Here are Thanksgiving Day hours for local grocery stores and supermarkets in case you need to do some last minute shopping for your holiday table:

• Mariposa Food Co-op (49th and Baltimore): Thanksgiving Day: 8 a.m.-2 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 27: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
• ACME Markets (40th and Walnut): Thanksgiving Day: 5 a.m.-7 p.m.
• Supremo “Shop n Bag” (43rd and Walnut): Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
• ALDI (46th and Market): Thanksgiving Day: Closed
• The Fresh Grocer (56th and Chestnut): Thanksgiving Day: 6 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Shoprite at ParkWest Town Center (1575 N. 52nd St.): Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

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Philadelphia officials have announced new restrictions in response to increasing COVID-19 cases in the city. The restrictions, which will be effective from Friday, Nov. 20 through January 1, 2021, will affect businesses, events and gatherings and other activities.

Starting this Friday, the following businesses and activities are not allowed:  Continue Reading

The Ethiopian food scene is expanding in West Philly! A new coffee shop and small grocery store, Alif Brew & Mini Mart, has opened at the corner of 45th and Baltimore in the space formerly occupied by The Nesting House.

For breakfast and brunch, the cafe serves Ethiopian staple dishes, like Firfir, Chechebsa and Foul, and also invites guests for a traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony, starting at 9 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays (see picture and video below). Alif also offers Injera wraps (chicken, beef and vegetarian) as well as other appetizers. But you can also just stop by for a cup of coffee and a homemade pastry or grab-and-go salad!  Continue Reading

Mariposa Food Co-op (Archived photo).

More West Philly and University City shops have reopened in recent weeks or are reopening soon as Philadelphia has been slowly reopening under the Green coronavirus reopening phase. Restaurants have also begun reopening their indoor space. Check out some business news and updates below.

• Gift shop VIX Emporium (50th and Baltimore) is reopening to customers for in-person shopping this Saturday, Sept. 12 with COVID-19 safety protocols. The store will be open Thursday through Sunday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and will offer private shopping appointments on Wednesdays (you can book an appointment for yourself and two guests here; a $10 deposit will be credited toward your purchase).  Continue Reading

If you live in Garden Court, Cobbs Creek or Cedar Park and need a pizza fix, check out Park Pizza, a new restaurant and pizzeria at 434 S. 52nd Street across from Malcolm X. Park. Park Pizza’s co-owners are experienced restaurateur Joe Scarpa, the former owner of Allegro Pizza at 40th and Spruce, and his son Sean Dundon who worked as a restaurant manager.

They both were approached by the Spak Group, a local real estate company which has been renovating buildings on 52nd Street, to open a neighborhood pizzeria. But, it took a few years for Park Pizza to get going, according to Dundon.  Continue Reading

Haven Philly co-owners Marcus Hall (left) and Chris Scott.

This is a precarious time to open a business, but Marcus Hall believes he may have hit on a remedy for those stay-at-home blues.

Hall and partner Chris Scott launched likely the city’s first board game rental service on Saturday in West Philly (and eventually a full blown board game café near 51st and Baltimore). Haven Philly offers contactless drop off and pick up of board games in the West Philly zip codes of 19143, 19139 and 19104.

We’re talking everything from classics like checkers, Scrabble and Sorry to newer games like Catan and Ticket to Ride and, yes, even Pandemic. They have some 200 games available. Rental costs will be based on the game’s purchase price. Games that cost under $20, for example, will be available for $2.50 per day with a slight discount for multiple days (up to five days total).  Continue Reading