Those who live in Philadelphia know just how special the city is with amazing culinary destinations, a unique blend of history and modern touches, a passionate sports community and of course, plenty of incredible artistic feats. But what the City of Brotherly Love was missing (if anything) was a sublime shopping destination, one that would allow outsiders to flock to the city simply for the fashion and leisure opportunities in one accessible place. That missing component has been filled with the opening of the brand new Philadelphia Fashion District.
Everything you need to know about the new Philadelphia Fashion District
Today marks the official opening of the new shopping mecca, and aside from notable fashion, food and entertainment brands now calling the venue home, there is so much more that the Fashion District has to offer for all Philadelphians and beyond.
“Philly is definitely a great city, and I see Fashion District as really elevating and redefining the way Philadelphians will shop and dine in our city,” says Erika Joy Erb, Director of Marketing for Fashion District. “Fashion District will be combining food, film, fashion and fun as part of the city and it will be extremely convenient and accessible for everybody. No matter what you’re looking to do, whether it’s catching a movie, going on a date night or just grabbing a cocktail after work —you now can do it all at the heart of the city.”
The new Fashion District is set to be every Philadelphian’s one-stop for all shopping needs (which will certainly come in handy come holiday season). Notable store brands include American Eagle, Burlington, DSW, Francesca’s, H&M, Levi’s, Pandora, Skechers, Ulta, Zumiez, GameStop and much, much more.
“From the shopping side, we have an interesting mix where there are some flagship brands, off-price brands and outlet shopping, so that it really offers something for everybody,” says Joy Erb.
Along with the notable variety of retailers stationed in the new venue comes Marketplace Eats which features plenty of food options for not only hungry shoppers, but also those commuting in and out of Jefferson Station, since the eateries will be connected to both. Guests can munch on Chick-fil-A, Oath Pizza, Freshii, Pei Wei, Chickies and Petes and more while perusing the new food court. The Fashion District will also be home to plenty of other delicious destinations including Tiffany’s Bakery (the only original vendor left from The Gallery venue), Philly Pretzel Factory, Big Gay Ice Cream and City Winery, which also happens to be the establishment’s seventh location in the country.
“I think what sets Fashion District apart, is its location. The fact that it’s so accessible and convenient— it’s connected to Jefferson Station and only a stone’s throw away from Reading Terminal Market and the Liberty Bell— we really are located in the heart of Philadelphia. By not just making this a traditional mall and by elevating the experiences, we’re really positioning ourselves to be a destination,” says Joy Erb.
The new Fashion District is certainly not a traditional mall. Preit wanted to make this new ‘Philly Icon’ truly unique, and they did so by adding plenty of entertainment and one-of-a-kind art aspects to the venue. Guests can check out Round 1 (think bowling, billiards, karaoke and more), AMC Theaters (dining and reclining while watching the best new movie selections), Candytopia (for more info see pgs. 18-19), REC Philly (a new co-working space for innovators and creators) and Wonderspaces (an interactive art experience with rotating exhibits).
Throughout the new venue, visitors will also get a taste of incredible local talent just by perusing around. The Fashion District teamed up with local artists including Conrad Brenner ( curator and founder of Philly street art blog StreetsDept.com), Nero One and Uniquely Philly to integrate local art, retail and more into the layout of the destination.
Additional amenities include built-in selfie backdrops, full-service concierge, digital directories and more.
The official opening for Fashion District kicks off Sept. 19 at 12 pm, but the opening weekend will also feature plenty of incredible activities to celebrate the launch of this new shopping mecca. Guests can check out live fashion shows, guided art crawls, tastings, tailgates and more— check out the official website for a full list of events.
“I really see that the Fashion District has the potential to become a gathering place for everybody and really something that gets built into your everyday life—it’s very exciting for the city,” adds Joy Erb.
To learn more about the Fashion District (9th and Market) visit fashiondistrictphiladelphia.com
