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 …