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Honeysuckle Provisions – Afrocentric café and grocery – officially opens Saturday

October 24, 2022

Cybille St. Aude-Tate and Omar Tate have brought their considerable food expertise to Honeysuckle Provisions, the Afrocentric grocery and café on 48th Street near Pine set to open this Saturday. (Photo by West Philly Local)

Cybille St. Aude-Tate quickly corrects herself when she talks about the folks who shop at Honeysuckle Provisions, the new Afrocentric grocery and café set to open this Saturday, Oct. 29 near 48th and Pine.

“Not customers … neighbors,” said St. Aude, an accomplished Haitian-American chef who runs the shop with her husband Omar Tate, a Philadelphia native who was named Esquire magazine’s “chef of the year” in 2020.

So why are two food heavy hitters who have been featured in Vogue, Food and Wine and Esquire and made their names in the super-competetive New York dining scene opening a gourmet takeout shop in West Philly? For Omar, it’s about coming home. He grew up in Germantown and his mother has lived in West Philly – on Parrish Street – for years. Continue Reading

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Ethiopian Chicken House coming to 46th and Baltimore (updated)

September 26, 2022

A new Ethiopian-owned business is opening soon on Baltimore Avenue, a block away from popular Alif Brew & Mini Mart (and run by the same folks). An Ethiopian chicken house, Doro Bet, is coming to 4533 Baltimore Ave., the space formerly occupied by Greenstreet Coffee. The space has been vacant since March 2022 after Greenstreet had to shut down operations due to a fire.

A grand opening has been scheduled for this Saturday, Oct. 1, from 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. (free chicken bites will be offered to first 50 guests).

According to social media posts, the new chicken house will offer gluten-free fried chicken. Teff flour will be used for the coating (teff is ancient gluten-free grain that originated in North Africa). Chicken is battered in your choice of mild lemon turmeric batter (Alicha) or spicy Berbere batter (Awaze) and will come with “some delicious sauces.” Shawarma and sides, like collard greens, fries and mac and cheese, will also be offered.

Doro Bet will also have some vegan options, like fried mushroom strips and a falafel sandwich.

The hours of operation are: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. (closed on Tuesdays).

More information and the menu are available here.

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Freebird Greenery opens in Garden Court

September 8, 2022

Adrienne Williams, owner of Freebird Greenery, and Drew, her son. (Photo by West Philly Local)

 

It seems like all 10 of Adrienne Williams’ fingers are green; not just her thumb.

Williams has turned her passion for plants, community and self-care into Freebird Greenery, which will officially open this Saturday at 4711 Pine St. The ground floor storefront in the Garden Court Plaza building includes a variety of sizes and species of house plants, pots and even a locally made “propagation wall,” for starting plant cuttings.

“I really wanted a space that felt like community,” Williams said. “I thought, where do I like to spend time? What environment do I find peaceful?,” Williams said. “Plants are a big part of that for me.” The shop’s vibe fits Williams’ “plant care as self-care” philosophy. Continue Reading

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Distrito restaurant at 40th and Chestnut closes indefinitely

July 19, 2022

One of University City’s most popular restaurants, Distrito, has closed its doors while chef Jose Garces, who owns the establishment, is “re-evaluating the business,” according to reports.

The upscale-casual Mexican restaurant, which opened in 2008 at 40th and Chestnut, was struggling financially due to the lack of customers during the summer months and closed abruptly on July 9th, according to a report by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

There is hope though that Garces will reopen the restaurant in late August when students return to campus after the summer break. By that time he hopes to have a “solid business plan going forward.” Garces did not give a definitive answer and said he would make the decision based on the economic situation (rising food costs, etc.) at that time.

The Distrito staff who lost their jobs as a result of the closure will be offered jobs at other restaurants owned by the famous chef, according to the report.

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Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll returns this Thursday with $1-$5 deals from popular businesses + community vendors

June 14, 2022

Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll (archived photo).

The popular neighborhood event, Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll, will return Thursday, June 16 after a two-year hiatus.

This year, the event, organized by University City District (UCD), will feature $1, $3, and $5 deals from local businesses along Baltimore Avenue from 40th to 52nd. Over 25 local storefronts will participate, with additional community vendors, performers, and musicians providing entertainment and fun along the way.

Deals range from bites of tasty food and beverages offered by popular local businesses (Renata’s Kitchen, Dahlak Paradise, Mariposa Food Co-op, and more) to preview theatre tickets and merchandise offerings. Greensgrow West (5123 Baltimore Ave.) will be offering plants and planters ranging from $1-$5, as well as merchandise and children’s books. Continue Reading

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52nd Street to get updates ahead of Juneteenth Parade

June 13, 2022

The 52nd Street business corridor will get improvements ahead of Philadelphia’s Juneteenth Parade and Festival, thanks to funding received as part of Wells Fargo’s “HOPE 2.0” initiative. The $250,000 in funding, presented to The Enterprise Center today, is a continuation of Wells Fargo’s “HOPE, USA” initiative, which pledged more than $1 million in support for the 52nd Street corridor ahead of the 2021 holiday shopping season and encouraged residents to shop local in support of small businesses.

The funding will be used for continued façade improvements and enhancements along the 52nd Street commercial corridor. This includes new signage, gates and doors, power washing and graffiti removal for a number of small businesses on the 300 block, as well as sidewalk repairs. New planters will be placed along the corridor, and street banners designed by local female-owned artist collective Hagopian Arts with the phrase “Never Lose Hope” will run from Market to Larchwood Street. Continue Reading

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