Business District of 48th and Spruce Streets

Poor lighting, vandalism, loitering and parking problems create a gloomy atmosphere for the 48th and Spruce streets business district, but storeowners aren’t complaining.

The grievances come from the Garden Court Community Association (GCCA). This 300-member organization is composed of paid members who are generally residents of Garden Court. For over 50 years, GCCA has strived to create “the best” community. This passion has influenced the Spruce and Pine Streets business districts to reach for new community demographics.

In 2003, GCCA drafted a strategic plan to revitalize the business district of both 48th and Spruce streets and 48th and Pine streets. Over the past seven years, this neighborhood organization has rallied to bring a new look to the business district that would best fit the residential community.

Now, the Garden Court Business District includes a Dollar Store, a beauty supply shop, a beer distributor, Radio Shack, Blockbuster, a laundromat and cleaners, which run along 48th and Pine streets. Convenient corner stores, Chinese takeouts, a doughnut shop, a seafood market, a pizza shoe and auto repair shops outline 48th and Spruce streets.

In the 22-page business revitalization report, the GCCA highlights that these businesses generally attract “typically young, female African-American customers.”

GCCA’s primary goal is to encourage residents living south of Spruce, who are “primarily homeowners with more disposable income” to take advantage of this promising commercial area.
Along with improving existing establishments, the GCCA has indicated the most desired businesses are a “bakery, sit-down restaurant and café.”

Furthermore, the report reveals other various challenges that hinder renewal of the district. In the evening, the streets are poorly lit. GCCA wants to install neon lights that will outline the exterior of the buildings.

Another problem for the association is the duplication of businesses. The GCCA says there is no need for two Chinese take-outs and two convenient corner stores. Instead, the association wants a variety of options that better serve the needs of the community.

Perhaps, this renewal project will create an economic boost for businesses. Yet many of the private owners are not enthusiastic about this plan. Dawit Tsegay, the owner of Keren Food Market, says coffee and flower shops are great, but with the current economic conditions, these businesses are not practical and would not yield immediate profit.

“They told me there was too much competition and they [tried] to give me advise to open a flower shop, but I’m not interested and do not know [anything] about flowers,” Tsegay says.

It has almost been a year since Tsegay opened his doors and he does not want to see business decline. He thrives for the bustling morning commute and the evening traffic rush of people who stop in for snacks or to play the daily lottery. That is how he gets most of his customers. Tsegay watches many businesses, like the Baltimore Crab and Seafood closing, and does not want that distressing ending.

The GCCA has reached out for further assistance to progress the project. By raising $2,500 to hire urban planners, the GCCA conducted the Business District Revitalization Project. Through numerous e-mails and word of mouth, the GCCA was able to effectively communicate its vision to business owners.

It has been three years since the completion of the plan and virtually no progress has been made. Mark Mendenhall, the business district committee chair, says the worn down physical appearance and concrete landscape of the district does not match the residential community.

“There is a feeling that the business district is not reflective of the neighborhood. It looks beaten down and [there are] not attractive stores,” Mendenhall says.

The GCCA applies for grants for exterior improvements for the business district. Allocations would be used for planting more trees nut business owners do not want to worry about cleaning the leaves that fall. Mendenhall says these additions would greatly upgrade the visual perspective of the district.

“We want to help improve and make the neighborhood a better place,” Mendenall says.

The Enterprise Center of West Philadelphia, which provides business education to minority business owners, has lent a hand to the revitalization project. The Enterprise Center now owns the former Food Rite building on 48th and Spruce. Now with bars on the windows and empty shelves, this abandoned-looking store will house the Kitchen Incubator. This culinary enterprise will provide food training, allowing people to create products that would be sold in the store.
The Kitchen Incubator business model would be innovative for this neighborhood, but it is not unfamiliar to other communities.

According to Kerry Miller of Business Week, kitchen incubators are most practical especially with the increase of commercial reality. This transformative approach “offers shared workspace and equipment, and business advice to aspiring caterers, bakers, and specialty-food makers.” However, Miller does warn that these shared kitchens will leave a high utility bill.

These projections have not hindered the progress of the project in Garden Court. In the next five years with the opening of the Kitchen Incubator, the GCCA says it hopes the business district will attract new businesses and increase the diversity.

The GCCA is a neighborhood, self-help organization that encourages the preservation of its district. The organization concentrates on educational programs, crime and safety, greening projects, zoning and development.

Walnut Hill: Barber Shop Chat

In many communities, the barbershop is the hub for social expression for men. Politics, economics, sports and relationship drama are topics spoken amongst friends and neighbors. Traditionally, barber shops cater to racial ethnicities representing the local community.

Along 42nd and Baltimore Avenue there is one of the most multicultural barber shops I ever encountered. Universal Cutz is a melting pot of African, Asian, Caucasian, Indian and Vietnamese men of all ages. Students from Drexel University and University of Pennsylavnia try to squeeze in before class.

With no competition until Chestnut Street and near the 34 Trolley and 30 Bus, this social center is the “exchange of information” as described by owner Troy Taylor.

Fluent in English, Spanish and Patois—a combination of English and African Creole spoken in Jamaica—Taylor has spent the past four years with Universal Cutz, but has been cutting hair for over ten years. Taylor has trained two apprentices who later received their barber’s license.

“My main objective is to make [the shop] multicultural—to make the atmosphere relaxed,” Taylor said.

Eric Brooks, a Clifton Heights pizza shop owner, was sitting in the chair getting his hair cut.

“I mean look at the floors, look at the mirrors. You just don’t see that in other places,” Brooks said.

Similarly, his associates, Daniel Robinson and Leon, are veterans on the clippers. Robinson started cutting back in 1988. We all laughed when I told them that was the year I was born.

Leon, teacher of hungari—a form of martial arts—enjoys the shop and the notorious animals that pass by. During the summertime, there are tables and chairs outside the shop where customers can eat their lunch, but one day there was an unsuspected visitor. A squirrel climbed into the front gate and got stuck. Days later, a whole family of squirrels came back to save him.

Universal Cutz was formally located on 43rd and Pine Streets and went by the name Bling Bling Hair Styles. In the next five years, Universal Cutz will redecorate its exterior—putting in new gates and signs. Furthermore, Taylor has dreams of expanding into North Philadelphia to open a female hair salon and later a full service spa.

Every Tuesday students receive $2 off cuts, every Wednesday children ten-years-old and under are charged $6 and every Thursday senior citizens pay $7. The shop even does braiding and eyebrow arching for women. Taylor encourages walk-ins and appointments.

Stories of squirrels climbing gates, an older Asian woman who never paid for a hair cut, a twenty-four year old Russian scholar and a man named 88 who is the neighborhood “hustle man” are the best memories these men share while working at the barber shop.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill

Hot Wheels in Walnut Hill

Up in the Old Cuckoo’s Nest, known as the former firehouse of Ladder 13, Fire House Bicycles is a neighborhood full service bike shop in Walnut Hill. Located on 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue, above the Dock Street Brewery, Fire House Bicycles sells new and used lightweight road, touring, vintage cruisers, mountain and hybrid bikes.

Touring and road bikes are most popular for fast speeds and long distances. Vintage cruisers are durable and used for low speed travel. The mountain bike is most effective for dogging trolley tracks. Hybrid bikes are built upright for city streets. Every bike style has its own personality, but the wide selection of as-is bikes, which cost $50 to $135, attract a lot of attention.

Even though most of its customers are adults, Fire House Bicycles are friends and sponsors to Neighborhood Bikes Works. This educational nonprofit creates opportunities for urban youth to get an experience of learning how to fix and ride bicycles.

Sofi Courtney, Store Manager, has been working at the shop for five years. She appreciates the openness of the three owners Monica Pasquinelli, Sam Davis and Paul Walker. Collectively, decisions are made by owners and employees.

Just three months ago, Philadelphia cyclists were hit hard with City Council passing legislation that would raise fines for cycling violations. This response was after the hit and run death of pedestrian, Andre Steed, who was found lying on the ground at 16th and Locust Street in October 2009. Even the Philadelphia police have increased enforcement and cracked down on cyclist for not stopping at red lights and signaling to turn.

Courtney says the news media “blew” the issue up and created a “reaction” used by politicians because they knew that people would side with cars. She explains that cyclists are not trying to dictate roads.

“Cars can cause more harm. [Bicycling] is good for the city, there is less congestion and it’s healthier,” Courtney said.

This transportation controversy did not move business away from Fire House Bicycles and neither did the weather. Despite blizzards slamming Philadelphia, Edward peddles into Fire House Bicycles frequently. He rides his bike and washes windows. Edward rides so much; he decided to purchase a new back blinker so that he could be seen while riding at night.

When the snow and ice melt, business will pick up in April. Fire House will soon prepare for the summer rush.

For over a decade, Fire House Bicycles continues to be a hub for servicing and educating the neighborhood cyclist and introducing others to a new form of transportation.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill

Fearless of Blizzard

Even after 48 hours of a record breaking snowstorm, Walnut Hill still has mounds of snow piled on streets, slushy curb sides, and snow covered sidewalks. The warnings of today’s blistery blizzard did not move customers and employees of the Supreme Shop n’ Bag Market located on 43rd and Walnut Streets.

Anthony, Store Manager, says there has definitely been a small decrease in customers compared to the weekend’s blizzard.

"Not as much as last week [because] last week, people feared being snowed in the whole weekend," Anthony said.

According to Anthony, people feel more grocery shopping for the second storm would be useless. The Super Bowl game also accounted for the low visitors.

Popular products that customers purchase are bread, milk, eggs and paper goods. Even Phyllis, a cashier, stocked up on spaghetti, chips, ice cream and canned goods. Still, with her stocked cabinets, she hopes that transportation will not affect her morning commute into work.

"Yes, I sure hope so. I sure cannot afford [not to come to work]," Phyllis said.

Nevertheless, the Supreme Shop n’ Bag Market will be opened for business at 7AM, but may close earlier than 11PM if the weather is too dangerous.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill

The Big Blue Building

Holding the title for one of the “nation’s largest community-based provider of literacy services,” the Center for Literacy sits on 636 S. 48th St. For over four decades, this organization has helped educate not only Walnut Hill residents, but all Philadelphia residents, as well. A haven of adult literacy initiatives, tutoring, workforce education and professional development, each year the center serves an average of 5,000 students.

According to the center’s Literary Freeze statistics, Philadelphia’s literacy levels are at a critical and damaging low. The number of adults in Philadelphia who have not obtained a high school diploma totaled at an alarming 202,000. Each year over 8,000 students drop out of high school and 22 percent of adults lack proper reading skills.

“We do focus on adults for general education and we focus on youth,”Public Relations Specialist, Cymantia Bey said.

With 227 volunteers and 81 umbrella sites, will the city's literacy decrease?

In mid-April, the center will host the SpeakOut2010 event at the Philadelphia Free Library.
This annual event honors the best poems and essays from ten students involved in the literacy programs. Bey explained other written work from students is published in a SpeakOut book. Writers send readers on a journey of their personal experiences of the Center for Literacy programs.

Trenae McDuffie, Walnut Hill

Cedar Park's Books Through Bars Program

Despite being locked up and miles away from home, many men and women serving time in correctional facilities still have an opportunity to experience the world behind bars.

Books Through Bars (BTB) is a local non-profit organization with a mission to answer book requests from those incarcerated. Since the 1980s BTB has been serving Mid-Atlantic prison population by collecting and sending various books to prisoners. Collectively run by volunteers of the Walnut Hill community, individuals, school and church groups and even men from half-way houses come to the A-Space Anarchist Community Space located on 4722 Baltimore Avenue to package various book requests. These volunteers meet every Tuesday evening at 7PM to 9PM and the first and third Saturday of each month from 11AM to 2PM.

Over the past two years, BTB sent over five thousand book packages to prisoners in Pennsylvania and other surrounding states in the Mid-Atlantic region. Tim Dunn, BTB organizer and volunteer, is ecstatic about the recent delivery of law and criminal justice books from a Drexel student led book drive.

“We get a lot of request for dictionaries, thesauruses, vocational books, GED [study books]. Spanish and English [books], Black history, Korans and Bibles come in, too,” Dunn said.

Not only does BTB answer book requests, but streaming from the walls of the A-Space is numerous art work from prisoners. In early January, BTB has even started the Library Project at the Riverside Correctional Facility. The Riverside library now has the most well-stocked library within the Philadelphia Prison System. For information about book donations or volunteer opportunities vist their website: http://www.booksthroughbars.org/

Trenae McDuffie, Taquiya Miller, Cedar Park