Old City District

The Old City Wedding Stroll is back! On Wednesday, April 30, from 5-8PM, engaged couples can explore 35+ businesses offering tastings, tours, demos, and consultations. From venues and florists to bridal boutiques and specialty gift shops — even ones that can outfit your dog in a tux — Old City is home to an incredible network of wedding professionals. The wedding industry is a major economic driver, supporting small businesses, hospitality, and retail. Events like the Old City Wedding Stroll help these businesses generate leads, build relationships, and showcase their expertise in an authentic way. If you or someone you know is planning a wedding, register for FREE: https://lnkd.in/er6uz-VS.

The transformation of two Old City office buildings is planned to be completed in just over a year as local developers Lubert-Adler Real Estate Funds and Keystone overhaul the Bourse building and neighboring 400 Market St. A future hotel at the 10-story, 302,600-square-foot Bourse building will be part of Hilton’s Tapestry Collection.?A restaurant is planned to take up most of the ground floor, exceeding 7,500 square feet, as the joint venture partners have scrapped plans for a wedding and event space at the Bourse. The 12-story, 173,700-square-foot office building at 400 Market is being converted into 176 apartments on the second through 12th floors with amenities and lounge space on the first floor, about 30 underground parking spots in an existing garage and a new rooftop deck. Apartments at 400 Market are planned to be completed by spring 2026. Read more from the Philadelphia Business Journal.

A developer, a policy maker, and a designer walk into a bar…think you've heard this one before? Join the ULI NEXT cohort as we pull back the curtain for a candid conversation about how these disciplines could better communicate with one another—and the public—to get high-impact projects completed more successfully. Come for a discussion and robust Q&A between leaders with cross-disciplinary experience to learn about common misunderstandings, unhelpful jargon, what they’ve always wanted to say to their counterparts, and how to better speak each other's language. Networking time with fellow attendees will offer a chance to practice some of what you learn. Speakers include: Martha Cross, Principal, MAKE Advisory Services, LLC Services; Nancy Gephart, SVP, Investments, CEI-Boulos Capital Management; Job Itzkowitz, Executive Director, Old City District; Meagan Whetstone, Senior Vice President of Development, Mosaic Development Partners JV Development; and moderated by Ben Willis, Associate Principal, Union Studio Architecture & Community Design Thank you to our event sponsor: Blueprint Commercial Interested in becoming a sponsor? Learn more: https://lnkd.in/efjxQCPS Register today: https://lnkd.in/euDEEUpy

Old City District is in the process of developing a five-year strategic marketing plan, and we’re seeking feedback from those who live, work, and visit the neighborhood! Your input is essential to understanding the unique needs of our community and guiding future initiatives. We invite you to take a few minutes to complete our survey by March 18: https://lnkd.in/eDEyJQ4f Your responses will provide valuable data that will help inform the marketing strategies for Old City’s growth and development. Thank you for your participation!

Today, Old City District was thrilled to host our first Old City Business Social! This networking event brought together 50+ businesses to connect, collaborate, and stay informed on the latest updates from OCD. Strong partnerships lead to greater opportunities. Many Old City businesses work together to create exciting events, referral programs, and more. We look forward to continuing to support our community through this quarterly event series. A big thank you to our event host, PENTIMENTI, and to Philly Style Bagels and Cafe Square One/Eggcellent for keeping the conversation fueled! #OldCityPhilly #Networking #Community

Yesterday, Old City District joined the City of Philadelphia to break ground on the Old City Market Street Improvement Project!?Old City District Executive Director Job Itzkowitz joined Mike Carroll, Deputy Managing Director for Philadelphia's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems, Councilmember Mark Squilla, and Bill Marrazzo, Chair of the Independence Historical Trust. This transformational effort will make Market Street between 2nd and 6th streets more accessible and vibrant with features like raised bike lanes, ADA enhancements, and a shared-space plaza. For more information about the conceptual designs, traffic flow analysis, and background information, visit Old City District's website for the Market Street Transformation Study: https://lnkd.in/eRsesSAX This work also reflects Old City District’s goal to create safer, more welcoming public spaces and furthers the vision set forth in Old City Vision2026.?You can learn more about Vision2026 here:?https://lnkd.in/e6GGRJGs Thank you to our partners and the community for making this vision a reality: City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia Streets Dept, Independence Historical Trust, Urban Engineers Read more about the groundbreaking current project updates from The Philadelphia Inquirer.

It’s been a busy start to the holiday season! Over the last few weeks, we’ve celebrated in ways that support local businesses and highlight Old City as a premier destination for holiday shopping and festivities. ?? #SmallBusinessSaturday helped spotlight our independently owned shops and boutiques, encouraging shoppers to support local businesses and discover unique, one-of-a-kind gifts. ?? The 8th Annual Historic Holidays Tree Lighting drew families and visitors to the Betsy Ross House for an evening of community celebration and festivities. ?? The Holiday Shopping Sip & Stroll featured over 40 businesses and a pedestrian-friendly open street on 3rd Street, offering a unique shopping experience with live entertainment, surprise snow showers, and more. There’s still plenty of time to shop local and enjoy holiday events in Old City. Visit Old City to discover unique gifts, enjoy festive dining, and experience the magic of the season. ??: Society Hill Films

This holiday season, celebrate community and support Old City businesses with the return of Historic Holidays in Old City!?Here’s what’s in store: ???#SmallBusinessSaturday | ????????????????, ???????????????? ????: Show your support by shopping small! Over 40 businesses are offering exclusive discounts and promotions. Enjoy free Old City tote bags (while supplies last) and live music across Old City from 12-3PM. ??????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????????? | ??????????????????, ???????????????? ??:?Gather with us at The Betsy Ross House at 6PM for a tree lighting celebration with live performances, special guests ??, and plenty of holiday cheer. ???????????????? ???????????????? ?????? & ???????????? | ????????????????, ???????????????? ??:?From 12-5PM, enjoy an open-streets experience on 3rd Street featuring holiday specials, seasonal treats, and live entertainment from 40+ participating businesses. ????????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????????? | ????????????, ???????????????? ????:?Celebrate Hanukkah with Old City Jewish Arts Center at The Betsy Ross House starting at 4:30PM, with traditional lighting, music, and festive treats. Join us in supporting small businesses by shopping local this holiday season! Visit https://lnkd.in/e9V_XhuY for more information. #OldCity #VisitPhilly #DiscoverPHL #StartHere #HolidayEvents

We are thrilled to welcome The Dermatology Specialists to #OldCity! Today’s ribbon-cutting ceremony at 225 Market Street marks the opening of their very first Pennsylvania location, bringing top-notch, accessible skincare to our neighborhood. A big thank you to those who joined us to celebrate, including Job Itzkowitz, Executive Director of Old City District; Dr. Beau DiCicco, Chief Medical Officer of The Dermatology Specialists; and Gina Daley, MHCI, Head of Integrated Health at La Roche-Posay USA. With a range of services from annual skin cancer exams to microneedling and beyond, The Dermatology Specialists is here to support skin health. We’re excited to have them in Old City!

Exciting news for Old City! Brooklyn-born Tacobees is bringing its first Philly location to 236 Market Street, set to open on December 15. ?? Owner Mohammad Butt and partner Nazeer Ahmed are thrilled to expand here, with more locations planned. Butt chose Old City for its unique charm, rich history, and the opportunity to fill a gap in the neighborhood’s dining scene by introducing a taco shop. Tacobees will offer both takeout and dine-in service. The restaurant's front-of-house space spans 1,200 square feet and will seat between 30 and 35 people, with additional seating added outdoors in warmer weather. The majority of the updates to the space will be cosmetic, including adding a mural that highlights the culture of Old City and Philadelphia. Special thanks to Billy Creagh of National Realty Old City LLC for brokering the deal. Read more from Emma Dooling and the Philadelphia Business Journal.