People & Place: Midtown Scholar’s Indelible Influence
First opened in 2001 by married couple Catherine Lawrence and Eric Papenfuse, the Midtown Scholar Bookstore has grown from a humble book retailer to what can best be described as a trove of literature; with six floors in the present location carrying over 200,000 rare, used, and unique texts, any patron would be forgiven for losing track of time within its walls. Additionally, Midtown Scholar contains two cafes within its sprawling halls, providing visitors with ample refreshments and a foyer to enjoy them in. Outside of the collections it houses and shops within, Lawrence and Papenfuse also sought to change the community in which the bookstore resides for the better, spreading grassroots transformation through the medium of literature. The owners cite an interview they participated in on their website, saying that “Ideas change people’s minds and affect people’s directions and sensibilities – tie people together or fracture them apart – and so, books transform,” showing that they wish to foster a comfortable space where people can discover more than just their next favorite title (History and Mission).
Heavily contrasting the elitist concepts covered in Laura Miller’s Reluctant Capitalists, the owners have consistently sought to foster a sense of community in spite of organized booksellers and chains that continue to have a stranglehold on the field; rather than removing the human aspect like many chains have chosen to do, Lawrence and Papenfuse instead sought to characterize their storefront in the diverse image of Harrisburg, welcoming those from all walks of life. Even the layout of the store contrasts all standardized notions of what a bookstore “should” be, the sprawling shelves and spiraling levels don’t make it the easiest to locate a specific text, but may just lead you to finding something new altogether.
Looking at the demographics of Midtown, the neighborhood in Harrisburg this bookstore is located in, we quickly realize there’s a stark contrast in the people that live here– a sizable percent of individuals here make less than $15,000, with even more making between $35k and $75k; moreover, a majority of the population of Midtown is made up of people between the ages of 25 and 44, with a notable amount being those above 65 years of age. Generally speaking, this area is populated more with singles and married couples than families with children, though families make up a small percent– this lack of family has likely contributed to the abundance of humanities and social spots within walking distance of each other.
From a geographical point of view, Midtown Scholar is located directly in the middle of a diverse community of individuals from different backgrounds, incomes, and heritages. Immediately surrounding the storefront are multiple shops including grocery markets, cafes, and retail shopping centers, highlighting the frequent traffic this area gets. Moreover, a majority of the landmarks surrounding Midtown Scholar are social or interactive spaces; museums, art galleries, yoga, taverns, and more– the topography of this area heavily suggests that this is a flourishing community, deeply invested in the arts and humanities. For readers who prefer a crisp breeze over an armchair by the fireplace, there are three outdoor parks and gardens within walking distance of the bookstore, allowing one to read their titles wherever they’re most comfortable. Not as prominent as other features in this neighborhood, housing is largely centralized in townhouses, with larger living complexes like the Linden Terrace Apartments towards the Susquehanna River also taking up a good chunk of the population. As mentioned above, worship centers in this area are largely Christian, with an international, non-denominational house of worship not far from Midtown Scholar. Community highlights of the arts and humanities include galleries such as Vivi on Verbeke, a painting gallery with assorted sculptures of what can best be described as a clash of nature and americana, or Pocket Park, an interactive studio geared towards families with children that allows them to express their creativity. Harkening back to Tim Cresswell’s essay Place, Midtown Scholar has forged something more than a location within their walls– existing outside of a brick and mortar location, this bookstore has helped redefine the very place it exists within, Papenfuse even serving as the 38th mayor of Harrisburg to further affects his constituents’ quality of life, focusing many of his efforts on the neighborhood of Midtown.
All in all, Midtown Scholar exists in the populated center of a thriving neighborhood of many different lifestyles, and has ample options for food, shopping, worship, entertainment, and more, giving any visitor a wide range of options to choose from on their trip. If any location’s attempt to redefine the notion of bookstore has succeeded, it would without a doubt be Midtown Scholar, having helped shape its community for over two decades.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Sources
Images:
https://uncoveringpa.com/midtown-scholar-bookstore
https://www.visithersheyharrisburg.org/listings/midtown-scholar-bookstore-caf%C3%A9/707/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mhoffman1/9060576278
Articles:
https://uncoveringpa.com/midtown-scholar-bookstore. Accessed 18 September 2023.
https://www.midtownscholar.com/history-and-mission. Accessed 18 September 2023.
Maps & Misc:
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1i9TqQIov8VQh8b1_Cqw_ybgezV4iKTg&ll=40.26961690000003%2C-76.8911064&z=17. Accessed and created 18 September 2023.
https://vivionverbeke.com/. Accessed 19 September 2023.
0 Comments