7 N. 2nd St., 215/925-0511
HOURS: Daily 10 a.m.–10 p.m.
The cash-strapped can find creative ways to acquire new reading materials at this one-of-a-kind Old City bookstore. Barter with a box of your own used books, or contribute your labor by sorting and organizing piles of books in exchange for store credit. The laid-back staff wants every customer to leave with something to read, one way or another.
While Book Trader is cluttered and there are often cats wandering through the aisles, it is the perfect place to relax and hunt for great reading material.
The antithesis of the overpriced, squeaky-clean chains taking over the world, Book Trader is a place to enjoy while it lasts.