A new stop in South Philadelphia is offering a way for locals to grab some essentials—and their next favorite treat. Breezy’s Deli & Market recently opened on the corner of Washington Avenue and 23rd Street, and this fresh concept comes from a familiar face in the Graduate Hospital/Point Breeze area.
Chef Chad Durkin first set his sites on the neighborhood with the opening of Porcos Porchetteria and Small Oven Pastry Shop. And with all three spots calling Washington Ave home, the chef-owner is looking to make his mark on the area in every way he can.
“As Washington Avenue improvements happen and it continues its course as a thriving business district, we aim to be the go-to market that is serving the community and its needs,” says Durkin in a statement. “So, what is Breezy’s? Think: What if a chef opened a Wawa, or a souped-up corner store? We want to offer approachable healthy convenience to the community and highlight local Philly and mid-Atlantic brands and products.”
As Durkin noted, the new space is a one-stop-shop for a lot of different drinks and eats. The menu spans gourmet hoagies, signature recipe smoothies and slushies from the Botrista (aka a high-tech machine made from the minds at Tesla), Greenstreet coffee, grab-and-go offerings, plus local, fresh produce, and a complete grocery inventory.
The chef-owner also noted Breezy’s is intended for neighbors and beyond, so the goal is to maintain a reasonable price point with customer feedback and shopping patterns dictating how shelves are stocked. The store will also put the focus on small-scale food producers, offering them a platform within its space to showcase their products.
As the weather gets warmer, Philadelphians can expect tables and outside seating around the perimeter, and the space will also be available to rent out for parties, dinners, showers, receptions and corporate functions. Down the line, Durkin will also offer private cooking classes at the venue.
Over his career, Durkin has participated in countless competitions on the national and international stages, had his hand in making multiple gourmet celebration cakes, performed educational demonstrations and has taught at premier culinary colleges. This led him to opening both Porcos and Small Oven as neighboring venues in 2019.
Both shops are quite unique: The pastry portion of Small Oven has its own entrance and seating area, while the connected Porcos is literally a window that guests can walk up to, order and enjoy. Durkin wanted to find a way to serve Philadelphians traditional Italian-style whole-roasted pork sandwiches exactly like those he grew up on while visiting Ariccia, a province of Rome.
Porcos offerings range from porchetta sandwiches (which can be enhanced even more with delectable add-ons such as crispy prosciutto strips and a truffle goat cheese spread), ciabatta bread pizzas and other zesty handhelds. Small Oven has gone down a sweeter route with beautiful, bite-sized pastries created daily spanning eclairs, cream puffs, mousse cakes, tarts, galettes, cookie sandwiches and more.
Breezy’s on the other hand embodies the culinary feats of chef’s past and adds in a big community aspect to wrap it all up in a bow. The name “Breezy’s” is an ode to the neighborhood, as well as a regular guest of Porco’s with a similar last name, and to a popular nearby cafe that shuttered its doors in 2016, the release also notes.
Breezy’s will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m and closed on Mondays. For more information and official opening date, visit breezysdeli.com or follow on Instagram @
