e-Passyunk: Social Media Monthly Roundups are Back! First Thursday of the Month, 9:30-10:30am Aversa PR office @ 1141 Pierce Street (behind A Man’s Image) e-Mail, e-Calendars, e-PASSYUNK! East Passyunk has 12,000+ friends, followers and subscribers – and we want to help you use social media to connect them with your business. Join us for our monthly “Roundups” to compare notes with other East Passyunk businesses, discuss upcoming promotions, learn tips and tricks for Facebook and Twitter, and
chat with our social media consultants – all as a free service provided by the BID. Many of our merchants have taken advantage of this free class and turned their new found social media savvy into sales! Classes are open to you and your staff/ team. Registration is required, please RSVP to kory@aversapr.com or call 215840-9216 so we can plan accordingly.
Our moderator is Kory Aversa, owner of Aversa PR & Events and www.Phillylovesfun.com. Kory is a public relations pro and social media guru, managing between 30-50,000 fans and followers through popular social media channels. For more about Aversa PR, visit www.aversapr.com
New Fall Hours at the Fountain Farmers’ Market
The Wednesday market at the Fountain will be open from 2-6pm for the rest of the season. We will continue to have live music on the first, third and fifth Wednesday of the month from 4-6pm for as long as the weather holds out and Neil’s Sharpening Service will join us every third Wednesday of the month. The market will keep running as long as the produce keeps growing!
East Passyunk Avenue Business Improvement District 1904 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Façade Grants
If you would like to make improvements to the exterior of your building we can help! EPABID offers a 50% matching grant reimbursement up to $1,000 for a long list of eligible projects. In the past year we have funded new signs and awnings, planters and new plants for planters, exterior painting, security cameras, window decals, lights, paint touch ups and repairs. All exterior projects will be considered, so please ask if you have an idea on how to spruce up your building! Turnaround is quick and refunds
are usually given within a week – but you MUST be approved before you start the work and your EPABID assessments must be current. Please contact Renee
East Passyunk Mobile App Discounts Our P-Card Discount Program has gone mobile, allowing anyone with a smart phone to access easy savings along the Avenue. The app also has maps, links to transportation, a full business directory, and a list of upcoming events. It can be downloaded for free, just search “Passyunk” in the App Store. If you would like to offer or update a discount, contact Renee at the office. Over 600 customers have already downloaded it and our mobile site has had thousands of hits, so don’t miss out on this opportunity! Printed P-Cards are still available for those without a smartphone.
at 215-336-1455 or renee@visiteastpassyunk.com for information on the resources available to help you upgrade and enhance your property.
New to the Avenue The dynamic team of beauty professionals at Beautiful Brides Philly (1613 EPA) specializes in personalized services at an affordable cost. Recently voted 2011 The Knot “Best of Weddings” in the beauty category, Dana’s expertise, her attention to detail and her ability to personally connect with her brides is a winning combination. Other non-bridal services available. Appointment only.
EPABID worked with the Mayor’s Office of Transportation and Utilities to add more bike racks to EPA & Dickinson after the Philadelphia Water Department project was completed. This new angled configuration allowed for more racks per linear foot of sidewalk. If you would like to add bike racks to your sidewalk, angled or otherwise, please contact Renee.
Hip & Thrifty is offering upscale new and gently used trendy and affordable clothing and accessories at 1810 EPA. Open daily from 11am-8pm with great new finds every week! Carolyn Verdi Boutique at 1746 EPA has brought a lovely collection of vintage and hand-made jewelry and accessories, bridal dresses, invitations including personalized calligraphy, and other unique gift items.
Fall Special Events EPABID continues with our busy calendar of events with options for shoppers, diners, families and grown-ups. These events bring between 200-2,500 additional guests to the Avenue – please make the most of them by staying open late for evening events, placing a table or clothing rack outside so guests can see your store in advance, and offering a sale or discount for events like Second Saturday. Sunday, September 29, 2-5pm: QOTA at the Singing Fountain It’s our first ever LGBT happy hour around the Fountain! Bordering restaurants will offer complimentary lite fare and drink specials and N.R.S. Boutique and Metro Men’s Clothing will put on a fashion show during the event. October’s QOTA will be held at Garage on Tuesday, October 15. Wednesday, October 9, 5-7:30pm – “Is it the End of the Suburbs?” Author Leigh Gallagher and Philadelphia Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron will discuss Gallagher’s new book, The End of the Suburbs, at Paradiso Restaurant at this Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance event. Tickets are $30 in advance and will include discounts to participating EPA restaurants and $8 valet parking, go to www.delawarevalleysmartgrowth.org for more info and tickets. Sunday, October 13, 1-6pm: South Philly Fest at Lucky 13 Lucky 13 and Sweet Jane Vintage are hosting a block party with live music, handmade and vintage vendors, and of course cold drinks and hot eats.
Wednesday, October 23, 5:30-9:30pm: Witch CRAFT Beer Crawl Grown-ups can get in the Halloween spirit with 350+ other craft beer enthusiasts bar hopping down the Avenue! For $6.66, guests receive a witch hat, stamp card with each bar/restaurant listed, and $3 craft beers at 14 East Passyunk bars and restaurants. 5 stamps gets them entered to win a $25 gift certificate to all participating bars, stamps are acquired by buying beer or any other food or beverage item, maximum of 2 per bar. This year we’ll also have prizes for best dressed witch and most original costume. Registration is at Garage at 1233 EPA from 5:30-7pm, cards are collected at 9:30pm at Adobe Café at 1919 EPA. Special thanks to Boston Beer Company, Drink Philly, Origlio Beverage, Philebrity, Uber and Yelp! Saturday, October 26, 11am-4pm: Fall Fest and Spooky Saturday Our once modest kid and dog costume contest has exploded with the addition of Fall Fest! For the kids we’ll have free pumpkin decorating and crafts, trick or treating, and other fun activities as well as some kid-friendly music. The costume contest is staggered by age group in the categories of Funniest, Scariest and Most Original, times are: 11am – ages 4 and under, 11:30am – ages 5 to 8, 12 noon – ages 9 to 12, and 12:30pm – doggies! Nice Things Handmade will again host a craft show all day and after the costume contest we will have live music and great fall street food and drinks. The event is held at the Singing Fountain and in the case of inclement weather, we will give out bags of candy in front of Urban Jungle.
New Forgivable Loan Program for Interior Improvements and More!
NEW THIS YEAR: After the costume contest, we will keep the kid-friendly fun going from 1:30-3:30pm at the Mifflin Triangle with free fall refreshments, Halloween music and trick or treating along the Avenue. If you would like to give our candy from your store, please contact Renee at the BID office. Special thanks to our sponsors: Acme, Aversa PR & Events, Doggie Style, Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation, South Philly Review , Uber and Yelp. October 12, November 9 and December 14: Holiday Shopping Second Saturdays Don’t miss out on these great opportunities to offer your unique gifts to neighbors and visitors. Thursday, December 5, 5:00-7:00pm: Tree Lighting at the Singing Fountain Passyunk Avenue Revitalization Corporation invites you to help kick off the holiday season with carolers from Alphabet Academy, refreshments from EPA restaurants and, of course, Santa!
The City of Philadelphia, Department of Commerce in partnership with the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy is pleased to announce a new forgivable loan program. The program helps eligible retail, food, and creative for-profit and non-profit businesses purchase equipment and materials associated with establishing a new location or expansion at an existing one. *The property being improved must be a commercial business occupied by a retail, food, or creative business. Unoccupied properties may be considered but must have a tenant within six (6) months of approval. *Improvements include (but are not limited to): kitchen equipment, hoods, security systems, phone systems, point of
sale systems, millwork, flooring, lighting systems, sound systems, theater seating, display furnishings and shelving, HVAC equipment, coolers, refrigeration units, and similar items. *The forgivable loans amounts are between $15,000 - $50,000. The forgivable loan does not require payments and is forgiven if the recipient meets program requirements for five (5) years. The program is competitive and subject to review and approval by the Commerce Department. Applications for InStore will be accepted on a rolling basis. Interested applicants should reach out to Renee or Jonathan Snyder at 215-683-2153 or jonathan.snyder@phila.gov.
Theft Alerts Unfortunately some of our businesses have recently experienced thefts from their property and vehicles. Please remember not to leave any valuables, especially cell phones and tablets, unattended and lock your vehicle at all times. Most of these have crimes have been committed by people working in teams of two
Volunteer
We need volunteers for all of our special events and marketing initiatives and other special projects. If you are interested in becoming a committee member or would like more information on volunteering, please contact Renee Gilinger at 215-336-1455 or renee@visiteastpassyunk.com.
- one person distracts staff by asking a lot of questions and the other steals property or money. Please tell your staff and tenants to be aware of these tactics. If you have experienced a crime and were able to catch it on camera, please let us or Officer Smyl know immediately.
Promotions Committee The Promotions Committee is responsible for planning and executing promotional and marketing activities for the Business District, including all of our special events. We also need help at most of our events if a monthly meeting doesn’t fit your schedule. Meetings are held the first Tuesday of every month at 10am at the BID Office.
Wow, What a Window! The Enterprise Center is offering a FREE workshop on the dynamics of visual merchandising on Thursday, October 3, 8-10am. Learn simple, cost-effective ways to make the most competitive and profitable use of every square a of your enterprise! The Enterprise Center is located at 4548 Market Street, call Derise Stovall at 215-895-4019 to register.
The EPABID is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. As such we are required to have a board of directors and meet on a regular basis. The East Passyunk Avenue Board of Directors: Jim Gallo, Chairman Varnana Beuria, Treasurer Francis Cratil , Secretary Councilman Mark Squilla Frank DiCicco Nancy Melchiore Lynn Rinaldi Thomas Rumbaugh Nicole Rae Styer Regularly scheduled Board of Directors’ meetings are open to the public by appointment. The Board meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 9am at the BID Office. If you would like an item added to the agenda at a meeting, please submit a request to Renee at 215-336-1455 or renee@visiteastpassyunk.com.