Uncle Bobbies

In Philadelphia’s Germantown neighborhood, Marc
Lamont Hill envisioned a space that honored his Uncle
Bobby — the man who first opened his world through
books. Against community skepticism that said
Germantown “didn’t need” a coffee shop or bookstore,
the design embraced eclectic togetherness. We
recreated the intimacy of Uncle Bobby’s living room
with layered plaids, vintage artifacts, and deep reds, set
against the raw textures of Philadelphia itself. Historical
photographs and curated collections immersed visitors
in both family memory and cultural heritage, creating a
masculine yet welcoming refuge where everyone could
feel at home in the pages.