Many small local businesses have been hit very hard by the pandemic, but they’re holding on and some even have some exciting news to share with the community:

Lil Pop Shop Partners with Weckerly’s Ice Cream

From left to right: Weckerly’s owners Andy Satinsky and Jen Weckerle, and Lil Pop Shop owner Jeanne Chang (Photo by Megan Kelly).

West Philly’s Lil Pop Shop and Fishtown’s Weckerly’s Ice Cream, have recently announced a new partnership. Starting this Friday, April 16, Lil Pop Shop customers will be able to enjoy a variety of scoops and other ice cream treats from Weckerly’s. Over in Fishtown, Weckerly’s flagship shop (9 W. Girard Ave.) will offer a selection of Lil Pop Shop’s small-batch fruit and cream based-pops.

Photo by Megan Kelly

To celebrate this new partnership, which started to take shape during the pandemic, Lil Pop Shop and Weckerly’s collaborated to create the Popalong Bar (pictured), a special vanilla ice cream popsicle bar dipped in a mix of dark chocolate and crispy rice. The Popalong Bar will debut at Lil Pop Shop beginning Friday, April 16 and will be available through the weekend.

“It’s been an extremely challenging year for small businesses, but the time has allowed me to regain focus on what I want my shop to be for the community in which I live,” says Lil Pop Shop co-owner Jeanne Chang, who opened her shop in West Philadelphia at 44th and Spruce in spring 2012. “Now more than ever is the time for small businesses to support one another, so I’m thrilled to partner with Weckerly’s and provide this great neighborhood with pops, pies, and now amazing ice cream!”

“For us, coming to West Philly is a bit of a homecoming because Andy and I started making our ice cream in the kitchen at Green Line Café, located a few blocks from Jeanne’s shop” says Jen Weckerle, a trained pastry chef who, along with her husband launched Weckerly’s in fall 2012.

VIX Emporium Reopening this Friday

The local gift and craft shop, VIX Emporium, is set to reopen its doors on Friday, April 16. The shop’s physical location at 50th and Baltimore has been closed since early January for repairs and improvements. During the past three months, VIX has been operating online only and will continue adding new items and galleries to its online store.

For more information and hours, go here.

Spring Planter and Plant Sale at Black Hound Clay Studio

Here’s a great chance to support local makers and shop for handmade planters, vases and many other ceramic objects just in time for spring planting. Black Hound Clay Studio will hold a Spring Planter Sale, featuring their members and friends, on Saturday, May 1 (Rain date: Sunday, May 2). There will also be plants and cut flowers for sale.

The sale will be held from 12-5 p.m. in the Black Hound Clay Studio parking lot located at 715 S. 50th Street. Each maker will be handling their own sales, and contactless payment like Paypal or Venmo is preferred. Masks are required. For more information, go here. Also, check out the Black Hound Clay Studio’s Instagram page.

West Philly Businesses/Organizations Are Hiring

If you are searching for a job check out University City District’s newly launched blog series highlighting available positions and openings within the neighborhood. In its second edition, check out new openings with Drexel University, Spak Group, the Summit, Snapdragon Flowers, and many local restaurants, such as Renata’s Kitchen, The Green Line Cafe, 48th Street Grille, and more. Go here for more info.