From left to right:  Hunter Gatherer shop manager Dominick Caswell and tattoo artists Josh Anderson, Zack Traum and Mike Munter (Photo by Mike Lyons/West Philly Local).

In November, we reported that plans to bring a tattoo studio to 4510 Walnut Street were in the works, becoming the latest business to occupy the revolving storefront.

Well, readers, turns out those plans become a reality two weeks ago, when Hunter Gatherer Tattoo (Facebook page) open its doors. Co-owned by tattoo artist Josh Anderson and Falls Taproom owner Marvin Graaf, Hunter Gatherer Tattoo becomes the third tattoo shop to operate in West Philly.

Hunter Gatherer, which is open seven days a week, specializes in traditional and neo-traditional designs with an illustrative focus, said Anderson. Anderson, 33, serves as the shop’s main artist, working every day to get Hunter Gatherer “off the ground and going.” Tattoo artists Mike Munter and Zack Traum also work out of the studio on a rotating schedule, with Dominick Caswell acting as shop manager.

So far, business has been good and “super positive” for the tattoo studio, with the community showing “nothing but great support,” Anderson said. Once the weather breaks, the owners plan to host a grand opening party with an art show featuring local artists, a private DJ, and food and drinks.

Hunter Gatherer Tattoo (Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local)

With Hunter Gatherer, Anderson said he wants to set it apart from the studios typical of South Street or in Brooklyn — two “touristy” places he’s worked where customers are rarely repeat. Instead, he prefers a relaxed atmosphere where he can make “all the artists happy and all the clientele happy.”

Much of the woodwork in the shop—a space that has been many things over the years and most recently an art gallery—was made from reclaimed wood pallets that Anderson and others cut and fitted together. The repurposing of materials, as well as Graaf and Anderson’s childhoods in big hunting and fishing towns, are much of why the shop is named Hunter Gatherer, Anderson said.

“I was getting sick of just having that whole hustle, bustle, not really get to know anyone. My clientele there, you never really saw them again,” Anderson, who’s worked as a tattooist for over a decade, told West Philly Local. “I’d like to develop a relationship with my clientele.

“We’re just trying to create a nice space for everybody to come and see, and get tattooed, that has a good vibe and environment.”

Hunter Gatherer Tattoo is open Mondays to Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., and Sundays from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Walk-ins and appointments available. For more information, call 267-233-7015.

-Annamarya Scaccia

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Dominick Caswell is a tattoo artist. He is the shop manager. We regret the error.

Earth Cup is now Coffee Market. (Photo courtesy of Natasa Borcanin) 

Some of our readers have probably noticed a new sign, “Coffee Market,” outside of the Earth Cup coffee shop on 45th Street between Pine and Osage. Here’s what’s happening, according to the owner Natasa Borcanin.

The business has changed its name (but not its ownership) to better reflect its expansion of coffee choices, brewing methods, and coffee equipment selection. Coffee Market will offer a larger variety of coffee bean selection (new roasters, new single origins and blends, and more brewing methods) and coffee equipment (coffee presses, pour-overs, thermoses, and more). The shop will also showcase new selections of coffee through coffee tastings.

“This is a welcome change as this city lacks a one-stop shop for a wide variety of organic and fair-trade coffee choices,” Borcanin writes in an e-mail. “There is just about nothing more personal that people consume in a day than a cup of coffee. Therefore, having a variety is paramount.”

By the way, the old “Sam’s Place” sign will also stay, for nostalgic reasons. “This shop has been here for 30 plus years and has a long-standing tradition of its second and third generation customers that appreciate seeing the sign as they revisit,” writes Borcanin.

The Fire Works (Photo from The Fire Works website)

As an independent journalist, sometimes working from home can feel isolating.

Sure, I have my cats and reruns of Dallas, but staying confined to my bedroom’s four walls while furiously typing away can induce pseudo-cabin fever. And setting up shop in a local coffee joint isn’t always better—while there’s activity buzzing around you, you’re still among strangers who may not be up for much conversation.

That’s why coworking spaces like West Philly’s The Fire Works, which recently opened above Dock Street at 701 S. 50^th Street, are a growing trend in the city. Coworking hubs give professionals without a permanent workspace an opportunity to be independently productive while building a like-minded, synergized community. It’s a win-win for most people.

For owner Linford Martin, The Fire Works is meant to achieve just that in West Philly. Opened earlier this month, The Fire Works is an enhanced version of a small coworking group that met in a studio at The Cedar Works—Martin’s 15,000 square-foot community-oriented work and meeting space at 4919 Pentridge Street. Martin approached the group in October about joining forces after Philadelphia Community Acupuncture vacated the third floor of the Dock Street firehouse at 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue, which is already home to neighborhood mainstays Dock Street Brewery, Firehouse Bicycles and the Satellite Cafe. The Fire Works, he said, would be a larger coworking community in West Philly built on their foundation.

“Over the past year, I got to know the group better and understand more about how coworking communities function and how important it can be for people working independently or remotely for an organization,” Martin told West Philly Local. “As we brainstormed about how what shape that might take, we got jazzed about the possibilities and decided to go for it. We didn’t (and still don’t) have everything figured out but we’re enjoying working in the space and having informal discussions about how to make this coworking community an enjoyable and productive place to work.”

So The Fire Works set up shop in the former PCA space, which was revamped to include a conference room, small meeting room, kitchenette and a shared work table in an open space accessible to members only. So far, members of The Fire Works include cartographers, activists, educators, web developers, musicians, and writers according to its website.

But coworking in the 2,000 square-foot hub isn’t free. The four levels of membership range from $60 a month for five days of access a month to $200 a month, which gives you 24/7 access as well as desk and storage space. If you want to use The Fire Works beyond your membership allotment, it’s $12 for each additional day.

Still, if you can afford to drop down the cash, The Fire Works is worth checking out—particularly for the chance to connect and collaborate with local creatives.

“As we’re beginning to grow and welcome new members, we’re realizing our coworking community is really an extension of our geographical community,” said Martin. “Most of us see each other around Cedar Park or surrounding neighborhoods and have interactions with each other outside our physical space. It’s been fun to see new connections happening already.”

–Annamarya Scaccia

EDITOR’S NOTE: After publication of this post we heard back from the Orens Brothers, who own The Croydon, the once infamous apartment building at 49th and Spruce, which is undergoing extensive renovation. As the first part of the building revitalization project is expected to be complete soon, we have updated the post with this information.

West Philly Local would like to update its readers on a few business openings and real estate developments in the area we covered in the past.

• The south wing of The Croydon, which contains 27 units, will be complete around April 1 and ready for occupancy in the spring, said John Orens of Orens Brothers, who purchased the property, formerly known to squatters as “Paradise City,” in 2011. The north wing and center building, which make up 100 units, will be complete and ready for occupancy around Sept. 1, 2014.

The Sedgley (photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local)

• The renovation of the historic Sedgley Apartments building is nearing completion, according to Noah Ostroff, principal at 400 S. 45^th Street LLC, which owns the Sedgley. The work on the building, which has stood on the corner of S. 45^th and Pine Streets for more than 100 years, began last summer and was expected to be complete this month, but is taking a little longer because of the size of the building, Ostroff told West Philly Local. Two sample units will be done in the next two weeks and the building will be ready for occupancy in the spring. Tours of the building are expected to start in the next 30 days (email: noah@phillyliving.com with questions).

• Great news for South Asian cuisine lovers: Shaban Kabab & Curry opened its doors earlier this week at 4145 Chestnut Street and is already taking online orders. Stay tuned for our review of this place.

• Due to minor setbacks, West Philadelphia Community Acupuncture (WPCA), the new holistic clinic run by Philadelphia Community Acupuncture’s Sarah Lefkowich, will delay its grand opening until the end of February.

According to Lefkowich, West Philadelphia Community Acupuncture’s efforts to open, originally scheduled for early January, were stalled by city inspections and permit issues facing the building where the practice will be located, which is undergoing renovations including a new building facade, walls, ceiling, bathroom, and floors. “We are so excited to be a part of it,” she said.

Lefkowich said there is no firm date for when WPCA will open next month, but she will keep the community updated through West Philadelphia Community Acupuncture’s Facebook page and company newsletter, which readers can sign up for here. The clinic is still offering $10 treatments as a grand opening special for its first month open.

• Cafe Renata is celebrating its first anniversary this Saturday and community members are invited to join in the celebration (more info is on Renata’s Facebook page). Congratulations to the owners, Yasser and Katie. As a reminder to our readers, this is how it all began for these guys.

–Annamarya Scaccia

The Inside of Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop at 4501 Baltimore Avenue. Owner Pam Williams said she cut the space in half and will sublease the empty space to Adja Hair Braiding. (Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local)

We’ve all been there. A holiday, a birthday or some special occasion and we’re not only sans a gift, but we can’t seem to find a good place to pick one up at the last minute. And there we’re left, empty-handed.

That’s where Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop comes in. Opened a few weeks ago, the new gift boutique, which replaced Rebel’s Closet at 4501 Baltimore Avenue, offers an eclectic mix of vintage and modern pieces that run the gauntlet of affordability. From artisan housewares and children’s items to handcrafted jewelry and trinkets, patrons can purchase a pop-top glass water bottle for around $5 or pick up an oversized mirror with a carved wooden frame for $300, depending on your gift-buying needs.

And you can guarantee that what you buy is unique. As part of Zed’s business philosophy, owner Pam Williams said that her shop will never carry the same item twice. According to Williams, once a particular item is sold out, like a cutting board or wine carafe, visitors shouldn’t expect to see that exact design or brand back in stock. Instead, Williams told West Philly Local, she will replace the product with a similar piece from a different company to “avoid repetition.”

Williams is still building inventory, though, and is looking for helpful input from the community she’s lived in for over 25 years. (At the moment, Zed’s only carries national and regional brands, but she’s open to looking at portfolios from local designers with a stationery line.) “We’re going a little slow. We had a soft opening because we want to know what the consumer wants. We don’t want to buy a lot of something that [people didn’t ask for],” said Williams, former owner of Cafe Pier One—what is now Atiya Ola’s Spirit First Foods. “Like our sign says outside, come in and take a look because we want to know what you think.”

She continued: “You don’t necessarily have to buy. Just take a look and tell us what you’re looking for, and if we don’t have it, we’ll see what we can do.”

Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Pound Cake Heaven’s Now Open sign at 5029 Baltimore Avenue (Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local)

Fans of pound cake and other baked deliciousness rejoice: Yeadon’s Pound Cake Heaven has made West Philly its new home.

The fledgling business, which opened two years ago, established its second location at 5029 Baltimore Avenue in November, although it hit a few rough patches due to the weather, owner and baker Pam Thornton told West Philly Local. Much like her flagship store, Pound Cake on Baltimore will offer Thornton’s signature variety of pound cake flavors, as well as pies, cobblers, layered cakes, sugar free desserts, cupcakes, and other sweets.

In addition to wanting to expand her business, Thornton told West Philly Local that she had chosen the Baltimore Avenue spot because she recognized an unmet need on the developing corridor. With its arrival, Pound Cake on Baltimore Avenue has become the only full-service dessert bakery on the strip east of 52^nd Street, offering cakes for every occasion—from birthdays to weddings and family gatherings.

One of Pam Thornton’s signature pound cakes (Photo from Pound Cake Heaven’s website)

As a grand opening incentive, West Philly Local readers who print out this article and bring it to Baltimore Avenue location will receive a free cupcake with their Pound Cake Heaven purchase.

Pound Cake on Baltimore Avenue is opened 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday, according to Thornton and a worker at the Baltimore Avenue location. For the summer, Tuesday through Saturday closing hours will extend to 7 p.m. or 8 p.m., Thornton said.

So tell us readers, have you been able to check out Pound Cake’s new location? What do you think of the digs and baked goods?

–Annamarya Scaccia