April 29, 2014
Nation's Oldest Gay Bookstore Announces Closure
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
The nation's oldest gay bookstore is writing its final chapter.
The owner of Giovanni's Room in Philadelphia says he'll close the doors to the 41-year-old store by the end of next month.
Ed Hermance says he's been losing money for a long time, in part due to online booksellers like Amazon.
Hermance says he's been looking for a buyer since August, but has not been able to seal a deal for the business or the small brick building it occupies.
Supporters say Giovanni's Room served as a resource, safe haven and gathering place for the city's gay community.
It's named for the 1956 James Baldwin novel about a young man in postwar Paris struggling with his sexual identity.
