"Used to buy coffee and tobacco back in my university years between '08-'12, John was an amazing host and always offered a very intellectual chat. Now looking back, it was an extremely crucial part of my university experience. Hope all is well."

"Spend a few good minutes here looking through the various reads and you’ll realize that the owner knows many of his customers by name. this place is very important to many people—also a reason why my moving boxes are so heavy now, because of all the journals and magazines I’ve claimed from here while wandering between classes."

"The coffee is pretty average, and while the novelty is interesting, the prices are unclear—there are no price tags, and I wasn’t given or offered a receipt. A simple drip coffee and one latte cost me $12, which felt steep. The service was also lacking; the staff member seemed disinterested and a bit rude. Overall, not the best experience."

"While listed here as tea shop, I visit mostly for the variety of periodicals and magazines. The selection is vast and many are impossible to find elsewhere in Philadelphia. With the decline in newsstands and bookstores, this is one of the last places with a wide selection of unique magazines."

"John servers the best coffee mixed with the best advice / he’s a legend on Sansom Street"