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 X and Substack. 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.
Foley’s: The Philly Sports Shop opened in May. The shop sells T-shirts, sweatshirts, shorts, hats, accessories, decor, trading cards, and art designed by local artists like Dhwani Saraiya, Olivia Smith, and Cheryl Morrison, as well as vintage sports memorabilia through Hunt Auctions. Foley’s also carries beaded bags, purses, and accessories from the female Philly duo behind Phannies.
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.”
