The Edgiest Street in Philadelphia
The City of Brotherly Love is home to more than a few well-known tourist attractions, including The Franklin Institute, Liberty Bell and Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. However, there’s much more to Philadelphia than meets the eye. While not as well-known as the New York City neighborhoods of Harlem, Chinatown, SoHo or Tribeca, Philly’s got its fair share of local flair. No authentic Philadelphia experience would be complete without a visit to South Street, the punk rock heart of The City that Loves You Back.
Not only is South Street a historic melting pot of groups and cultures, it’s also a treasure trove of unique vintage and thrift shops filled to the brim with fantastic merchandise, record stores with real alternative spirit, and a wonderful array of restaurants for every type of palate. Here’s why visitors flock to this iconic part of Center City.
Long known for its blend of Alternative, Punk and Bohemian atmospheres, South Street is a haven for counterculture. Proponents of the beatnik movement flocked to the cheap property available in and around South Street, including the neighborhoods between Front and Seventh Streets in the 1960’s and early 1970’s, establishing a long-lasting relationship with the avant-garde. In the mid 1970’s the Philadelphia punk rock scene, showcased in the long-since demolished Love Hall at Broad & South Streets, moved in front and center and further solidified South Street’s existing reputation as a counterculture hub.
Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens
The Magic Gardens are a combination of a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space, which opened to the public in their current incarnation in 2002. To date, it is the largest work created by artist Isaiah Zagar. The Gardens span three city lots, 3,000 square feet in total, and include both indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth inlaid with mosaics. The mosaics are made from pretty much anything you could think of, from kitchen tiles to bike wheels, Latin-American art to china plates. The interior gallery space hosts temporary and permanent installations of artists from all over the world and exhibits artwork that has ties to the organization's mission in some way - whether ceramics, mosaics, or street art. Zagar continues to create mosaic murals on the streets of Philadelphia, hundreds of which can be seen in or around the South Street area. Although currently closed until April 2021 due to COVID-19, a lot can be seen from the outside, making the Magic Gardens the perfect place for a photo op break in between all the shopping and sightseeing!
Repo Records
Initially opened in Wayne, PA in 1986 by Dan Matherson, Repo Records moved to its current location on South Street in 1998. Repo Records is the place to go for all your music and music-related needs. Despite its relatively small size, Repo is packed with a huge array of brand-new, used and special edition records, LPs, CDs, and branded and novelty merchandise. While other record stores failed in the onslaught of the Digital Revolution, Matherson was prepared and has managed to keep his business thriving 23 years later. The shop might specialize in punk and classic rock, part of why it’s one of my own personal favorite places to shop, but Repo also carries a large number of contemporary and mainstream artists as well. Just follow the green paint and you’ll be on your way to any music lover’s ideal shopping trip!
Philly AIDS Thrift
Philly AIDS Thrift is a fantastical journey down the rabbit hole of all things eccentric and magnificent from second-hand clothing to housewares, electronics and vintage comic books. The everchanging mannequins and store displays with their witty decorations never fail to make me laugh and add a touch of whimsy as I spend hours aimlessly digging through their treasure troves. Philly AIDS Thrift opened its original store at 514 Bainbridge Street in the fall of 2005. It later expanded to a warehouse sales and processing space at 527 Bainbridge in 2006. As of July 2011, all its operations have been moved to 710 S. 5th Street, just adjacent to South Street’s main drag. Not only is the store an awesome way to spend your day, it’s also a true force of good in the community. At the time of this article’s publishing, Philly AIDS Thrift had donated over $676,000.00 to Philly area AIDS service providers. In addition to cash contributions, store management partners with these same agencies to provide free store vouchers to clients in need of clothing and household necessities. Free HIV tests are also available by appointment in the upstairs clinic for those without health insurance. The South Street community never fails to look after one another.
Retrospect Vintage
Established in 2001, Retrospect Vintage provides all the adorable charm and shopping experience of a typical boutique vintage store, but with a twist! Retrospect is both owned and operated by Goodwill Industries of Southern New Jersey and Philadelphia. Their buyers locate and handpick the best and most unique product finds from area donations straight to the shop for a curated shopping experience. Buyers locate new items every day to keep the store’s stock as fresh as possible. Thanks to over a decade of experience, their trained eyes have a knack for finding those incredible pieces many might have a difficult time locating in a normal thrifting experience. Once the merchandise is brought back to the shop, staff inspects and organizes each item with care and consideration to ensure its cleanliness and condition meet Retrospect Vintage standards. Everything on the floor is for sale, from the creatively curated displays to wall artwork. Whether it’s a new accent piece, accessory, or a complete wardrobe redesign, Retrospect is the place to be! One final added benefit is that profits from every purchase go towards the Goodwill mission of providing job training and career services that help local residents with disabilities and disadvantages get to work.
So, there you have it.
There’s no better place to spend a Saturday afternoon than in the (literal and metaphorical) heart of Philadelphia, The Cradle of Liberty itself, South Street! I hope you enjoyed what was only the smallest fraction of things to do in the birthplace of Philly counterculture. This is definitely my favorite part of the city and I can’t consider a visit complete without making at least a brief shopping trip to all of my favorite stores. South Street is a virtual cornucopia of all things exciting, adventurous, and interesting. Have fun out there and stay safe!
Until next time,
Matea xo