The Soapbox has been operating in this row house since 2011 (photo from phillysoapbox.org)

There are some exciting developments at The Soapbox, West Philly’s own community print shop and zine library. The studio, which has been operating in a row house on the 700 block of S. 51st Street (pictured right) since 2011, will be moving soon to a new, 4,500-square-foot space in the newly renovated Frank Furness-designed church at 4700 Kingsessing.

As you may know, the old church building was saved from demolition last year and was being converted into commercial space, which will also house schools (more information about this is coming soon).

A lease was signed for the basement of the Parish House, a high-ceilinged space with four-foot windows at ceiling level, according to The Soapbox president and co-founder Mary Tasillo. The new studio will be fully equipped with historic and contemporary printing equipment, the city’s largest independent zine library, and expanded community programming.

“The Soapbox team is incredibly excited by the potential presented in this move… Our vision for The Soapbox can fully come to fruition in the new, larger space: The Soapbox Community Print Shop and Zine Library will be a space where many people can feel a sense of ownership and investment,” Tasillo says. “Above all, we are excited about this move because this enables The Soapbox to continue our mission-driven work by offering a more accessible and more usable space to our community.” 

The “Parish House” building adjacent to the main church building at 4700 Kingsessing.

According to Tasillo, the building owner is doing some basic interior renovations for them, including new plumbing. But they will be receiving it as a fairly raw space. So, The Soapbox is planing to raise funds to do some finishing work to make the space pleasant to work in, to subdivide space for private studios, and to contain the louder activities of the print shop, which includes the noise of running a paper pulp beater for several hours and of cleaning out silkscreens with a pressure washer. Funds will also go to additional furnishings to create spaces to work and to explore the Zine library collection in a space that is several times larger than the current space, and to moving expenses.

STEP UP FOR THE SOAPBOX, a bold crowdfunding campaign to support The Soapbox’s transition into the new studio, launches in mid-November, but those who want to support The Soapbox’s move can donate already now here: www.phillysoapbox.org/donate.

The new space is expected to open for members and the public in February 2016.