Although Red October has come to a halt for the Phillies, the love for Fishtown’s newest mural remains.
“We still love those guys and their spirit,” said Brandon Neiburg, manager of Garage Fishtown, where the new mural was painted. “There’s been no talk of changing anything. We live with the ups and downs. That’s what being a Philadelphia sports fan is about.”
Garage in Fishtown shared extra Philly spirit during Red October with a Phillies dedicated mural. Painted by local artist, Jimmy McMenamin, aka Glossblack, the roughly 15’ x 35’ mural of Alec Bohm, Brandon Marsh and Bryson Stott, aka ‘Daycare’ was finished right before the NLDS series began.
McMenamin also painted the Matisse Thybulle mural in 2021 on behalf of Red Bull & Sixers. Once he was traded, Thybulle took a video thanking the city before the mural was painted over, per request of the Sixers.
“Ever since then, we were thinking if we wanted to do it again, how would we do it?” said Neiburg.
Neiburg reached out to John Brazer, Phillies Director of Fun and Games, pitching the idea of a Phillies themed mural with Jimmy McMenamin from Glossblack. From the beginning of May to the end of September, Garage, Phillies and McMemanin worked collaboratively on the installation. This was McMenamin’s and Garage’s first time working with the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Working with the Phillies for the past couple of months, you feel like you’re a part of the team in a very small way,” Neiburg states.
Sketching and design process only took a couple days whereas the mural install was a total of 14 hours, according to McMenamin.
On Oct 4, an official unveiling was hosted at the restaurant in Fishtown.
“It’s really cool to get to be a part of the excitement,” said McMenamin. “I view the service I provide simply as me striving to authentically be myself, providing myself in service to a client, company, or individual.
Special appearances were made by the Phillie Phanatic, Phillies broadcasters Ruben Amaro Jr., Scott Franzke, Tom McCarthy, Gregg Murphy, 2008 World Series coach Milt Thompson, Phillies executives, ballgirls and Alec Bohm’s parents. A portion of the proceeds from the event was donated to the Alec Bohm Foundation.
“The reaction has been great, so many people have taken pictures and I think it’s good for the neighborhood to have a positive portrait,” Neiburg states. “Those three players, they’re fun-spirited and you want to try to identify with them because they’re carefree.”
Christina Lorino, graphic designer and founder of @philliesdaycare on Instagram, describes her feelings toward the mural.
“The paint splatter texture of the painting captures the grittiness of the city, and the three Daycare members capture the brotherly love aspect of the city,” said Christina Lorino, @philliesdaycare on Instagram.
With the mural’s painting finalized two days after the Phillies clinched the NL East for the first time in 2011, Lorino believes that the team is alive and thriving with young talent for generations to come.
“With their team chemistry (as displayed by the daycare mural) and their manifestation of the fundamental Philadelphia virtue, brotherly love, will now be recognized and talked about for years to come through this mural,” said Lorino.
Fans can still find the mural outside of Garage Bar at the intersection of Frankford and East Girard avenues.
