I moved to Philadelphia in the late 1970s, supporting myself as a cook in a variety of restaurants while I pursued my life as a poet in a garret apartment on Pine Street. I moved from Center City to the Italian Market, where I ran and eventually bought my father’s used book and record store. I’ve been a South Philly neighbor and merchant ever since.
After a brief stint as a restaurateur (the old Molly’s Café at 9th and Christian, now Sabrina’s), I opened Molly’s Bookstore, which I ran happily until August 2008, when it went the way of many independent booksellers and withered in the shadow of Amazon. I started casting for the next best thing and decided to open BVNF. What could be better in the middle of all the butchers and fishmongers than a great vegetarian oasis? And what could be more refreshing than fruit and vegetables driven in from the local farms?
I love being part of this city and this neighborhood and look forward to sharing more with the community as we grow into a cooperative.
