R.I.P. Shirt Corner

Yesterday was the last day of business for Philadelphia's Shirt Corner, located on the NE corner of 3nd and Market Streets in Old City. While I never actually shopped at the Shirt Corner (never really needing to buy formal or professional men's clothing for anyone), its closure depresses me greatly and again, hurts a little bit of my soul. I should have seen the end coming when Foam Land on 2nd Street closed a few years ago.

Before its slow, recent makeover, Old City Philadelphia was always just covered with a think layer of grime, enough dirt under its fingernails to give it a bit of character and scare off the bridge and I-95 crowds. In the late 80s and early 90s, the area between Front and 4th running east-west and Race to Chestnut running north-south was full of off-price discount stores, like the AMAZING Store, where I bought surplus Howard Johnson ashtrays. There were grungy bodegas, a few art galleries, Third Street Jazz and Rock, Food Tek, and a few bars. At night, the area was deserted except for around the Khyber Pass on 2nd Street, and Revival on 3rd. (Revival is loooong gone, but the Khyber is still alive and well.) What is now the swanky Continental was a gross, disgusting diner that even I wouldn't eat at. There were punk shows on the second floor of Nick's Roast Beef and strong margaritas at Mexican Post (which is still there, but not just gone downhill, but fallen off a cliff).

Not to romanticize too much, but there was a sense of ... something ... there that is long gone, now filled with expensive bistros and restaurants, not to mention guido and woo-girl bars.

Now, I'm not totally opposed to some of the changes that have come to Old City, especially the retail. There are some truly unique, independent stores along N. 2nd and 3rd, including Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction, my regular comic store Brave New Worlds, and the clothing store Lost + Found. Some of the old-timers continue to hang on as well, like some of surplus stores that sell socks, hats, and other items in bulk to street vendors; also a few of the restaurant supply stores seem to be there to stay. However, there's also a Starbucks at 3rd and Arch, way too many martini bars, and three upscale Stephen Starr restaurants. And if the new owner of the corner block of the former Shirt Corner gets his way (and the building is not declared historic although it was built in the 1850s), there is a very good chance that it will be torn down (or converted) and rented to a large retail or restaurant chain.

I can see most of the Shirt Corner building from my office window. While some people feel it is an eyesore (check out the comments section of the story in the Inquirer), I've always loved the bold colors and huge, oversized lettering. It's completely different than some of these boutiques and bistros who just stencil their name two inches high in the bottom corner of their front window. This store leaves no doubt to what it sells (shirts and more actually) and where it's located (on the corner). I've always been a fan of buildings with signs painted on their sides. The few that are left in Philadelphia are disappearing daily. It's going to be depressing if I have to watch the Shirt Corner slowly be torn down and replaced with a California Pizza Kitchen or a Rainforest Cafe.

At least Suit Corner (SW corner of 3rd & Market) will survive... for now.


(Photos taken by me in February 2007.)