Harriett’s Bookshop owner purchases the building following successful fundraising campaign

PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — After four years in business, the founder of Harriett’s Bookshop has purchased the property.

With the help of community crowdfunding, Jeannine A. Cook recently purchased the building at 258 E. Girded Ave. in Fishtown. She opened Harriett’s Bookshop there in 2020 and sought to own the building within two years — then the pandemic hit.

“There’s so many things that occurred from COVID to the uprisings to supply chain issues. It hasn’t been a normal last five years,” she said.

But within that time, Harriett’s Bookshop has become a hub for civil rights advocacy, community engagement and support for other business owners. And this summer, Cook’s dream came true thanks to a successful GoFundMe campaign.

“We raised a little over $200,000,” she said. “The first weekend we raised $75,000.”

After years of delivering books to the community and heading programs that support fellow businesswomen, Cook said the community is making its own investment in Harriett’s.

“If we did what we’ve done with 500 square feet of rented space in Fishtown during COVID, imagine what we could do if we were just a little bit freer,” she added.

And, she said, this is just the beginning. In November, Harriett’s is sending 20 youths to Paris for educational courses following the opening of Cook’s new bookstore in France, named in honor of Josephine Baker, the civil rights activist and singer.

The goal, Cook said, is to keep giving back.