Flickr Photos 35
There was originally a grain elevator here that dated back to the civil war era. That blew up in 1924 (Surprisingly, that isn't the only time a grain elevator has exploded in Philadelphia- One in West Philly blew up in the 80's). This building was built to replace it. After the elevator became obsolete, the building was converted into offices in 1986(most of which must have not had windows).The offices had all closed up by 2010, leaving the building abandoned. When they built the Granary Apartments in the parking lot, the original plan was to retrofit this into apartments as well, and connect the two buildings. The apartments have been open for 4 years now, and this building is still empty. I think the plans must have fallen through. I can't imagine why nobody would want to live in a windowless gray concrete box like this. The building is protected due to its historical significance, but the neighborhood is pretty divided on what to do with the building. half the population is in love with this place, while the other half thinks it is an eyesore. IMO, it would take a miracle to make this look presentable, much less inhabitable, but it is a possibility. Developers did a nice job turning one of ACME's old distribution centers in Brewerytown into apartments.
Unleashed, Philadelphia (Logan Square)
Sorry for not fitting in the whole sign. I didn't notice part of it was cut out of the picture until I got home. This was one of the stores on the bottom floor of the Granary apartments. They share a website with Petco, and as a result I can't find what differentiates them from their parent. I think they might just be smaller format stores.
This was built in 2013. The left 3/4 of the building used to be parking lot for the now-abandoned granary, while the right was a garage.
7/11 has a greater presence in Philadelphia than in the suburbs. Wawa has been a little slow expanding into the city, so 7/11 doesn't have to put up with the competition they face elsewhere. Seriously, the number of closed 7/11's next to Wawa's in my area is unbelievable.
This looks like it was remodeled shortly before the current exterior design came out. In the final couple years of the rainbow facade, they switched to painting the stores white instead of gray.
This was built in 1912, and operated up until the beginning of the 2011-12 school year, when they relocated to a smaller building. This sat abandoned for a while, but is now being converted into apartments. Construction started a couple months after I got this picture.
A quick Google search of the school says that author Jacquelyn Susann (wrote Valley of the Dolls), and actor Matt Robinson (the original Gordon from Sesame Street) both graduated from here. Will Smith also may have gone here- I found conflicting reports, other sources say he went to Overbrook, a little ways north of here.
BP has replaced the signs and poles on the vast majority of Amoco's they've taken over, so this was a bit of a surprise to find. The part that lists the prices still said Amoco on it up until they upgraded to the digital prices.
This opened in 2012 in what was an abandoned home improvement center. While he building still may look a little rough, it is in much better shape than it was before they opened. I really like the facade detail.
Dunkin Donuts shares a lot of convenience stores with Exxon, but normally doesn't have a facade like this. This appears to have been a service center originally.
This station recently reopened after having some heavy construction done. Street View shows them replacing the tanks. I would imagine they did the pumps as well. It doesn't look any different, so the work must have been all relating to the systems underground.
This was an older A&P that was given the cheapest possible remodel to the colonial style. All they really did was add a peak to the facade, and they didn't even use brick. Nonetheless, it is still recognizable as an A&P.
The orange roof and shape of the sign would indicate this was once a HoJo, but it really doesn't look like one. It has operated under a few different names over the years, and is now a Korean barbecue restaurant. I need to come back here and try it out!
This older-style Esso station operated as a used car lot for a while, closed around 2010, and became a Hertz in 2014. They never put up any kind of sign on the building, although the roadside sign does advertise the current tenant.
I think this was a more recent conversion to Liberty, done the same time as a few other Sunoco's in the area.
The sign advertises 5 service bays, while I only count 3. :P Correction: There are 2 in back.
This was added onto the mall in 1983. Strawbridge's relocated from their 1951 location southeast of here (Which sat empty until 2010, when it was demolished for a Food Lion- more on that coming up in a bit).
This is one of two remaining Macy's stores built as Strawbridge's, the other being Exton. If I were to bet, I would say this will probably be the only one before too long, the way Macy's and the Exton Mall are looking now.
This opened in 1992, on the site of what had been Jefferson Ward, and built as an Almart (Not related to Walmart). This store does pretty well, since it is very close to the Pennsylvania border.
I know I already have a couple night shots of this sign, but I wanted a daytime one, too.
This was built in 2011 on the site of a 70's Taco Bell, that still had the original signage up until the very end.
Wilmington is a fairly large, built-up city, especially considering its proximity to Philadelphia. It's pretty much the same city, just across the state line. Because of Delaware's low tax rates, a ton of businesses have their "official" headquarters here, even if their actual HQ is somewhere else. Delaware's an interesting state. A weird one, too.
Sorry, another bad picture. In my defense, unlike the Wawa picture, I didn't take this one. I had my passenger get it.
This opened as a Revco, shortly before the CVS merger. From what I can make out through the windows, I believe that this hasn't been remodeled inside yet.
Coffee counter. The hanging wooden frames are being removed from a lot of stores now. they look kinda flimsy, so I'm wondering if they just take them down when they break.
This store was a twin to the Malvern store when it opened. This interior layout was very short-lived, with the deli and coffee bar located in the rear of the store. They reverted to their previous layout for a while again, but returned to the back wall layout when their current prototype made its debut This store was remodeled this spring. I'm curious to see if it still looks different than the other stores on the inside now.
This was one of National Penn's newer locations, which opened in 2007. It's tucked into an awkward corner of the shopping center, making it hard to see from most angles. Cutting down the brush behind the building would do wonders for visibility from the center.
This house hasn't been lived in since at least 2009. I remember it was in rough shape then. It went up for sale (zoned commercial) shortly thereafter. Things really started to fall apart in 2012, and the house was finally boarded up in 2015. I doubt this building is of enough value for them to reuse, should a developer ever buy the property. If it wasn't rezoned, it wouldn't be too hard to make it a livable place once more. I like the big oak trees surrounding the house.
The shopping center was developed in 2010, but this outparcel didn't come about until last year. There was just a mysterious patch of grass in a seemingly pointless parking lot up until then. Aspen Dental relocated from their North Coventry location, while Starbucks was new entirely.
This also opened in 2007. Similar to Kmart and Payless, the majority of their stores still bear the old logo, even though the new one has been out for give or take a decade. Update: Moving to the former Weis in Pottstown in 2019.
Opened in 2007. I get the impression that all Lowe's stores looked the same inside, at least up until their current prototype came out.
Bathroom tile pattern. This is one of my favorite things about this decor.
News came out last month that this store was going to be remodeled and expanded back into its original footprint, since they were removing the PLCB store and adding their own wine section. I hate to say it, but this store could use a remodel. It's looking a little rough around the edges.
This was the original location of Pearl's Farmer's Market, which relocated down the street in the mid-2000's. This barn has been empty since then. Every couple years, parts of the siding start to fall off and I wonder if the owners have given up on the building, but they always repair it after about a year.
To recap: this store was built in 1992, and given an extensive remodel with the rest of the shopping center in 2013. It survived the first round of closings last summer, but ultimately went under with the rest of the chain. Update: Now being split between Homesense and Sierra Trading Post.
Hess had been operating here for a long time. They rebuilt the station around 2000, adding a Hess Express store. It was rebranded to Speedway in 2015.
Rita's closed here in 2004, and was quickly replaced with Exton Glass. They never took the signage down, and just painted over it. It's hard to tell when Exton Glass closed, since they never took down their signs either. I think it must have been around 2008, though. The building has been sitting abandoned since then. The jungle that had been engulfing the building was cut down earlier this year, and some of the building's fixtures removed. However, there are no signs of any other activity going on here.
This is one of the older McDonald's locations around here. I think it opened in the very early 70's, and still had the original parking lot lighting until recently. I'm surprised this still has the playplace.
Like the CVS next door, this was built in 2015 on the old Quality Inn site. I think I would have had the angle perfect for this picture, had the sign and bushes not been in the way.
This was built in 2015 on the site of a Quality Inn that closed in 2012. It shares the pad site with Wawa. While the store has the new decor, the store has the old-style drop ceiling and fluorescent lighting.
I got this picture by accident, but I'm glad I did! I was trying to get the funky church next door, but was too late. Worked out well, I would say: Sleepy's was bought out by Mattress Firm late last year.
ACME is finally starting to replace their 30+ year-old truck fleet. The new ones appear to be a little longer. It appears they intend to keep the old trailers around for a while, too; they are still just about as common as these new ones..
Free State Liquors, Elkton, MD
This is right along the MD/DE border. (Their website now redirects to State Line Liquors, probably a name change made sometime after I got this picture). Pennsylvanians take advantage of Delaware's lax regulations on the sale of alcohol. The reviews this place gets would indicate that Delawarians do the same in Maryland.
I really love the streetside signs here, even though they read two different names, neither of which are the current name.
This opened as a Comfort Suites around 2010. It didn't last too long, and was rebranded to Holiday Inn in 2014.
I figure pictures of America's Birthplace would be the best way to kick off the 4th of July weekend. This was built in 1753 the as Pennsylvania Colonial Legislature. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was approved here. Afterwards, it became the national capitol, until the British forced them out.
This building was built by the Curtis Publishing Company in 1910, and was sold to a developer in 1968. It is now subdivided into offices.
Commemorative marker for Mayor Dilworth in the side yard.
This has been operating here for a long time; probably since the building was built in 1980. Based on the reviews, this place is insanely popular.
While the church itself was built in 1890, the congregation dates back to 1794. This was the very first AME church, and the oldest building continuously operating as one.
This synagogue was built in 1885 (and rebuilt in 1910) by Lithuanian immigrants, and is the oldest continuously operating synagogue in the city. Originally, this had a large byzantine dome on the roof, which was unfortunately removed several years ago. I really like the window in front of the building.
This opened in 1893 in the bottom floor of the Reading Railroad Terminal. It originally served mainly as a farmer's market, but is now more restaurant-focused.
One of my favorite things here (aside from the food, that is), are the neon signs.
If the picture makes it look a little crowded and overwhelming, that's because it is. It's probably the busiest place in the city.
Wawa closed this location unexpectedly a few years back, but later returned to the area with a larger new store near city hall. Dunkin Donuts leased the space before too long, and opened up a fairly large restaurant here.
I know this has to have been some sort of department/discount store originally, but I can't find anything online about it. It's driving me crazy, I need to know. The first floor is divided up between several tenants: a Beneficial Bank, Philadelphia G&E Office, and a Hallmark store take up most of the first floor. Update: Turns out this building was built as a parking garage for Snellenberg's Department Store (who was located on the other side of the block). The space pictured was previously a Lane Bryant. I still haven't figured out who the original ground-level smaller retail tenants were originally, but they all have interesting facades. Update: Will be demolished somewhat soon for phase 2 of the East Market complex. I think 2020's when work is supposed to start.
The right side of this building was previously abandoned, but refurbished for Target. The very run-down structures to the left of it were not so lucky, and rebuilt. Target opened in 2016, and takes up the first two floors of the building.
Armand's Records opened in the bottom three floors of this building in the early 80's, but left the top 2 floors abandoned. This store was considered one of the best places for DJ equipment, and almost had a cult following. They closed off the third floor as business started to dwindle, and ultimately shut down in 2014. Recently, the mostly-abandoned building has seen a lot of work. The rear half of the building was demolished last summer, leaving what you see here. I'm not sure what the ultimate plan is, but I'll keep an eye on it.
This opened as a Horn & Hardart restaurant, probably around the same time as the Mercantile Library next door. It was divided between Rite Aid and a restaurant in the 80's. Rite Aid closed by 2000, and the restaurant followed a few years later.
I was showing someone from out of state around town the day I got these pictures. At one point, she said, "I feel like everything here is named after Ben Franklin."
Less than five minutes later, she saw this.
This opened as the Benjamin Franklin House Hotel in 1923. It was considered very high-profile at the time. As newer hotels were built in center city, business began to dwindle, and the hotel finally closed in the mid-80's. Before anything could happen to it, the city quickly granted historic designation to protect the building. It is now an apartment building.
Walgreens' (thankfully) semi-failed merger with Rite Aid really turned me against them. Not to sound cynical, but I'm glad PREIT kicked them out here. ;)
Here's a 2015 look at the store.
This opened in 1946, on the site of a former Woolworth. It did not stay in business for too long, and closed with the chain in 1964. It's surprising how one of the signs is still intact. Recently, PREIT bought most of this block, this store included, and is planning on demolishing it in order to expand the gallery. It is meeting some resistance, thanks to people who are trying to get the former Robinson's designated as historic. You can read the application here. It is well worth the read, as it contains several historic photographs of the area and more than you would ever need to know about the building.
The application I linked to in the previous photo catches this building a couple times, too. On page 4, you can see what it looked like originally as the theater. That closed in the 40's or 50's, and was replaced by Tri-Plex shoes, who carved out the front of the building to make their ultra-modern facade, as seen on page 37. After that closed, they filled in the front again , but with glass panels this time. Nike has been using the three-story window as advertising space. This was also bought by PREIT for the Gallery expansion, and will ultimately be knocked down. In the meantime, they have relocated GameStop out of the Gallery while they remodel, and situated them here.
As I stated previously, it was a long time between when BB&T put up their signs and when they actually opened. It is one of their more attractive banks.
A ground-level view of Philadelphia's newest skyscraper. I think some of the bottom levels are already finished, even though they haven't even reached the top with the concrete core tower.
This was built around 2008 on the site of an older Wawa. It is a very large store, with another entrance in the back. It is also one of the increasingly few stores to not have LED parking lot lights.
I was surprised to find this former 7-11 that still had the cupola on the roof. I think I remember hearing that they were removed from all operational stores in the 90's, which helps put a date on when this closed.
This was built as a Shell gas station with a High's convenience store. Sometime after 2009, this store lost the Shell franchise and rebranded the gas station to their own name. "Around that time, Carroll Independent Fuel Company of Baltimore bought the High's chain, and rid of all the co-branding at the stations, selling only High's gas. Carroll is a huge gas distributor for Maryland. They distribute gas also to most or all of the BP stations, along with Citgo stations. Many BP stations have switched over to the Carroll Fuel branding, likely a cheaper update(i don't know much about gas station licencing) From talking to a manager at a recently opened Highs store, Carroll branded stations are franchise locations, while High's stores are all corporately run." -BMore Retail of Flickr
This location lost its Sunoco franchise around 2010. It then became an independent store called Basics. The building remained sign-less after the name change, but was actually open. The sign in the window makes me thing it is closed now.
I'm not sure if this was built as a Sunoco, but I have seen other Sunocos in this style.
Sunoco, West Grove, PA
This station was built in 2014, on the site of an older 70's store. They made some major landscape changes when they rebuilt- the old store was set back into a hill.
Sunoco builds the nicest new gas stations, IMO. I'm hoping 7/11 doesn't change anything if the sale of some APlus stores goes through.
A portion of the old hotel lobby has been cut out and turned into a steakhouse. They have 4 locations: Portland, Cleveland, Denver, and this one. I haven't eaten here, but it just looks expensive.
The Four Seasons Hotel closed in 2015, and plans to reopen in the Comcast Center II when that is completed. In the meantime, this hotel has been renovated and reopened as The Logan, and is operated by Hilton.
This building was built as a carriage house, and is probably the oldest surviving building in Center City. It became Mace's Crossing in the 70's. The building is very cramped (It's even smaller than it looks!), but the food is well worth it.
This was built over the course of 3 years, and was finished in 2016. I took a tour of the building after it was finished. It looked more like a country club or banquet hall than a church on the inside.
One of two main entrances. While the exterior was nearly complete, it still took a few months before the store was ready to open.
Whole Foods has really been on a push to relocate the stores they bought from Fresh Fields. This one, along with another in Wynnewood, were relocated last year. Spring House is set to relocate before too long, and there is talk that the Devon store may follow suit.
Demolition started with the expansion off to the right of the building. The interior has been gutted out, and the roof pulled off. The second floor of this area used to have a monorail in it, which originally came from the Wanamaker's.
This store opened in 2016, on the site of a parking lot. This was not a relocation from one of the many nearby locations. Rather, it is an entirely new store.
Ss. Philip & James Remodel, Frazer, PA
I was curious to see what was going on here after they removed the porch off the front. They later knocked down the flat-roof portion, and built a new entryway and vestibule on the front. It looks a lot better now.
Here's what it used to look like.
Starbucks, Philadelphia (Logan Square)
This location was remodeled recently. They did not have an exterior sign until then. The woodwork also used to be painted a reddish-brown color. Also of note is that the salon next door used to be a GNC, which relocated in 2013.
This was built in the 50's as one of their somewhat uncommon arch-roof stores. The design was almost a complete rip-off of Penn Fruit's design at the time. After Food Fair left in the 80's, the space was divided up into a small shopping center. A new facade was put on the building, but the tower was left completely intact.
This was built in 1963 as an annex for 1N Bank's headquarters. After they were bought out by Susquehanna, there was no need for the extra office space, and this was vacated. Susquehanna, now BB&T, still owns the building, although it is now for sale.
This opened as a Rite Aid in the 70's. They moved out in 1991. The replacement then moved back here in 2007 after they bought Eckerd, which had opened up here in the interim.
I was always interested in this building. The unusual design helps it stand out. I couldn't find a year built online, but it's gotta be from sometime in the 60's. What I was able to find was that it is mostly vacant, with one major tenant left. Plans call for renovating the building when it is leased out more, which will hopefully only affect the inside. But based on what they're doing at Plymouth Meeting (That's two links, both pictures of the same building), I wouldn't rule out any possibilities.
This most likely opened in the 90's, although there is a good chance that this was originally a full-scale Redner's that was converted to a Quick Shoppe because of the size. The back half of the building is being used by a pool maintenance company, indicating this store may have been larger at one point.
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