iNDiE MAiN LiNE
Jump to the page for the Indie Main Line Loves Back campaign
About iNDiE MAiN LiNE
Indie Main Line is a new collective of independent bookstores from the Main Line suburbs of Philadelphia, formed in support of each other and their communities.
With more than 75 years of neighborhood engagement between the five stores, this group of dedicated booksellers discusses shared goals and initiatives.
Heather Hebert, owner of Children’s Book World in Haverford, which is currently celebrating its 35th year, says, “We intend to keep doing what indie bookstores do best: offering a hand-selected variety of titles to the families that have shopped here for decades.”
The newest addition to local literary culture is Mavey Books in Ardmore, owned by Nadia Alawa, who celebrates the diversity of the community and adds, “We aim to have our shelves reflect our commitment to inclusivity of people of all types and backgrounds. The Indie Main Line collective is empowering to us all!”
“Each of our five stores –- all owned by women, by the way -– are devoted to serving our customers,” emphasizes Cathy Stiebel Fiebach of Main Point Books in Wayne. “Our ability to reflect the unique spirits of each of our neighborhoods is a point of shared pride within the group.”
That’s especially evident when you consider the careful curation and warm atmosphere that makes each shop a haven for book lovers, as well as a meeting place for friends and neighbors.
“Independent bookstores know their customers. And without corporate mandates or trends to follow, we stock what we love and want to share with others. It’s all from the heart and all for our community,” agree Jaclyn Maki of Character Development and Ellen Trachtenberg of the Narberth Bookshop, two stores residing within a couple of blocks of each other.
The group is starting things off with an initiative to raise funds and awareness for several beloved local nonprofits. The “Indie Main Line Loves Back” campaign will consist of five consecutive days of promotion to support local organizations Monday, March 10 through Friday, March 14.