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From novels to nuts: Molly's Bookstore transformed
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From novels to nuts: Molly's Bookstore transformed
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| All Photos l Michael Persico |
Molly Russakoff has been in the Italian Market for 25 years. 1010 S. Ninth Street was Molly's Bookstore until October 2008, when she decided the book business had become "untenable," and flipped her space on its head.
"It's quite a re-concept," Russakoff says, laughing. "I own the building, so whatever happens with me, happens here." Her new store, Bella Vista Natural Foods, is stocked with items more commonly found in places like Whole Foods. "I like to eat this way," she says, gesturing to the shelves stocked with organic coconut milk and bulk, chemical-free herbs, beans and grains. "These are the things you couldn't get in the market until now."
Indeed, though Ninth Street abounds with cheap produce, cheesemongers, homemade ravioli and quality butchers, natural and vegetarian foods have not yet made significant inroads. Russakoff's shop, though small, has the staples that vegetarians and vegans require. The freezer is stocked with Amy's organic veggie burgers and Tofutti pizza for convenience, and dry goods range from powdered egg replacer to chlorine-free diapers.
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| Blown-out Natural Meadows Farm eggs |
| Photo l Michael Persico |
The fridge is a repository of the fresh and local — Misty Creek cheddar goat cheese, Pequea Valley yogurt, Natural Meadows Farm eggs in a rainbow of colors. Russakoff shows off a carton of the olive green, sky blue, freckled brown and cream eggshells that she had blown the contents out of, all the better to display on the counter. "The first day we got these, I was practically running out in the street to show them to people," she says, with obvious delight. "I was like, just look at these!" The success of the eggs sped her realization that there is a void in this South Philly market.
"The original plan was just to sell packaged foods," says Molly. "But people really want fresh, local food. We're in the process of shifting our focus to local produce. It's fun to deal with farmers and small producers, instead of giant book distributors." As Southeastern PA emerges from the cold, dark winter, Russakoff will be filling her store with produce from surrounding farms. Plans are in the works for a sandwich counter and juice bar in the back of the store, and Russakoff is mulling over the possibility of turning the place into a co-op.
Russakoff's devotion to the Buy Fresh, Buy Local ethos is clear. One of her neighbors had mentioned that his backyard fig tree produces more fruit than he knows what to do with, and invited Molly to gather the figs when they come in. "Can you see it?" She says, with a gleam in her eye. "South Philly figs this summer — talk about local produce!"
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| Kombucha, organic milk and mushrooms |
| Photo l Michael Persico |
Bella Vista Natural Foods, 1010 S. Ninth St., 215-923-3367; Open Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sun., 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
[...] closed to make way for a home-schooling center. After this brief foray failed to materialize, the space blossomed into Bella Vista Natural Foods, selling fresh produce, herbs, and tofutti. But, with the organic coconut milk flowing like water, [...]
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