Four Questions for Binding Agents
Binding Agents: Philly’s Culinary Bookstore opened in October 2024 in a uniquely Philadelphia food environment – the Italian Market, which is the nation’s oldest continually operating outdoor market. Located just steps from 9th and Christian, the center of the area, the mixed aromas of spices, Italian cookies, grilled meat and coffee as you approach the shop make you ready to snatch up every cookbook on the shelves.
I stopped in to visit owner Catie Gainor to see the store and to drop off copies of the 2026 RAMP catalog. Amid a conversation about the struggle to turn social media posts into butts in seats for events, I posed Catie the four questions I’ll be asking bookstore owners across the region over this coming year.
First Question: What’s working well for you?
Catie: What’s working is this location! The area businesses are so supportive, and the market draws foot traffic every day. I wasn’t sure what would happen when I leaned into a brick-and-mortar rather than ecommerce, and it’s been wonderful.
Second Question: What is one thing you’d like to change about how the book industry works with Indie bookstores?
Caitie: I think the way that the industry interacts with new stores is really confusing and is barrier for folks trying to get started. Establishing relationships with publishers is often a catch-22 that I’m still navigating. I initially tried to set up accounts without being educated about the option to start with prepay and then shift to terms, and this was deeply frustrating. I kept asking questions and each publisher had different rules that were impossible to find, or I would get contradictory information. There was no way in until I joined NAIBA and Eileen sent emails to everyone and suddenly doors were open. I’m really grateful for that, but my experience was a symptom of a larger problem. Now when I get asked by prospective store owners “how do I set up accounts?” I tell them to join their regional trade association!
That help is so important but the process shouldn’t be this opaque. I wish the publishers had a more structured, apparent process that could walk you through what to do first and then next.
Third question: What keeps you up at night?
Catie: Oh – the pressure to meet expectations for how a retail environment “should” function in 2026 and my knowledge that those expectations are not grounded in what is best for my business or for me. There is an expectation what we are open seven days a week, or that we have all of of our inventory listed online, or that we always active on social media and instantly responsive. Customers think that I have staff, that there is someone different mailing orders or handling marketing but I’m a single owner/operator. None of the things they think I should have are inherently wrong, but they don’t fit the structure of how I can run things alone. I find a lot of communication challenges in trying to convey that the decisions I make about the store, like being open five days a week, are grounded in my experience here. Customers experience friction in how they interact with the shop because they have an “always on” mentality.
The Italian Market is full of mom-and-pop shops that don’t live primarily on social media and aren’t always on, and this business community is so supportive of operating like I do, so I have freedom and flexibility here. But I know some customers are frustrated and I worry about how to reach them. I truly believe the "always on" mentality and the supposed ideal of a frictionless retail experience is harmful to all of us, so I'm trying to strike a balance of giving customers what they need while maintaining those values.
Fourth Question: What events or programs are working really well for you right now?
Catie: Our Cookbook Club! Every month we have a potluck based around a single cookbook (or, sometimes an author's complete works), from which each guest prepares a recipe. The store provides the big buffet table, plates, serving ware, and I lead the discussion. Everyone eats and talks about what they learned about that author, cuisine or cooking style. It is a ticketed event, but I want it to be accessible so I don’t insist that everyone buy every book. Most people don’t want to be adding 12 new cookbooks a year to their shelves and the books are increasingly expensive. But the people who come are or become regular customers and amazing supporters. It's become a tentpole of the shop and its community. I am deeply indebted to wonderful culinary stores who came before mine and showed how special the format can be in this environment, including Archestratus and Bold Fork Books.
Anything else?
Catie: I’ve really valued NAIBA and the two times I’ve been to NVNR. I like knowing there are more resources than I can take advantage of at any given time, and it’s so reassuring to me to know that if I run into a problem that I can find somebody who can give me advice or direct me to the right place to learn more. It’s hard to be running the shop alone without a thought partner, it can feel so isolating or like I’m the only person experiencing something in my niche shop, but then other booksellers have a parallel experience or can commiserate with me and provide support. I am just so lucky to be in this location that supports my specific niche focus. In spite of all the issues that come up I love sitting back and seeing what I’ve curated here. I love it and I’m lucky.
Binding Agents is located at 908 Christian St., Philadelphia, PA 19147.
They are not open 24/7, but you can find them open Wednesday - Sunday. Bring your shopping bags and an open calendar as you'll want to wander the market to find fresh ingredients to make recipes from any cookbook you buy. Don't miss Isgro Pastries, just up the block, so famous for their Italian Christmas Cookies that people start lining up at 3 am on Christmas Eve day.