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It’s better to give than to receive, right? Right!
It’s also really, really cool to support small businesses, right? Right!
And it’s even cooler to patronize the local businesses hit especially hard by the pandemic, right? Right!
Lucky for you, VISIT PHILADELPHIA and the Philly PHLASH have teamed up to make it easy to shop at some of the city’s best Black- and Brown-owned businesses this holiday season thanks to the all-new Philly PHLASH Shopping Loop, a bus route that runs to four neighborhoods on Fridays from Black Friday through Christmas Eve.
Our gift to you? No fare all season long on the Shopping Loop on Fridays. Every single ride is FREE — and that means more money for shopping.
So what do you get out of it — besides some super original gifts? The good feeling that comes with making a positive social and economic impact this holiday season.
The Philly PHLASH Shopping Loop runs once a day on Fridays from November 25 through December 23, 2022.
Shoppers can board the bus at the Independence Visitor Center (599 Market Street) in Old City at noon.
The bus then makes its way to four neighborhoods: South Street, Center City, West Philadelphia and Northern Liberties.
Riders have one hour to shop before the bus departs for the next neighborhood. Those who prefer to spend more time in any one of the neighborhoods on the route can do that, but it’s up to them to get to their next destination on their own. Those who chose to do the entire route can expect to arrive back at the Independence Visitor Center four hours after they depart.
The bus is free, but registration is encouraged.
Those who drive into Center City can take advantage of discounted parking when they show their PHLASH pass at the following Philadelphia Parking Authority garages: (Note: You must enter the garage after 9 a.m. and depart by 7 p.m. Rates are subject to change.)
Read on for a sampling of shops found in each neighborhood. Happy shopping!
Helmed by Darryl Jones, this classic comic book store, known for its wide selection of comics, graphic novels, manga, back issues, horror, sci-fi and old-school arcade games such as Street Fighter, has been a South Street mainstay since 2001. Opens at noon on Fridays.
Where: Atomic City Comics, 638 South Street
More than a bookstore, this cultural center owned by Hakim Hopkins offers DVDs and an array of health and wellness products in a creative atmosphere. The shop also ships to prisons, offering incarcerated folks reading materials. Opens at 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Black and Nobel, 422 South Street
When your pup needs a blowout, look no further than Ham + Bone. With two locations — one in Fishtown and another in Queen Village — this purr-fect shop, owned by Amy Ko, offers apparel, accessories, food, treats and toys for both dogs and cats. Opens at 9 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: ham + bone Queen Village, 715 E. Passyunk Avenue
Fresh on the Fabric Row Scene, Moore Vintage Archive is the place where you can find vintage Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld for Chloe and more women’s designer fashion. Owner Keesean Moore stocks the shop with timeless dresses, jackets, sets and books from Black authors. Opens at 11 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Moore Vintage Archive, 725 S. 4th Street
Harkening back to its roots in the 1970s, this ever-changing concept store, now owned by Kyle Harris, celebrates South Street’s culture and vibe through workshops, collaborations and goods from local artists. Opens at 11 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Paper Moon, 520 S. 4th Street
Brothers Rick and Ky Cao have been selling stylish men’s streetwear at P’s & Q’s since 2012. The shop has garnered a dedicated following beyond city confines, thanks to their selection of goods from brands like Stussy, Diadora, Herschel Supply Co. and their in-house P’s & Q’s brand. Opens at noon on Fridays.
Where: P's & Q's, 820 South Street
Occupying a pair of storefronts on South Street, Totem Brand Co. and Totem Outdoor focus on Japanese contemporary style and outdoor lifestyle apparel, respectively. Founded by Phillip Yi, both Totem shops carry men’s and women’s denim, jumpsuits, footwear, outerwear, accessories and more. Opens at noon on Fridays.
Where: Totem Brand Co., 535 South Street
At her minimalist home and lifestyle shop along Queen Village’s Fabric Row, former fashion designer Shannon Maldonado assures each planter, glass or coffee table book feels like a work of art. YOWIE is a brand as interested in building community as it is in showcasing one-of-a-kind products, events and services. Opens at noon on Fridays.
Where: YOWIE, 716 S. 4th Street
Celebrities like Cardi B, Teyana Taylor and Fabolous have all been pictured wearing the Deno, the distinctive, colorful puffy coats sold by Banni Peru. Founded by William Walker, its brick-and-mortar store in West Philly offers tracksuits, sweatsuits, hoodies, jeans, T-shirts and more. Opens at noon on Fridays.
Where: Banni Peru, 507 S. 52nd Street
Open for the holiday season only, this pop-up market, organized by The Enterprise Center, brings together a curated selection of art, jewelry, clothing, home décor, candles, skin and hair products, books, accessories and more from 30-plus Black-owned businesses and creators. Opens at 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: 26 S. 52nd Street
Opened in November 2020, this West Philly store showcases pieces by more than 50 national and international artists and makers, including works by owner Stefani Threet, all in a modern, minimalist-styled space. Opens at 11 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Ceramic Concept, 5015 Baltimore Avenue
One of the country’s oldest Black-owned bookstores resides at the same West Philly address where Dawud Hakim founded it more than 60 years ago. Historic, welcoming, old-school and family-friendly, the shop now belongs to Hakim’s daughter, Yvonne Blake. Opens at noon on Fridays.
Where: Hakim's Bookstore, 210 S. 52nd Street
Helmed by Omar Tate (Esquire Chef of the Year 2020, TIME 100Next in 2021) and Cybille St.Aude-Tate, Honeysuckle Provisions is a trailblazing Afrocentric grocery and cafe in West Philadelphia featuring Black-made, -owned and-grown foods. For the holidays, Honeysuckle is offering a gift bundle inspired by the owners’ beloved ancestor Edna Lewis, author of The Taste of Country Cooking. It includes her book with Honeysuckle’s take on a few of her signature Christmas recipes. Opens at 9 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Honeysuckle Provisions, 310 S. 48th Street
Across the street from West Philadelphia’s Malcolm X Park, Love Yourself by Shea Elizabeth is a chic boutique that helps women create their own definition of cool with a great selection of shoes, jackets, dresses, jumpsuits and more. Opens at 11 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Love Yourself by Shea Elizabeth, 503 S. 52nd Street
High-end sneakers and clothing are the order of the day at 7 Boys Collective, also known as 7BC, where lines form out the door on major release days. The NoLibs flagship location also carries sports cards and memorabilia, modern art and collectable toys. Opens at 2 p.m. on Fridays.
Where: 7Boys Collective, 1040 N. American Street
This Northern Liberties self-care and wellness shop, owned by Morrisa Jenkins and Bonkosi Horn, stocks holistic skin, beauty and lifestyle products, like medicinal mushroom tinctures and makeup all sourced from female-founded companies. Opens at 11 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Freedom Apothecary, 736 N. 2nd Street
This Northern Liberties lifestyle boutique, co-owned by Dorothea Gamble and Dagmar Mitchell, carries socially responsible, handmade and environmentally conscious products for the home and body, including bespoke furniture, accessories, clothing, art, jewelry and beauty essentials. Opens at noon on Fridays.
Where: Trunc, 929 N. 2nd Street
Owner Steve Jamison, a fashion footwear specialist, established his sunny Rittenhouse Square boutique in 2007 to cater to high-end tastes in men’s shoes, socks and accessories — and to provide high-quality customer service. Among the designers in stock: Harris, Magnanni, John Richmond, Jo Ghost and Roberto Cavalli. Opens at 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Blue Sole Shoes, 1805 Chestnut Street
This Midtown Village consigner, owned by Phillip Moore, offers exclusive collectible sneakers and vintage pieces — Pharrell Williams Adidas, Air Jordans from overseas — and features rare, sold-out merch from prominent sportswear brands like Supreme and Bape. Opens at 11 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Common Ground, 134 S. 11th Street
Stone and wooden jewelry, shea butter, natural soaps and body washes from Kenya, Ghana and Nigeria are on offer at this Reading Terminal Market stand owned by Watson and Joycelyn Parks. Opens at 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: De’Village, 1136 Arch Street
Sisters (and Philly natives) Nakia and Taahirah Stith are the owners of this this Rittenhouse Square apothecary — or “a‘plant’ecary,” as they call it — that sells plant-based remedies in the form of herbs, smoothies, tonics, teas and tinctures. Their goal? To offer up herbs of the liquid, powder or cut variety that relieve customers of what’s bothering them in a judgment-free zone. Opens at 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Dope Botanicals, 257 S. 20th Street
This popular Dilworth Park market takes over the west side of City Hall again this year to give local artisans, designers, crafters and jewelers — many of whom are people of color — the opportunity to sell their wares to shoppers in need of special, can’t-find-them-just-anywhere gifts this holiday season. Opens at 10 a.m. on Fridays.
Where: Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market, 1 S. 15th Street
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.