Mayor Cherelle L. Parker Highlights Progress Along Market East, Cuts Ribbon on Meantime on Market

Contact:
City of Philadelphia, [email protected]
Leo Manning, [email protected]

The summerlong residency, public art installations, and streetscape improvements signal visible momentum for the future of the corridor.

PHILADELPHIA (Thursday, May 7, 2026) - Today, Mayor Cherelle L. Parker joined Philadelphia's business, cultural, and civic leaders to highlight near-term progress along Market East and cut the ribbon on Meantime on Market, a new addition to the corridor bringing beloved Philadelphia businesses to the heart of Center City for the summer of 2026.

The ribbon cutting marked the ceremonial opening of six local businesses in renovated storefronts owned by a joint venture between Harris Blitzer Sports and Entertainment and Comcast.

In addition to Meantime on Market, the Market East makeover powered by a $1.85 million grant from the City of Philadelphia and managed by Center City District includes new art installations from Mural Arts and improvements to the streetscape. Visitors and residents alike are enjoying new trees, freshly painted light and banner poles, restored transit headhouses, and refurbished bus shelters.

"We are delivering progress that you can see, touch, and feel," said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. "You can feel the energy building on Market East. Momentum is growing as we welcome visitors for our 2026 celebrations and events while continuing the long-term work of revitalizing this corridor for all Philadelphians. I am proud to support our local entrepreneurs and excited to see this transformation continue taking shape."

Mayor Parker's Market Street Revival Initiative

Mayor Parker convened the Market East Advisory Group of more than 60 business, civic, development, planning, labor, and government leaders in November 2025. The Advisory Group has been charged with boosting and building on 2026 activations of Market East to develop a shared vision for Market East and a long-term plan to bring it to fruition.

The Advisory Group is led collaboratively by Jessie Lawrence and Octavia Howell, the director and deputy director of the Department of Planning and Development, and Gerard H. Sweeney, president and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust and the chair of the Mayor's Center City Revitalization Business Roundtable. A comprehensive market study of the corridor sponsored by the Advisory Group to inform the long-term plan is anticipated by the end of the summer. The Advisory Group's public engagement efforts include compiling more than 1,000 survey results, conducting focus groups, exploring additional opportunities for public-private partnership, and developing a community engagement hub to be physically located on Market East.

"This work is about more than development projects or storefront activations," said Jessie L. Lawrence, director, Department of Planning & Development. "It is about building long-term economic opportunity for Philadelphians, creating confidence in the future of Market East, and making sure community voices continue helping shape the direction of this corridor."

In addition to the $1.85 million grant and advisory group work, the city is supporting Market East through extensive public infrastructure projects, including enhanced law enforcement presence, street and sidewalk improvements, landscaping and beautification, and partnering with the Philadelphia Parking Authority to provide a clean and modern bus station for intercity travelers.

New retail spaces

The six retailers opening up shop as part of Meantime on Market will bring unique experiences and services including a record store and listening room, an immersive art installation, an upcycled fashion retailer, a furniture store, a coffee house, and a water ice shop.

• Two Persons Coffee 920 Market Street; Wed-Sun: 10 A.M.-6 P.M. twopersonscoffee.com

• Almost Famous 922 Market Street; Wed-Sat: 12-7 P.M.; Sun: 12-5 P.M. almostfamousus.com

• Rarify 924 Market Street; Tue-Fri: 9 A.M.-5 P.M.; Sat: 10 A.M.-4 P.M. rarify.co

• Clubfriends Radio & Records 926 Market Street; Wed-Sat: 12-7 P.M., Sun: 12-5 P.M. @clubfriendsradioandrecords (Instagram link)

• Art Philly 932-934 Market Street; Wed-Sat: 12-7 P.M., Sun: 12-5 P.M. artphilly.org

• Siddiq's Water Ice 938 Market Street; Mon-Sat: 11 A.M.-midnight, Sun: 12-10 P.M. siddiqswaterice.com

Although each retailer's specific hours of operation are different, shops will be open seven days a week with at least one retailer open Monday to Saturday between 11 A.M. and midnight and on Sunday between 10 A.M. and 10 P.M.

"We're thrilled to be celebrating this moment on Market East and to be partnering so closely with the City to bring it to life," said Brian Phillips, founder of Meantime and principal at ISA. "Meantime is built on the idea that our storefronts - even in transition - can be places of energy, experimentation, and connection. With the city's support, we're able to test new ways of activating these spaces, inviting local entrepreneurs in, and creating the kinds of shared experiences that bring people together. This is about more than filling vacancies-it's about reimagining Market East as a vibrant, welcoming corridor that reflects the creativity and diversity of Philadelphia."

"Through the collaboration of public and private partners, we're thrilled to unveil the first phase of Market East's revitalization ahead of this summer's celebrations," said Prema Katari Gupta, president and CEO of Center City District. "Residents and visitors alike will have the chance to experience local staples and be inspired by Philadelphia's talented artists along the refreshed, accessible corridor. We're thankful for Mayor Parker's vision on this project and for the support of partners like Councilmember Mark Squilla, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Meantime, and property owners along the corridor."

"We are excited to be part of the team making Market East a vibrant and welcoming place as the world converges on Philadelphia this summer," said Tad Brown, CEO of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment and Dan Hilferty, Chairman and CEO of Comcast Spectacor. "We know that under the direction of the Mayor's Market East Advisory Group, this area has a bright future ahead of it and these shops serve as a small case study to the success and promise of this storied corridor."

New murals to span six blocks of Market East

Murals by Philadelphia artists will enliven and beautify 6,500 sq. ft. of wall space along Market East. These murals are produced in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia and located in properties along the corridor owned by Fashion District Philadelphia, Brandywine Realty Trust, National Real Estate Development, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Alex Liberman, 714 Market LLC, and a joint venture between Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment and Comcast.

"Public art not only enlivens streets but strengthens local pride," said Jane Golden, executive director of Mural Arts Philadelphia. "Mural Arts is proud to bring public art to the Market East corridor and to showcase the remarkable artistic talent in this city. Philadelphia's creative energy will be on full display-bringing joy and inspiration to all who visit and to those who call the city home."

The installations are:

• "Joy Resonance" by Dora Cuenca (1132 Market Street)

• "Through the Veil" by Issac Tin Wei Lin (1113 Market Street)

• "Philly, Cool People Live Here" by Manuela Guillén (1001 Market Street)

• "Philly Locals" by Maira Dumlao (901 Market Street)

• "a star reborn" by a'driane neives (821 Market Street)

• "Together, Brightly" by Gina Triplett (730 Market Street)

• "Declaration of Freedom" by Ife Nii-Owoo (718 Market Street)

• "Love Through" by Serena Saunders (618-634 Market Street)

Long-term momentum building for a revived Market East

During the event, Mayor Parker also announced that the City of Philadelphia has secured a $938,460 PA Main Street Matters grant through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) to support exterior lighting improvements to the historic Reading Terminal Headhouse on the 1100 block of Market Street.

Mayor Parker thanked Governor Josh Shapiro and DCED Secretary Rick Siger, along with Michael Shorr and the DCED team, for supporting continued investment in the Market East corridor.

The growing strength of Market East in commercial and residential development, retail, hospitality, entertainment and other sectors is evident from City Hall to the Delaware River. Examples of recent activity and investment include:

• 1300 Block: TF Cornerstone's development in the Wanamaker building will bring 600 residences to the street.

• 1200 Block: The Marriott and the Loews Philadelphia hotels open their doors on Tuesday evenings as part of Weeknights Live!, a year-round program to energize the early evenings through live performances from local artists at hospitality businesses across the city. The SEPTA headquarters store is now located directly on the street.

• 1100 Block: Iron Hill Brewery reopens its 8,500 sq. ft. restaurant and brewery space.

• 1000 Block: Reading Terminal Market, named the nation's best public market (2026 USA Today Readers' Choice Award), makes Filbert Street pedestrian-only for the summer.

• 900 Block: FIFA World Cup Volunteer Center opens in the Fashion District.

• 700 Block: Lits Building to host "Revisit 1876" Centennial World's Fair Museum pop-up through end of year.

• Old City: Complete Streets improvements take shape.

• North 3rd Street: Six-story "Ministry of Awe" immersive art experience opens in formerly vacant 19th century bank building.

"Near-term wins like Meantime on Market show what's possible here on Market East," said Gerard H. Sweeney, president and CEO of Brandywine Realty Trust and chair of the Market East Revival Advisory Group. "These visible improvements demonstrate that development rooted in community input can be part of a strategy that delivers a revival of the corridor."