The Moravian Book Shop, the oldest bookstore in the world, was founded in 1745 when the Moravian Church appointed Samuel Powell of the Church's Crown Inn on the South Side of the Lehigh River to operate a book store.  After several locations, the Moravian Book Shop was moved to the church's publications building near the Central Moravian Church in 1871.  Today, the Moravian Book Shop's home is this same site on Historic Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. (For directions to the store, click here.)  In addition to a fine selection of books, the store now offers a wide variety of distinctive merchandise, some of which is shown here at the Book Shop's Web Site.
      How can the Moravian Book Shop claim to be the oldest continuously running bookstore in the world? In April of 2000 there was a statement in USA Today that John Smith & Son, the longest continuously trading bookseller in the world, established in 1751, was closing. Since the Moravian Book Shop was established in 1745, it was concluded that it must be the oldest continuously running bookseller in the world.

STORE HOURS:
During most of the year...
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday:  10am-6pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 10am-8pm
Sunday 12noon-5pm

DELI HOURS:
During most of the year...
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 8am-5pm
Thursday, Friday, Saturday: 8am - 7pm
Sunday: 10am - 4pm
(Store hours remain the same)

Musikfest Hours (in August)...
Open Daily: 10am - 9pm
Open Sundays: 11am - 9pm
Deli Hours for Musikfest:
Open Daily:  8am - 8pm
Open Sundays: 10am - 8pm


We are closed on the following days...
Inventory (Feb. 3 & 4)
Memorial Day
July 4th
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Christmas Day
New Years Day
 
Christmas Holiday Hours...
(the Friday after Thanksgiving through December 23rd)
Open Monday through Saturday: 10am - 9pm
Open Sundays: Noon - 6pm
Open Christmas Eve: 10am - 3pm
Closed Christmas Day
Open New Year's Eve: 10am - 7pm
Closed New Year's Day
Christmas Deli Hours:
Open Monday through Saturday: 8am - 8pm
Open Sundays: 10am - 5pm
Open Christmas Eve: 8am - 2pm
Closed Christmas Day
Open New Year's Eve: 8am - 6pm
Closed New Year's Day


Telephone:
Toll-Free: 1-888-661-2888
Telephone: 610-866-5481
Fax: 610-868-8330

E-Mail:
info@moravianbookshop.com

Address:
428 Main Street
Bethlehem, PA  18018 USA

The Moravian Book Shop helps support the Moravian Ministerial Pension Fund.