Posted on

FKD Is Waiting – Lowes

I like to mark progress from the flashy side of gentrification coming up through Kensington.  But I must point out the middle class utopia of a Lowe’s coming (oh so close) to Frankford.  How close?  1000 feet close.  The new construction coming to the Port Richmond on Aramingo Ave between Wheatsheef and Butler is 1000 feet away from the Frankford Creek, the border of fair Frankford.

They are building, not in yet, but oh so close, to Frankford.

[link] http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2008/09/29/story10.html

Posted on 2 Comments

Frankford is Waiting – Kung Fu Necktie

A while back I told you about the Old Penalty Box at Front and Thompson being turned into “The Fu”.  Well apparently it’s full name is Kung Fu Necktie and it’s open.  The crew in Northern Liberties is discussing it here.

Why should we care?  Cause it’s (probably) a hip spot sitting under the el and it’s in Kensington.  Kensington!!!!!!!!  I don’t care what anyone says,  Kensington sucks way more than Frankford.  But it’s in the path of prosperity and things have begun to grow there.  So we’re paying attention.

Posted on 40 Comments

Unity-Frankford Grocers

There was a time when you could not walk down the street in almost any neighborhood in Philadelphia without seeing a Unity-Frankford Grocery store sign.  Before the mega food store chains, mom and pop ruled the grocery business.  The Unity-Frankford Grocers was an association of these stores.  They benefited from group buying and established the Unity brand as unique to those little businesses.

Their warehouse, where several of my ancestors worked, was down on Griscom Street at Unity Street.  You can still see the Frankford Grocery sign up at the top of the building.  It later moved down to Erie Avenue.

Those Unity-Frankford signs have become collectors items over the years and people are looking to catalog where they can still be seen.

We checked, there are no signs at:

  • Mascher and Spencer
  • Torresdale and Magee, there could be one under the Grocery Queen awning, but we didn’t get too close to tell
  • Olney and Mascher or 2nd

Here are the ones that we’ve found


222 Hartel Ave:

Unity-Frankford Sign closeup 222 Hartel Ave

8344 Torresdale Ave:

29th and Jefferson:

photo credit: Chris_In_Philly_’08
Posted on

Frankford is Waiting – The Penalty Box

I’m not calling a shorter distance with this entry of our series Frankford is Waiting.   I’m just bringing some you filler.

Philebrity reports the news that at the corner of Front and Thompson,  the Penalty Box is becoming “The Fu”.  The Google street view of the Box sucks, so I might actually have to drive down there to get you people a picture, but you already know what I’m about to say.  IT’S SITTING UNDER THE EL.  I don’t think there’s a Northeast native that can imagine anyone who’s not a degenerate willing to sit under the el to drink, but some New York art type thinks differently and is traveling down 95 to bring “a heavy art vibe” to the joint. fricken what?  And did I mention that this new spot is UNDER THE EL.  It’s only a matter of time before some New Yorker comes up a little bit more and buys 2J’s, the Point After, or (my greatest dream) the former Jolly Post and we’ll have a proper lounge in Frankford.  On that the day, the Gazette is buying.

The point is, and I know I’m repeating myself, that good things will grow under the El.  It’s already started, just a little bit south of us.

It’s only a matter of time.  Frankford Is Waiting.