Catie Gainor

Catie Gainor is the owner of Binding Agents, a culinary bookstore in Philadelphia’s Italian Market. Founded in 2024, Philly’s only culinary bookshop specializes in cookbooks, offering an extensive collection of contemporary and classic titles for experienced chefs, aspiring home cooks, eager eaters who hate turning on the oven, and everyone in between. The store also carry a curated selection of food-focused reads, including delicious memoirs, craveable fiction, savory (and unsavory) history and scrumptious books for kids. Their event schedule of author signings, classes, cookbook clubs, and more is designed to create community for cooks and eaters.

Through the winding path of her career—spanning PR/communications, hospitality, events, and the arts—Catie has been an avid home cook and devoted reader of food (and other) writing. She is honored to create community around these passions in our vibrantly delicious city.

Catie’s favorite people to cook for are her daughter, Grace, and her husband, Matt. She lives in South Philadelphia.