Nestled between the restaurants and shops along 40th street between Locust and Walnut, sits the Last Word Bookshop. Passersby can look through the big window in the front to see impressive stacks of books surrounding customers browsing around the different towering sections. It has become a popular spot among Penn students and community members alike, with people coming in at all times of day. You’ll see the shop busy early in the afternoons of a weekday or late at night—even past midnight—on weekends.
A calico cat slinks around the well–lit shop, unbothered by the hordes of eager students searching for a casual read or hunting for a signed book. Some of the bookshop’s patrons actively search for her, whispering excitedly amongst themselves about the rumors that a cat roams the stacks. They're unable to find her until she reveals herself, plopping down by an unsuspecting customer’s feet.
Larry Maltz (C '85), the friendly shop owner, says, “People will come in just to see the cat.” If you’re lucky she might just reveal herself to you. Her name is Millie, and at five years old she is a staple of the Last Word experience. The shop is her home. “She only leaves to go to the vet,” Maltz quips.
The shop was originally housed on Walnut Street when it first opened its doors 23 years ago but moved to its current location when The Radian was built. The new location seems to be perfect for Maltz, as the street is constantly busy with students walking around and getting food, some of whom pop in to check out the store.
Originally hailing from New York, he now calls Philadelphia home, having lived here for around 43 years. A Penn alumnus, Maltz has been around to see all the changes to the campus. He describes the area now housing Gutmann College House, saying “It's very nice, although there's been a lot of changes … there was a big field out here, and the kids would always be out playing, throwing a ball around.” While many of the students who frequent the bookshop only see Penn’s campus in a four–year time capsule, Maltz has seen Penn and all its changes.
With so many books in the shop, it seems like it would be overwhelming for both patrons and Maltz himself, but he has the shop organized. “Everything's alphabetized, broken down by section. It's easy to find stuff if you’re looking for a specific title you can usually go right to it.” As you walk around the store, it’s evident where to find things from the labels on the shelves.
Maltz sells just about any genre of book you might be looking for, and all of them are equally popular. “Some people are looking for the latest novel, and others are looking for stuff that, you know, [from] 75 years ago," he says. From mass–market paperbacks, to books that have long been out of print, everything goes at the Last Word Bookshop. You might find a signed copy of Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner or long pre–loved novels with notes or messages written in the margins.
Maltz originally decided to start the Last Word while he was working in another bookstore. He began by collecting books from flea markets, yard sales, and thrift shops. By the time the bookshop was open, he had amassed around 20,000 books. He built the shelves housing all those books and set up shop all by himself.
Along with Maltz, just two other people work at the Last Word Bookshop: Phil and Helene. The trio have been working together basically since the store opened. Together they work to source the books in the store from estate sales and customers “who have a pile of books in the house that they're not [reading],” says Maltz. “Sometimes it's junk, but frequently it's really good stuff too.” Some of the books have messages or stamps in them, a reminder of all the hands the books have passed through to get into this shop.
The books are one component that draws customers in, but another is the atmosphere. The friendliness of Maltz, Helene, and Phil, and the sought–after Millie keep customers returning.
The bookshop has amassed a number of very loyal customers, even some famous ones. Maltz holds back on revealing identities: “I'm not naming names, but there's a famous author who comes in here who lives in England.” Maltz teasingly says he doesn’t plan on ever sharing the name of this elusive author, who visits Philadelphia once a year but always makes time to visit the bookshop. Aside from this international customer, people who drive down to Philadelphia from nearby regions like New York, New Jersey, Delaware, and other areas of Pennsylvania, will also often pay the Last Word Bookshop a visit on their trip.
The Last Word Bookshop is more than just a shop; it's a community. A newly minted regular, Ayesha describes the shop with wonder. She says, “If you need any help, you could literally just walk up and ask, and who wouldn’t like to be surrounded by books?” She enthusiastically flips through the copy of Of Mice and Men in her hands, and laughs as she shows me the cassette tape order form at the back. Before she leaves, another woman goes to say goodbye to her, and they set another date to meet back at the bookshop. Maltz points this out to me, saying that “people meet here and connect.”
Maltz’s genuine love for this bookshop can be seen in the way he greets customers, converses with them, carefully organizes the books he gets, and smiles all the way through. This love and care is reflected by the customers who come in time and time again, not just for the books, but the atmosphere and service. He says, “I really enjoy operating a bookshop. It's the best job in the world for me.”
