Philadelphia’s South Street corridor has undergone decades of change. Now speculation on what’s next is taking center stage. In City Cast Philly’s special audio series, we took a deep dive into the street’s early aughts, how it became the center of entertainment and nightlife in the city, and the people preserving its legacy today. Through these episodes, we uncovered the memories, fondness, and hopes Philadelphia has for South Street.
We’re taking a moment to walk down memory lane as our listeners and guests recollect what makes South Street special for them.
Jacqui G.: “Everyone was working together to make a living, work our trade, live in a community with complete freedom to be whoever you were. We had none of the accoutrements of our world today and it was a simple life.
“There were many owners who lived above their stores, who were artists, wood makers, sculptors, stained glass artists, ceramicists/potters and of course our beloved Isaiah Zagar who would wear flip flops to walk down South Street in the snow and on a significant birthday appeared in his birthday suit. Grendel's Lair was at 5th and South and a popular band at the time was the one and only Philadelphia's best, Johnny's Dance Band, where we rocked the night away.
Photos of Julia and Isaiah Zagar of the Magic Gardens, framed by a mosaic inside Jim’s South St. (Abby Fritz / City Cast Philly)
“When I first moved to 4th and South, there were several remaining merchants on the street who sold their merchandise from their carts. I recall one merchant, an older man, had a cart selling shoes outside Famous [4th Street] Delicatessen for many years into the '80s. I remember him because he was a holocaust survivor and had a number tattooed on his arm. I thought about how hard his life must have been.
“At any given moment, the Hare Krishna monks in their orange robes, singing and chanting the 'hare Krishna' mantra for spiritual liberation with their hand cymbals, would make a procession down the street and people would join in their procession and sing with them. We should bring them back to South Street. We need that love on our street.
“There was always an opportunity for a parade on South Street. For Halloween, everyone got into the dress up scene, no holds barred, and all merchants participated. [The] Easter parade was a little tamer about bonnets and hats. [There were] many opportunities to close the streets and have local bands playing, which culminated in the WMMR concert. Which unfortunately did get out of hand somewhat when a bus was stopped at the center of South and 4th Streets and was commandeered. Folks were jumping on the bus to the beat of the music and the police had to be called to deal with it, although it was all in the spirit of South Street in that era.”
Aaron R.: “I recently helped organize the Philadelphia Naked Bike Ride. Twenty-two years in a row, we’ve been on South Street. We love South Street.”
Izzy: “Probably in 2020, me and my wife, we both lived with our family. So we would spend alternating weekends getting an Airbnb in the suburbs and then one in the city. The first weekend that we ever spent together was here on South Street and we just went shopping and walked around together and just spent the weekend together… After the weekend, I dropped her off at 30th Street and that was when I knew that I loved her.”
Snapshot of South Street’s past and present inside Jim’s South St. (Abby Fritz / City Cast Philly)
Cosmo Baker: “I have a long history with South Street and I think maybe some of the earliest memories that I've had were as a kid going to Jim’s.
“I remember that my parents would take us to Eyes Gallery, which is [owned by] Isaiah and Julia Zagar… Those are some of the earliest memories that I had from South Street: just being really cool, really funky. It was obviously a little bit of sensory overload if you're a kid. You go down there and there's all sorts of interesting things to see, interesting things to do [and] an incredible, vast spectrum of cool people which is really part of the South Street story if you go back, not just decades, but centuries…We didn't go to the mall, we went to South Street.”
Michal G.: “Whenever people ask me where I grew up, I say off of South Street in the '80s and '90s. It feels that memorable and formative for me.
“I remember growing up above the store on 4th Street and seeing a movie being filmed at Jim’s [South St.] across the street, going to Green’s Drugs for some sweets, Famous [4th Street Delicastessen] for cookies, and Hillary’s for ice cream and a game of Pac-Man.
Famous 4th Street Delicastessen’s sandwich portions are filling. (Trenae Nuri / City Cast Philly)
“Dressing up like a flower child to sing ‘Meet Me on South Street’ with the rest of my first grade class in our school play at Meredith [Elementary School]. Getting a little older and being allowed to walk across the street from Starr Gardens to Levi’s for fries and fountain soda. [Getting] even older and venturing to Inkys on South street for their notorious curly fries, Gremlins at Ishkabibbles…sledding down South during the Blizzard of ‘93 and again in ‘96.
“Then in high school, I worked on South Street at this spot called Unica. It was epic. I made $5.16 an hour and spent most of that on Airmax 97s in different colorways. We had Coogi sweaters, Moschino, and Polo. Power 99 was always on the radio. I’d walk home around 11 and things were always popping, the street packed. Tower Records put on free shows in the store! We used pay phones. A slice at Lorenzo’s was $1.25.
“We were young and looking for things to do. My house became a home-base for many. [We’d go] back and forth on South, down to Penn’s Landing, stop at South Street Diner, back to mine. Finding other kids along the way who were doing the same thing. I still have many of these friendships. We found our freedom on South Street.”
