Catie Gainor was sick with a bad fever when she was scrolling through social media and saw a post by Seattle-based cookbook shop, Book Larder.

It was a concept she felt would complement Philadelphia’s culinary scene and is the inspiration behind opening Binding Agents, an upcoming cookbook shop in the Italian Market, writes Ali Mohsen for Billy Penn at WHYY.

Her mindset was, “If I want this to be here, then I should do it,” Gainor said.

The name“ Binding Agents” speaks to Gainor’s love for books and the connective power they share with food for bringing people together.

The store at the Italian Market in South Philadelphia will be located at the former waiting room for the once-adjacent Sabrina’s Café.

Gainor plans to convert the place into “a place to duck in and feel cozy and comfortable, I hope,” with soon-to-be installed shelves stocked with cookbooks in a variety of themes, styles, and formats, along with other titles that “center and celebrate food,” Gainor said.

There will also be children’s books that aim to influence the relationship they have with food in their lives.

Binding Agents will also host Silent Book Club-style evenings with author events and partnerships with larger venues for cooking classes also in the works.

Read more about Binding Agents before its October opening in Billy Penn at WHYY.

_____