Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

From queer gear to trendy housewares and mid-century furniture, Philadelphia’s nine-block “Gayborhood” offers a diverse shopping experience for visitors. Located within the city’s hip Midtown Village neighborhood, the gay-owned and gay-friendly boutiques and stores share the streets with lively restaurants, bars and clubs. But, best of all, clothing shopping in Pennsylvania is tax-free, making it easy for visitors to splurge on one-of-a-kind finds.
 

The Philadelphia Gay Tourism Caucus and the Center City District have identified the gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses throughout the region in the Philadelphia Gay-Friendly Merchant Guide, available in hardcopy form at select hotels and for download at www.gayphiladelphia.org or www.gophila.com/gay. The brochure divides the businesses into categories such as Clothing & Shoes, Electronics, Health & Beauty, Jewelry and more and indicates special discounts offered at various locations.

Here are some of the gay-friendly establishments in the “Gayborhood:”

Clothing:

• Matthew Izzo – This local design phenom offers up-and-coming duds for men and women, including brands like Acne Jeans, A Streetkid Named Desire and Yoko Devereaux. 1109 Walnut Street, (215) 629-1240, www.matthewizzo.com
• Sailor Jerry – Old school meets American vintage at this boutique selling revamped classics like tattooed Chucks and all sorts of wears for the gals. 116-118 S. 13th Street, (215) 531-6380, www.sailorjerry.com
• Sparacino-Mens – Cool retro duds, including a line by Ben Sherman, the godfather of 60s fashion, are on the shelves at Sparacino-Mens, where the prices will surprise you—they’re lower than the prices at Bloomies, and the clothes are twice as funky. 115 S. 13th Street, (215) 922-4211, www.sparacinomens.com

Home Chic:

• Ethnics Furniture – Shop for Balinese-crafted housewares, from hand-carved teak and mahogany to colorful lampshades and accessories at this exotic boutique. 932 Pine Street, (215) 925-3305, www.ethnicsfurniture.com
• Open House – Owned by lesbians Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran, who also own Lolita restaurant across the street and Grocery gourmet market on the corner, Open House stocks the kind of great home, garden and body accoutrements not widely available. They also have a line of baby duds. 107 S. 13th Street, (215) 922-1415, www.openhouseliving.com
• Matthew Izzo Lifestyle – The noted designer turns his uncanny eye for trendspotting to home furnishings, offering an elegant collection of lighting, home accessories, furniture and more. There’s also a hair salon in the back of the store. 1109 Walnut Street, (215) 829-0606, www.matthewizzo.com
• P.H.A.G. – Short for Philadelphia Home Art Garden, P.H.A.G. boasts an outrageous collection of specialty art and home decor for the well dressed home. Check out the cowboy accoutrement and over-the-top greeting cards upstairs. 1225 Walnut Street, (215) 627-0461, www.thephagshop.com

Antiques:

• Antique Design – The place to go for custom-designed stained glass also makes Art Deco lighting fixtures. Plus, they work with clients to restore existing pieces. 1102 Pine Street, (215) 629-1812, www.antiquedesignphilly.com
• Blendo: Past and Present – From kitsch collectibles to vintage 60s and 70s furniture and fun jewelry, Blendo has personality to spare. 1002 Pine Street, (215) 351-9260
• City Chateau – Partners Joe Connolley and Don Prince restore vintage antiques from early- to mid-19th century and create their own line of pillows and lighting. 918 Pine Street, (215) 238-1035, www.citychateau.org
• Kohn & Kohn Antiques – In the neighborhood since 1932, this respected shop deals in stained glass, furniture, paintings, silver and porcelain. 1112 Pine Street, (215) 923-0432, www.kohnandkohnantiques.com

Gifts, Books, Toys and More:

• Adornamenti – Partners John Arneth and Paul Harris expanded beyond the wonderful crafts they sell at Show of Hands (1006 Pine Street) to open this store featuring a collection of art jewelry focusing on northeast artists and one-of-a-kind designs. 1106 Pine Street, (215) 922-2722
• Borders – The Philly outlet of this mainstream bookstore includes a decent GLBT department, along with bestsellers and the latest music. 1 S. Broad Street, (215) 568-7400, www.borders.com
• Doggie Style – For those who want to dress their dog (or cat) in drag or simply feed him the latest organic treats, this bow-wow boutique has it all. 114 S. 13th Street, (215) 545-4100, www.doggiestyle2.com
• Giovanni’s Room – This trailblazing LGBT bookstore offers an extensive collection of queer lit in a friendly, comfortable setting. It’s the ideal place to begin a visit to the “Gayborhood.” 345 S. 12th Street, (215) 923-2960, www.giovannisroom.com
• Robin’s Bookstore – This scruffy and lovable throwback to what bookstores used to be is the oldest independent bookstore in town, a haven for freethinkers and a place for readings by authors with a point of view. 108 S. 13th Street, (215) 735-9600, www.robinsbookstore.com

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside™ a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit www.gophila.com or call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676.

Contact(s):

• Jeff Guaracino, (215) 599-2290