I’m pretty sure that Ashanti’s Bar-B-Que (52nd and Irving) has not been open at any point in the last 5 years, but I’ve always admired the signage. I was tempted to walk off with the plexiglass hand-painted Bar-B-Que sign leaning against the wall in this photo, less so the toilet.
Commenter Rae has made a startling identification of one of the subjects of a photo in the Found in Malcolm X Park series:
That photo is wonderful. I believe that is a photo of now drummer, Amir Thompson, aka. ?uestlove of the Roots.
He grew up very near to Malcolm X Park. It looks a lot like him.
He would have been about 12-13 in 1983.
Here’s is the photo in question (click to expand for a better look):
And here is a photo of ?uestlove as an adult:
(Photo by flickr user frankflix)
What do you think? I think it’s possible! Of course, Malcolm X Park would have been known as Black Oak Park back then. Any readers who know ?uestlove want to try confirming it with him? Send me a note! It would be fantastic to be able to return these photos to their rightful owner and hear the real story behind them.
After all, the folks at Found Magazine do it all the time.
For more than thirty years, the Concerned Citizens of the 5000 Block of Osage Ave. have hung six strands of lights across the street to celebrate the holidays. These lights, which came on last night for the first time this season, are just one of the more visible contributions this historic block association has made to the fabric of the community adjacent to Malcolm X Park.
Here’s another great find in the Phillyhistory.org archives:
According to the description, this sign was at 52nd and Chestnut. I’m not sure where it would have stood near that intersection, since the McDonald’s on the southeast corner postdates 1967 when this photo was taken. It’s too hard to read all the details at low resolution, but here’s a list of what I can read. If you know anything about any of them, please let me know!
PSFS
Bargain Mart
Hanscom’s
Miller’s
Tot & Teen
Brait’s Men’s Shop
Bond Hosiery
Camera Shop
Jack Lang Clothes
Pinkstones Jewelers
Peter Pan Children’s Shop
Tru-Site
Claude Collier
Dial Shoes
Jimmy Dykes Colonial Recreation
Vanity Corset Shops
Rosenberg’s Shoes
Shapiro’s Children’s Shoes
West Philadelphia Federal Savings
Provident Tradesmens Bank and Trust Co.
Western Savings Bank
Dunn Shoes
Joy Hosiery
Dr. M. I. Sheingold
West Park Sporting Goods
Simon’s
Wilf Brothers Floor Coverings
Empire Record Shop
Golden Lantern
Love Brothers Card and Gift Shop
Stanley Men’s Shop
York’s Tea Garden
Ralph’s Army & Navy Store
L&S Sales Co. Gifts of Distinction
Golden Lantern
According to the list on the 52nd and Market in Philly website, it appears that only Shapiro’s Children’s Shoes persists. It’s spelled “Shapario’s” on the Business Guide page, and I think it’s actually at 215 S. 52nd, not 213.
