Here’s some exciting news for aspiring local fashion designers and makers. Philadelphia’s Made Institute, an independent fashion design and sewing school, is opening a West Philly location in the Garden Court apartment building’s ground-floor retail space at 4719 Pine St.

At the new location, Made Institute will offer a variety of fashion design workshops and sewing classes, as well as fashion education for teens and children ages 11 and up. In addition, the Institute will offer its new space to community workshops and also operate as a shop where you students and the public can purchase a variety of fabric and sewing supplies.

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Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll (Photos by Lora Reehling).

West Philly folks and visitors are invited to this summer’s first Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, which will take place Thursday, June 15, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. The popular outdoor event, organized by University City District (UCD), features dozens of local businesses and vendors offering deals on food, merchandise and other items along Baltimore Avenue between 40th to 51st Streets.

This year, the event will again feature $1, $3, and $5 bargains from neighborhood standouts like Booker’s, Vientiane Café, Dahlak Paradise and more, as well as newcomers including brewery Carbon Copy and Ethiopian chicken house Doro Bet. The vendors list, including West Philly-based merchandise vendors and food trucks, has also expanded since last year.

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Here’s some great local business news from the area around 50th and Baltimore.

Third Wheel Cheese Instagram photo.

If you have missed Milk & Honey Market since its closure in 2020, this news may excite you. Third Wheel Cheese Company, which was established in 2018 as a wholesale operation, has opened a new retail shop at 705 S. 50th St. The company, run by local foodie, food justice advocate and entrepreneur Ann Karlen, features a variety of artisanal, locally-made cheeses. The shop, which is located at the front of its warehouse, will hold its grand opening celebration on Thursday, June 15, from 1-6 p.m..

The shop will also carry regionally-made meats, crackers, jams and preserves, mustards, honey, olives, and other fresh and organic products, according to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s Michael Klein.

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Here’s some great news for Lee’s Deli fans and supporters. The popular Baltimore Avenue business, located at the corner of 47th and Baltimore, has quietly reopened, with a short Instagram post: “I’m Back.” (see below). The store was closed for several months after a U-Haul van crashed right through the front door in November, causing substantial damage.

The caption to the post, published yesterday, reads:

“Open Tuesdays – Saturdays 10am – 7pm on DoorDash, on phone, and in person. We love you. We thank you. City of Brotherly Love.”

Lee’s Deli owners and staff worked hard for several months to fix the extensive damage caused by the crash and to reopen the store as soon as possible. A GoFundMe campaign was launched in the weeks following the accident, and the community support was overwhelming with over $42,000 raised. Continue Reading

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Community Resource Hub was held on Wednesday.

After more than two years in development and construction, a new Community Resource Hub has opened at 277 South 52nd St. The grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, attended by state and local officials, like State Sen. Vincent  Hughes and City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, was held on Wednesday. The new three-story structure replaced a dilapidated former business.

The project represents a significant milestone for The Enterprise Center  Community Development Corporation as the organization moves into a new phase of growth and larger strategic reinvestment plan for the historic 52nd Street commercial corridor.

The new Community Resource Hub will house offices for The Enterprise Center CDC on the first floor, extending outreach for business services along the corridor. The second and third floors will house market rate apartments, providing housing for individuals living and working along the corridor. The Enterprise Center is planning to utilize this model for more projects. Continue Reading

Kate and Yasser Aiq in 2020 (Photo by West Philly Local).

All are invited to Renata’s Kitchen‘s 10th anniversary party! The popular local Middle Eastern/Mediterranean restaurant and brunch spot, managed by the husband and wife duo Yasser and Kate Aiq, will hold a free celebratory community party and open house on Wednesday, May 10, from 5 to 8 p.m.

The event will take place on Renata’s expansive outdoor patio at 40th and Baltimore. Guests will be treated to lite bites, butlered hors d’oeuvres, carving stations and complimentary welcome cocktails courtesy of Revivalist Spirits.

“We wanted to have this party to say ‘thank you’ to the community for supporting us over the past decade,” said chef Yasser Aiq. “We would not have survived without the continued support of friends, neighbors and our incredibly loyal customers who stood by us through some tough times.” Continue Reading