Smak Parlour’s fashion truck on 40th Street between Locust and Spruce Streets / Photo by Mia Holley.

Over the last 10 years, pop-up shops have become a must-do trend in the fashion industry. While seasonal holiday stores—like Spirit Halloween—have already anchored themselves in this market for decades, retail and fashion tycoons like Target, Gucci, Dr. Martens, Louis Vuitton and Kate Spade have all developed pop-up shops at one point or another.

Smak Parlour, located at 219 Market Street, is no stranger to the pop-up concept. The Old City boutique founded and run by best friends Katie Lubieski and Abby Kessler has a temporary space at 126 S. 19^th Street opened through November 9th, moving to the King of Prussia mall the day after for the holiday season.

While the two 34-year-old fashion designers—who started their t-shirt line SMAK in college—are following an established trend, they’re hoping to capitalize on another budding craze already taking over Los Angeles: the fashion truck. And they’ve started here in West Philly.

“We love the idea of bringing our merchandise straight to our customers, it is the ultimate in customer service,” Lubieski and Kessler wrote to West Philly Local in an email. “It’s an emerging trend for food to go mobile, we decided why not do that for fashion too?”

Since July of this year, Lubieski and Kessler have operated their Smak Parlour mobile store on 40^th Street between Locust and Spruce Streets, serving mostly students from University of Pennsylvania and their alma mater Drexel University. Equipped with a dressing room, West Philly shoppers can peruse the truck’s array of affordably priced clothing (available up to size Large), jewelry, and accessories while on break for lunch, in between classes or during a mid-day walk. Smak Parlour’s parked on 40^th Street every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday between 12 p.m. to 3 p.m., and occasionally visits other locations throughout the city.

But, for the fashionistas, a brick and mortar store, pop-up shops and fashion truck are just the beginning. The two women are looking to expand their brand through “whatever opportunities come our way.”

“We have a great staff and awesome, affordable merchandise. Maybe there’s a Smak Parlour store coming to West Philly down the line, who knows?!,” they wrote.

–Annamarya Scaccia

The Croydon (Archived Photo / West Philly Local)

As promised, we checked into a few other developments in the area for round two of our real estate updates (you can read Part I here). We’ve received somewhat definitive answers for some projects—others were harder to chase down. We’ll update this post once we learn more information.

• The Croydon, at 241 S. 49th Street, seems to be shaping up nicely. According to a receptionist for the Orens Brothers, property owners of the 127-unit building, the Croydon is still under renovation, with possible occupancy starting in February. (To this end, Philly.com reported earlier this month that about 30 of the 127 apartments will be available beginning in January.) The project, however, will be completely renovated by June 2014, with occupancy projected to begin by this date, according to the University City District’s The State of University City 2013/2014 report.

• In August, we reported that Friends of Clark Park (FOCP) released a statement in favor of the design plans proposed for 4224 Baltimore Ave, the project under construction at the lot on 43^rd Street and Baltimore Avenue. That seems to be the last we’ve heard about the proposed project—4224 Baltimore’s website and Facebook page haven’t been updated since September, when Philly.com ran an article on Omar Blaik of U3 Ventures, owner of the development firm acting as liaison for the project. According to the article, since 4224 Baltimore’s projected design calls for a five-story building–two more than allotted per current zoning–Blaik has to “persuade” City Council to change zoning for the site. We were unable to reach U3 Ventures for further detail by the time of publication.

• In August, we also reported that Kensington-based Greensgrow Farms is eyeing the empty lot on 51st Street and Baltimore Avenue as part of their search for a West Philly hub, but its interest was in the proposal stage. According to Greensgrow’s Design and Media Coordinator Bryn Ashburn, they’re still in the proposal stage. Ryan Spak, owner of the lot, confirmed as much, saying more details have to be hammered out before they could move forward with anything official.

• It’s been a year since the old West Philadelphia High School was sold to New York-based developer Strong Place Partners and it has been radio silence since. Even a quick Google search yields little information since the sale of the building, which was sold for $6.5 million, was announced in late 2012. Rumor has it, though, that the sale fell through (or at least, didn’t close). We couldn’t confirm that gossip with Strong Place Partners, but a property assessment search still lists the School District of Philadelphia as the owner. We’ll post an update once we’re able to get more information.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Project Runway Season 12 winner Dom Streater making it work (Photo by Barbara Nitke / A+E Networks)

While it’s no secret that West Philadelphia is a neighborhood of stars, it was confirmed last night when Dominique “Dom” Streater won season 12 of Project Runway.

Throughout the season, the 24-year-old local fashion designer, who was born and raised on 58^th and Chestnut Streets (“a really nice community to grow up in,” she said), captivated the judges with her juxtaposition of competing patterns and bold colors. And her collection shown on last night’s Project Runway finale was no different—appropriately titled “Retro Redux,” Streater’s runway show at New York’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week was a vibrant explosion of cool blues and purples intercut with contour shapes that oozed luxury and sophistication.

It’s an edgy trademark look that defines her trend du jour line, the Halcyon Clothing Collection, which she currently designs out of her home in Overbrook. But, as Project Runway’s latest winner, Streater will have the opportunity to launch her next collection with the help of a sizeable prize package, which includes $150,000 furnished by GoBank, state-of-the-art products from HP and Brother Sewing and Embroidery, and a $50,000 styling contract with L’Oreal Paris (among other goodies).

Before last night’s season finale aired, West Philly Local had a chance to chat with Streater, a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design, about making it to Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, what defines West Philly fashion, and building her brand in her hometown. Continue Reading

The building that housed Gary’s Nails Salon was damaged during demolition of Elena’s Soul Lounge in December, 2012. (Archive photo/West Philly Local)

After nearly a year of no movement, it seems that the site that was once home to Gary’s Nails Salon at 4910 Baltimore Avenue is now buzzing with renovation work.

Like Cedar Park Cafe, Gary’s Nails was extensively damaged during demolition of neighboring Elena’s Soul Lounge in December of last year, causing the nail salon to shutter its door. (The owners were cited with a violation on December 28, 2012 that claimed the property was “imminently dangerous.”) While Cedar Park Cafe reopened its doors at 4912 Baltimore Ave. mid-August, there was still no word on Gary’s Nails until a few weeks ago when construction work began on the building.

According to one worker at the scene, Gary’s Nails is only undergoing renovation on its roof. In particulars, that means the erection of roof framing and installation of a low-slope built-up roof assembly, describes an active alternation permit issued by Philadelphia License and Inspections on June 21, 2013. The active permit, which was updated October 8, also calls for the partial construction of a masonry wall.

While, according to the Board of Revision of Taxes, the property that once housed Gary Nails is still owned by Ye Me Chi, there is no indication if Gary’s Nails will return as a business  (the property’s exterior condition is listed as “vacant”). West Philly Local was unable to get in touch with the owner for confirmation. We’ll post an update as soon as we have more information.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Photo from HipCityVeg’s Facebook page.

In July, we reported that Nicole Marquis, owner of HipCityVeg—the to-die-for vegan eatery east of the Schuylkill River—is bringing her jewel of Rittenhouse Square to West Philly. Well, turns out HipCityVeg’s second location, which will make itself home in the former Won Oriental Restaurant space at 214 South 40th Street (between Walnut and Locust), is opening this week (thanks to Philly.com for the heads up on both accounts). If all goes well with construction today, HipCityVeg’s West Philly spot should open tomorrow, Melissa, a worker at HipCityVeg’s 127 S. 18th Street location, told West Philly Local.

HipCityVeg’s West Philly hours are tentatively 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with a possible later closing time Thursday through Saturday, said Jess, another HipCityVeg employee. Jess also added that the hours are “up in the air,” though, and management will have a better sense of how to move forward after the weekend. We’ll update this post when we have more info.

–Annamarya Scaccia

UPDATED 10/6/13 at 5:51 p.m. If you’re a runner and love a good challenge, there’s still time to register for the Third Annual Cobbs Creek 5k Run/Walk, taking place at 9 a.m. next Saturday, Oct 12.

Taking place now in the fall, the yearly Cobbs Creek race serves as a way to draw people—particularly locals—into the sprawling green space running along 63rd Street between City and Woodland Avenues. Overseen by the recently formed Friends of Cobbs Creek (Facebook page), Cobbs Creek Park features extensive hiking trails, full forests, a rambling creek and rushing waterfalls, and accessible recreational facilities such as basketball courts and playgrounds–all right within reach of even University City’s most eastern boundary. The park also offers children’s programming, like the Cobbs Creek Community Environmental Education Center, that will receive financial support from the registration fees, sponsorships and donations gathered from the run/walk.

“I don’t think a lot of people are aware of Cobbs Creek and it’s a shame. It’s really beautiful … It really feels like it’s part of your home,” said Alon Abramson, founder of West Philly Runners and member of Friends of Cobbs Creek. West Philly Runners is sponsoring the event along with Philadelphia Runner, Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia Water Department, and Fairmount Park Conservancy. “This is good opportunity to get more than just the people that live in the Cobbs Creek neighborhood to recognize this is within a few miles of us.”

In an effort to motivate more runners to register for the race and explore the park, West Philly Runners and Philadelphia Runner have organized a fun run for 9 a.m. this Sunday, Oct 6. The run will start at Philadelphia Runner’s University City location, 3621 Walnut Street and take participants to Cobbs Creek’s Education Center, 700 Cobbs Creek Parkway, for an informational session on the park. Brunch at Cedar Park Café is scheduled after the run.

Abramson theorizes that part of the reason fewer West Philadelphians east of 52^nd Street travel to Cobbs Creek Park is a deceptive perception of distance, assuming it’s much further from University City proper than it actually is. In fact, if 40^th and Market Streets is your starting point, you can traverse between less than two and a half to less than four miles depending on what section of the over 700-acre park you are visiting. And, depending on where you live in West Philly, traveling time to Cobbs Creek can take 5 – 20 minutes by car, 30 – 40 minutes by public transportation, or a 30 minute bike ride.

“As [part of] West Philly Runners, I’d love to get more runners … people to go that far west and people crossing the invisible divide,” Abramson told West Philly Local. “There’s a real racial boundary at 52nd Street that keeps people separated and segregated, so this is a great opportunity to cross that [border] and see that there’s a really safe, beautiful space. If we could get more people in there, it would be generally positive for the community.”

–Annamarya Scaccia