIDS service organizations. …

Philly AIDS Thrift @ Giovanni’s Room will encompass the 3,000-square-foot building at the corner of 12th and Pine streets It will stock $15,000 worth of LGBT-related books, about 2,000 titles, as well as items such as clothing, jewelry and small furniture.

Store manager Alan Chelak says the business will run with a variety of volunteers, and be stocked with donations from the public. He also hopes to continue regular book readings, and will continue to sell books and ebooks at queerbooks.com. In keeping with PAT’s philosophy, proceeds from all business will be donated to HIV charities around the city.

What do you think? Exciting move? Disappointed it won’t be strictly a bookstore? Would love to hear your thoughts.

You can read more about the takeover here.