Collingswood is for Book Lovers: New Indie Bookstore, Cultura Books, Just Opened on Haddon Avenue

Meet Cultura Books

Cultura Books moved into the former home of The Pilates Soul Studio at 606 Haddon Avenue.

The bookstore held its soft opening on October 2, 2026, while continuing to build out its inventory ahead of a larger official launch.

Owners Michael Maffei and Ashley Staropoli are developing Cultura Books around a community-focused approach to bookselling, with an emphasis on diverse voices, representation and creating a welcoming space for readers.

Plans for the store reportedly include children’s storytimes, book clubs and other community events as the business becomes more established.

A Perfect Weekend to Open a Bookstore

Cultura Books arrived during one of the town’s biggest celebrations of reading.

The 24th Annual Collingswood Book Festival took place October 3, filling more than six blocks of Haddon Avenue with authors, booksellers, storytellers, poetry readings, workshops and performers.

The free annual event has become a local tradition, making festival weekend a particularly fitting introduction for the town’s newest bookstore.

Cultura Books also participated in this year’s festival while continuing its soft-opening period.

The Independent Bookstore Scene Is Growing

Cultura Books isn’t the only independent bookstore to recently choose Haddon Avenue.

In 2024, Kiss & Tale opened at 688 Haddon Avenue as a bookstore dedicated specifically to romance titles.

Now, Cultura Books adds another independent shop just a short walk away, but with a broader selection and its own community-focused identity.

For a downtown already known for its restaurants, coffee shops, independent businesses and walkability, having multiple specialty bookstores along the same commercial corridor adds another reason to visit—and stay awhile.

Why This Matters for Downtown

New businesses are always worth watching, but independent retailers can have an especially visible impact in a walkable community.

A bookstore isn’t simply somewhere to make a purchase. Storytimes, book clubs, author events and community gatherings can generate repeat visits and give residents another place to spend time locally.

Cultura Books is still in its early stages, and details about its official grand opening have not yet been announced.

But its arrival adds another locally focused destination to a downtown that continues to evolve while maintaining the small-business character that makes Haddon Avenue distinctive.