The highly anticipated relocation of The Soapbox Community Print Shop & Zine Library to its new, expanded home at 4542 Baltimore Ave (near 46th Street) has been postponed. However, neighbors and members have some breathing room: organizers have confirmed that the shop will remain fully operational at its current location at 47th and Kingsessing Ave until October 31.

While the delay is a brief shift in the timeline, it gives the local creative community and organizers extra time to power through the final phases of their major transition and capital campaign.

By securing their current home on Kingsessing Avenue through the end of October, The Soapbox ensures that its members won’t experience an immediate disruption in access to studio equipment.

The extra months are vital for preparing the new Baltimore Avenue space, which will eventually house:

• True Street-Level Accessibility: Providing full ADA compliance so that printmaking equipment, classes, and events are open to everyone.

• A Consolidated Zine Library: A dedicated, welcoming archive to display and read their collection of over 3,500 handmade publications.

• Expanded Studio Capacity: More physical space to safely house heavy letterpresses, screenprinting darkrooms, risograph printers, and bookbinding equipment.

Why the Timeline Shifted

Relocating a community print shop is a heavy-lift—literally. Moving massive cast-iron printing presses requires precise coordination, structural reinforcements, and complex building permits.

Additionally, equipping a historic building with proper ventilation for screenprinting inks and printmaking chemicals requires specialized contractor work. Rather than rushing the transition, staying at Kingsessing until October 31 allows the team to tackle these zoning and construction hurdles safely and thoroughly.

Powering the Move: Recent Fundraising Efforts

Because The Soapbox is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the progress of their buildout moves hand-in-hand with community support. The group has been actively running a Capital Campaign to cover the gap created by rising construction and materials costs.

Some of their recent and ongoing fundraising initiatives include:

-Direct Donations & Building Fund: Community members have been pitching in directly to help cover the immediate structural buildout costs.

-Community Print & Merch Sales: Selling limited-edition artist prints, custom zines, and merch to directly benefit the moving fund.

-Matching Gift Opportunities: Leveraging localized donor matches to double the impact of individual community contributions.

How to Help

If you want to help ensure the new space on Baltimore Avenue is ready to roll by the time October 31 arrives, you can get involved today:

• Donate: Make a tax-deductible donation directly to their moving fund on the The Soapbox website.

• Take a Class: Sign up for an upcoming workshop to support their operations.

• Volunteer: Keep an eye out for upcoming community volunteer workdays to help package library materials and prep the new space.