Is business starting to pick up in SWCC?

[dr_gingivitis]

What is mighty writers going to be?

Mighty Writers is a learning center I guess, it runs free writing workshops, and seems to be generating a lot of buisness and attention:

Annette John-Hall: Mighty Writers find their voice | Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/31/2009

[Lolly]

Mighty Writers at 15ht and Christian, which is a fantastic addition, but not really serving most residents.

Maybe so, but I think it is a way cool concept.

Annette John-Hall: Mighty Writers find their voice | Philadelphia Inquirer | 07/31/2009

I want to volunteer there.

And I'd say their presence should definitely serve to encourage others too.


ETA: Snap. Dr_G beat me to it.

[Lolly]

Sounds like what we have here is a glass half full vs. glass half empty situation.

I think all of these things are good indicators though I believe in some ways progress has been slow (say compared to Northern Libs).
When I moved into the area 9 years ago Pandoras, Kellys (now Graces) and Victors were all opened. it is great to see them changed and improved upon.
However some of the opposition to progress like we saw with Sidecar is disheartening.
it will be interesting to see how much the demographic make up has changed in the area (i guess post census we will see this).
It does seem like the 15th/16th area of town is moving forward quicker than the other side of the neighborhood or that this side has somewhat stagnated.

I think I would disagree (respectfully, I hope). The 15th/16th area is hustling so far as the South Street corridor is concerned, but how about in the interior?

Here in the Wild West, we have the Sidecar, Divan, Beauty Shoppe Cafe, and May's to point to. The east has yet to open its first new venture on Bainbridge or below.

I'm not sure I'd count out the west side of South St., either. We have have Spool, Loop, Ants Pants, L2, Balkan Express, Sophisticated Seconds, Ten Stone, Roberto's, Grace's, Yello'Bar/Resurrection, etc., if you want to count South Street and Grays Ferry businesses west of 19th Street.

Of course, we don't have that Wegman's yet....

I think my point is that a lot of these places (10 stoneetc.)
have been in operation for many years. Even La Va was operating prior to La Va (!).
It is also sad to see Divan clearly struggling and lets be honest that the Balkan Express is not booming. What has saved them is their longevity in the hard ware store and ownership of the building.
Mays is exciting though....

(Guess it's pretty obvious I'm one in the half full camp.)

[jillys]

I want to volunteer there.

Me too! Also, Stanton has a very active mentoring program. I'm going to try to get involved with that in the fall. Let me know if you want the contact info.

[lbphilly]

I think my point is that a lot of these places (10 stoneetc.)
have been in operation for many years. Even La Va was operating prior to La Va (!).
It is also sad to see Divan clearly struggling and lets be honest that the Balkan Express is not booming. What has saved them is their longevity in the hard ware store and ownership of the building.
Mays is exciting though....

Our perspective on "many years" may be different. The bar that preceded La Va was intermittently closed when I moved to the neighborhood, and I think Ten Stone's predecessor was a private club.

[lbphilly]

Me too! Also, Stanton has a very active mentoring program. I'm going to try to get involved with that in the fall. Let me know if you want the contact info.

I'm hoping we'll get a tutoring/mentoring program extension at Arthur. The folks at Shiloh are doing one, but it's strictly after-school afternoon hours.

[furby076]

IPumpkin Market will soon be a full service coffee shop with in house bean roasting!

I won't be happy until Pumpkin market services pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin sandwhiches, and other pumpkin infused foods

-Mos
P.S. Yes I know why it's called pumpkin btw

[jillys]

I won't be happy until Pumpkin market services pumpkin soup, pumpkin pie, pumpkin sandwhiches, and other pumpkin infused foods

-Mos

I'm a fan of all that is pumpkin infused too.

I'm happy to know espresso drinks with be coming to the Pumpkin district.

It does seem that the east end of South St. is moving along. I think there was/is a lot of catching up to do and I do wonder if the east end will encounter less resistance for that reason as well as the fact that it's maybe a bit less residential (fewer neighbors to complain about noise)? My office is on a more residential block of South (1900) and it seems to get a lot less foot traffic than the 1500-1700 blocks of South. If I had a more
"commercial" business I'm not sure I would want to set up here.

[Brian616]

For what it's worth, Divan has seemed to be pretty busy these last few weeks. They have a new pricing scheme where things are cheaper if you pay with cash- I don't know if it's the cause of the bump, but it's certainly a cool idea.

I think the next area that needs to see some investment is South Square, as the 1st block of Grays Ferry has 2 large spaces for sale. These could easily become kickin' restaurants, as there already is a good amount of foot traffic in the area.

[emc]

For what it's worth, Divan has seemed to be pretty busy these last few weeks. They have a new pricing scheme where things are cheaper if you pay with cash- I don't know if it's the cause of the bump, but it's certainly a cool idea.

Oh this is great news. We'd really cut back on stopping by after the prices started creeping up. Mmmmmm, turkish dumplings......

[nostradamamamos]

As a business owner, and given recent statements regarding the attractiveness of lower, cash prices, I wonder who you folks thinks picks up the tab when the City raises the sales tax rate? If you can't raise prices, the increased sales tax comes out of your profits as a business, making it more difficult to stay in business, or start a profitable business.

[macdaire]

Lolly- I agree just one of those days.
BTW the bar that preceded La Va was a pretty cool jazz place that was in operation up until at least a year before La Va Opened.
I think the predecssor of Ten Stone was Copa Cabana - it did not last long. I remember 2/3 bars in that spot before one stuck and suceeded.

[dr_gingivitis]

As a business owner, and given recent statements regarding the attractiveness of lower, cash prices, I wonder who you folks thinks picks up the tab when the City raises the sales tax rate? If you can't raise prices, the increased sales tax comes out of your profits as a business, making it more difficult to stay in business, or start a profitable business.

If taxes go up, I assume I'm paying at least an extra 1% every time I buy something in the city. Personally I would have rather seen a large increase in the land tax rate, but that's just me.

[lbphilly]

Lolly- I agree just one of those days.
BTW the bar that preceded La Va was a pretty cool jazz place that was in operation up until at least a year before La Va Opened.
I think the predecssor of Ten Stone was Copa Cabana - it did not last long. I remember 2/3 bars in that spot before one stuck and suceeded.

I don't think there was much of anything in Ten Stone's space when I moved here. We were looking for local watering holes, not being fully satisfied with Victor's because of the absence of food.

[furby076]

If taxes go up, I assume I'm paying at least an extra 1% every time I buy something in the city. Personally I would have rather seen a large increase in the land tax rate, but that's just me.

So tax the people who bought some land (which has been going up for me 2-3 times since I moved here five years ago) but not those who come in and enjoy the benefits (including leaving trash in front of my porch, stepping on my plants which are clearly enclosed, taking up my parking spots, etc)?

[dr_gingivitis]

So tax the people who bought some land (which has been going up for me 2-3 times since I moved here five years ago) but not those who come in and enjoy the benefits (including leaving trash in front of my porch, stepping on my plants which are clearly enclosed, taking up my parking spots, etc)?

Tax the people who bought land that is worth 6 figures and don't develope it because they only have to pay $160 a year in property tax.

[rumdrinx]

has there been any information about what is going in next to Apamate?

[dr_gingivitis]

has there been any information about what is going in next to Apamate?

Good point, I'm not sure, but I saw them out there yesterday working on that too!

I'm going to guess it's another Pumpkin, maybe this one will be Pumpkin SCUBA Instruction.

[londoner]

Tax the people who bought land that is worth 6 figures and don't develope it because they only have to pay $160 a year in property tax.

This idea always seems to be so logical, yet has it ever been mentioned in City Hall? properties deemed to be derelict/abandoned should face stiff taxes--encouraging them to either sell or build--it's a win-win for the city, more $$, encouraged development which leads to even more $$. plus eliminating these ugly properties en masse will only increase the value of the surrounding neighborhood--which leads to even more $$...

There would have to be limitations, eg. you couldn't nail someone in the depths of North Philly with a massive tax--but the dude's who own those boarded up, run down buildings on 2 street between market and chestnut? they should be getting raked--it should be prohibitively expensive to property squat.

[lbphilly]

Oh, goody. Another neighborhood thread about to morph into a citywide on Philadelphia taxes. Do me a favor, guys? I moved all of nostradamamamos' earlier comments on tax into their very own thread. Please take it there:

http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...velopment.html