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City Cast Philly

Keep It Local

Keep It Local features spotlights on local businesses we love and personal, curated, and neighborly recommendations that will help you live your best Philly life right now. So, if you’re ready to ditch the national chains, e-commerce giants, and big box stores,

 sign up now for the new weekly newsletter from City Cast Philly.

Sign up for Keep It Local from City Cast Philly

Marie Albiges

Inside a bustling Center City corridor on Ludlow Street, there’s a place where immigrant entrepreneurs are thriving and cultures are coming together. You might have seen

 popping up at Reading Terminal Market, the Christmas Village, or Triple Bottom Brewing. Now the multicultural marketplace and nonprofit has its own pop-up storefront on Ludlow Street.

, a Philadelphia nonprofit that promotes inclusive economic growth, Immigrant Marché’s Ludlow Street storefront is open through the end of July. Layla El Tannir, director of entrepreneurship at The Welcoming Center, said she hopes to extend the pop-up through the end of the summer, and has plans to open another location soon.

The shop features products from immigrants representing Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and Nicaragua. Products sold include vegan nail polish, embroidered pillows, jewelry, art prints, coffee beans, and jam — all made by immigrants who now call Philadelphia home. Entrepreneurs must be residents of Philadelphia and have a business registered here, and must have previously participated in an Immigrant Marché pop-up.

The storefront — offered to The Welcoming Center rent-free — is part of 

 that is activating vacant storefronts along one of Philadelphia’s most significant urban corridors in partnership with the City of Philadelphia, Center City District, and local property owners.

“These businesses alone would have never been able to have the same entry point,” El Tannir said. “This whole project is giving them the opportunity to do that.”

She said the idea of the storefront is to help entrepreneurs scale their businesses and learn how to operate storefronts. The entrepreneurs each take shifts working inside the store, which is open Wednesday to Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

El Tannir said she’s regularly asked how Philadelphians can support immigrants. Her answer: Shop at immigrant-owned businesses.

“Maybe we don’t feel it as much directly in Center City Philadelphia, but there’s a rhetoric that has been built against immigrants,” El Tannir said. “Sometimes that overshadows the great value that immigrants bring to our community.”

The shop features products from immigrants representing Mexico, Guatemala, Cuba, and Nicaragua.

Immigrant Marché Opens Pop-Up Storefront in Center City 

Keep It Local with City Cast Philly

 combines the cultural tastes of Bishara Kuttab, who is Palestinian, and his wife Zohra Saibi, who is Algerian. Opened in 2022, the shop sells imported organic products from the Middle East and North Africa, including desserts, roasted nuts, spices, and soaps.

Julia De Burgos Bookstore (West Kensington)

, operated by the community-based cultural organization Taller Puertorriqueño, is the only bilingual bookstore in Philadelphia that specializes in Puerto Rican and Latin American cultures. It also sells locally made merchandise including stickers, jewelry, candles, and tote bags.

The Czerw brothers operate the legendary neighborhood spot on Tilton Street that has served kielbasa, pierogies, and other Polish fare since it was founded by Jan Czerw in 1938 (the shop has made such an impression in the neighborhood that Tilton Street was renamed Czerw Way last year). Catch me in line at 

International Foods & Spices (University City)

A family-owned Indian and South Asian grocery in University City, 

has been a cornerstone in the neighborhood since 1987. Best-known for its handmade samosas, the shop also sells a variety of spices, injera, bread, sauces, frozen meals, ice cream, and a selection of halal meats.

Chocolate Arts & Crafts (Passyunk Square)

Despite its name, you’ll find mostly handcrafted Mexican goods like pottery, masks, art, apparel, and gifts at Chocolate Arts & Crafts, which goes by 

. The colorful boutique boasts everything from wrestling masks to Día de Los Muertos decor.

After spending weeks hosting fans from every corner of the globe, it feels like the perfect time to explore the international markets, import shops, and specialty stores that make Philly one of the country's most diverse shopping destinations. 


Shop the World Without Leaving Philly 

” viral merch trend via the cute hats at 

, and I’ve been delightfully repeating that phrase to myself for weeks now (many hot dogs were consumed by yours truly down the shore last week). Minor Details is for the Phillies girlies — think beaded purses, bedazzled headbands, candles, earrings, tank tops, and crop tops. You’ll find cute merch for every Philly sports team, plus gifts for the Swiftie in your life.

South Philly locals and Temple University grads Tony Trov and Johnny Zito know all of the Philly lore, and they’re printing it on T-shirts, hats, and sweatshirts at 

. My personal favorite Phillies T-shirt design on the rack right now: The Phanatic reimagined as Leonardo da Vinci’s 

. (Note: South Fellini’s summer hours are Wednesday-Saturday 11 am-6 pm, and Sunday 10 am-5 pm).

Shibe Vintage Sports (Gayborhood and suburbs)

 has an entire collection of All-Star game apparel, including hats and T-shirts that feature the 1952 and 1996 All-Star games in Philadelphia. They even have a display of items related to the 1952 game, including an 

 of the Philadelphia Athletics. In addition to carrying officially licensed merch, you’ll find vintage original styles from local screen printers and local artists.

Serendipity Shops (Chestnut Hill, Doylestown, and Avalon, NJ)

This is the spot to hit up for a gift for the hard-core Phillies fan in your life. Because they definitely need a 

. In addition to gifts and apparel from all of your favorite Philly sports teams, 

carries locally sourced goods from companies like Hank Sauce, Philadelphia Candle Co., and Dionis Goat Milk Skincare.

Five of our Phillies made the National League roster for the All-Star Game, so we’re sharing places to shop local and show your support for the Fightins at the game and all season long.

5 Places to Get Unique Phillies Gear 

The last time the MLB All-Star Game came to Philadelphia, John Foley was a die-hard 15-year-old Phillies fan. He couldn’t get tickets to the game at Veterans Stadium, so a buddy brought his television outside and the block gathered to watch. A lone Phillies player, pitcher Ricky Bottalico, had made the team.

“I remember the energy, the excitement around it,” Foley said.

This year Foley will be in the stands at Citizens Bank Park with his kids, watching MLB’s best players. He’s been enmeshed in the world of the Phillies his entire life, spending years covering the games part-time for local media outlets and independently on 

. But while working as a lawyer, he had been trying to figure out a way to turn his love of Philly sports and its fan culture into a full-time job. And in March, he saw the opportunity: Opening a store selling authentic, local sports apparel, merchandise, and memorabilia in a Graduate Hospital spot that was previously a smoke shop.

“I camped out, watched everybody who was coming by. Every other person had a Phillies hat on,” Foley said.

 opened in May. The shop sells T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, hats, accessories, decor, trading cards, and art designed by local artists like 

, as well as vintage sports memorabilia through 

. Foley’s also carries beaded bags, purses, and accessories from the female Philly duo behind 

Foley said he wants to ensure the shop is curated with Philly fans in mind and showcases the work of the artists who understand the unique fandom of this town. He’s also launching fan experiences, starting with a meet-and-greet with the Phillies’ new right fielder, Derek Hill, who will be signing autographs on July 17 at 6 pm.

“I don’t think you could do a store like this anywhere else,” Foley said. “Whatever it is that makes Philly sports so special, we want to capture it in the shop.”

The shop sells T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, hats, accessories, decor, trading cards, and art designed by local artists. 

The New Philly Sports Shop Every Fan Should Know About

 in Old City, you’re immediately hit with the smell of sweetness: melted chocolate, creamy caramel, the slightest hint of fruit.

You’re also hit with the feeling that you just stepped back in time: the creaking and original hardwood floors, the intricate blue-and-white fixtures, the old-timey cash register, the 19th-century stained glass. This chocolatey, nostalgic sensation feels right for a visit during America’s 250th celebration.

As she walks me through the storefront and into the kitchen, Pavia Burroughs, Shane’s creative director, rattles through a list of the confectionery’s owners since 1863: The Herrings, the Denglers (Daniel Dengler allegedly dabbled in the fireworks trade during the slow summer chocolate season), the Wescotts, and the Shanes, who held onto the business for 99 years before bequeathing ownership to the Berley Brothers (who had opened the nearby Franklin Fountain) in 2010.

“(The Shanes) had really made an impression in the city… and in order to pay homage to the really ingrained legacy at that point, the Berleys decided to keep it named ‘Shane,’” Burroughs said.

Today, all of the chocolate and ice cream at Shane Confectionery, 

The Franklin Fountain and The Franklin Ice Cream Bar

 next door is made in-house. The cocoa beans are ethically sourced from Uncommon Cacao, ground in the back of Shane’s, melted down and turned into everything from passionfruit caramels (Boroughs’ favorite) to the popular Schnickelfritz peanut butter crisp in dark chocolate (a crowd favorite). The packaging, also done in-house, is designed by Burroughs, who first started working there as a candy clerk.

In addition to buying chocolates, candies, and cookies, customers can drink seasonal hot and cold chocolate in the cafe between the storefront and the kitchen. The cafe’s 1880s wooden counters are all salvaged from shuttered local candy shops.

For America's 250th, The Franklin Fountain is serving up two patriotic specials: 

, named after the highly potent drink served at America’s oldest angling club that allegedly made George Washington hungover for three days (the Franklin version swaps brandy and rum for black tea, lemon, and peach), and a 

 featuring layers of lemon sorbet, vanilla ice cream, mango sorbet, and raspberry compote.

America’s Oldest Confectionery

 sits a wrinkled, slightly dirty flag with 38 stars on it — the American flag of 1876, created when Colorado joined the Union. Old and new flags of all sizes cover every inch of space inside the store, the origins of which date back to 1805 (the company was founded in New York and moved to Philadelphia in 1864). Inside, you’ll find flags for every country, every state, every Philly sports team, as well as patches, buttons, and flag accessories.

If you’re looking for Philly-centric gifts, home goods, apparel or art, 

 on South 13th Street might have exactly what you need. Yes, they have all the cute sports apparel and merch you could want, but they also stock uniquely Philly items like this 

 I’m obsessed with and fun Philadelphia icons dish towels.

What’s more Philly than supporting fellow Philadelphians? At 

, you’ll find local makers’ handmade items, including jewelry, artwork, candles, home decor, baby gifts, accessories, and greeting cards.

is the heartbeat of Philly’s art scene. It’s home to over 200 Philly-area artists and makers and has a huge community following. Originally intended as a holiday pop-up, Philadelphians loved it so much that they helped Art Mart create a permanent storefront on Philly’s iconic South Street.

While the city may be swarming with tourists — both for the semiquincentennial and the ongoing FIFA World Cup games — we’ve got a shopping guide for the best places to feel like a local and dive deep into Philadelphia’s history.

Celebrate America’s 250th Like a Local

 owner and head baker Rae Krueger felt like she didn’t really have a welcoming space where she could truly be herself, where she could make connections with people like her, and where she could relax in an inclusive, alcohol-free space.

So armed with a love of baking since childhood and a mission to create that space in the city she called home, Krueger began selling baked goods out of her apartment in late 2022, gradually joining the pop-up and farmer’s market circuit, and eventually expanding to a commercial kitchen space. After spending time selling her cookies, cakes, and cinnamon buns out of a window in a rented space in Queen Village, she left her full-time role working on energy efficiency programs for utility companies and secured a permanent location for The Underbite Bites a few blocks away.

The bakery, open Thursdays through Sundays, gets its name from Krueger’s terrier mix, Gouda — and her “most perfect crooked underbite” — as well as from Krueger’s love of Philadelphia as a city of underdogs. If you visit the storefront, you’ll find Polaroids of all of the neighborhood dogs.

“I feel like being queer and a woman and in this city that is majority minority, we have a lot of undervalued and underserved people; something I wanted to do was really highlight that,” Krueger said.

Inside The Underbite Bites, you’ll find small-batch cookies made with European butter and imported Belgian chocolate, sweet and savory buns, and pies that use seasonal ingredients (like the new blueberry pie with a lemon-infused crust that uses whole blueberries). As of this month they’re also selling take-and-bake cookie dough, cinnamon buns, and pie crusts.

Inspired by her love of making birthday cakes for her family as a child, Krueger also partners with The Welcome Church through the city’s Office of Homeless Services to donate birthday cakes to people experiencing homelessness in the city.

On the first Wednesday of every month, you’ll find The Underbite Bites’ doors wide open for a free queer community potluck. Anyone who self-identifies as queer is welcome.

“A lot of people come alone, which is nice because they usually walk out with a new friend they met,” Krueger said. 

The Underbite Bites 

Opened in 2010, Fairmount Bicycles sells new and used bikes and offers tuneups

and repair classes. The shop’s guided rides are super popular, including a three-hour 

 offers handcrafted, sustainable, and functional goods, intentionally partnering with artisans from diverse backgrounds. Inside you’ll find everything from a display of locally made hot sauces to handcrafted pottery, candle holders, and recycled clothing.

Queer Candle Company (various markets and festivals)

While this queer-owned candle company doesn’t have a physical storefront, you can catch it at various farmer’s markets, festivals, and events across town, including this weekend at the 

 (June 28). Nearly a dozen small Philly businesses also carry these candles, including 

South Philly Yarn and Craft (East Passyunk)

If you’re looking to put down your phone and pick up a craft, head to 

in East Passyunk, where you’ll find an eclectic mix of high-quality, sustainable yarn materials and tools. There’s also classes and workshops for learning to knit, crochet, and drop spindle, with various levels for beginners and more advanced crafters.