🍕 Angelo's vs. the neighbors 😋 Flavors on the Avenue this weekend

Happy Thursday, South Philly.

It’s Flavors on the Avenue this Sunday on East Passyunk Avenue! Will we see you there?

In this week’s Scoop …

• Neighbors are fed up with the crowds at Angelo’s. Do they need to just suck it up, or do things need to change at 9th and Fitzwater?

• A real estate project we thought would never be finished is finally on the market.

• A long-standing smoking bar has met its last match.

• News on several new restaurants coming to South Philly.

• A building will soon crumble at Broad and Snyder.

🍕 Angelo’s vs. the neighborhood

A few dozen Bella Vista residents were in attendance at a community meeting on Wednesday night, voicing their opinions about the constant mess that is the intersection of 9th and Fitzwater Streets.

Of course, that is all thanks to the booming success of Angelo’s Pizzeria, which has clogged the mostly-residential block with large gaggles of patrons, pizza boxes, delivery trucks, trash-leavers, and stoop-sitters.

According to some neighbors who spoke with the Inquirer this week, patrons have been seen peeing on side streets and just generally acting disrespectful toward the neighborhood. It’s no shock that most of these people are tourists.

Comments in Facebook groups and elsewhere are largely taking sides — you’re either pro-business and support Angelo’s, or you’re a NIMBY who should just pack up and move to the burbs.

Our (not-so-hot) take? The reality lies somewhere in the middle.

You can love Angelo’s food and think its business is an overall benefit to the neighborhood, and also realize that the situation has become untenable. I know I’m not alone in thinking “I’m glad I don’t live on this block” every time I walk past the crowd on that corner.

I also recognize that the halo effect and foot traffic Angelo’s brings to Bella Vista is overall a good thing. Those people patronize the rest of the neighborhood when they’re here, too.

But I also cannot think of another food business that basically uses the surrounding neighborhood as its dining room — stoops, the rec center, car hoods (often illegally parked), etc. If your corner bar had people sitting all over the block drinking all day, you’d find that a nuisance too. It’s understandable.

Attorneys for Angelo’s admitted the need to respond to community concerns at the community meeting on Wednesday, telling Channel 6 that owner Danny DiGiampietro hears the chorus.

“When you are invested in a community and a community that's helped to make him successful, you want to give back. You want to be respectful and you want to be responsive. That's who [Danny] is."

So, okay then … ideas? A few that come to mind for us:

Indoor seating is an option in the second floor of the building, but apparently that would require a zoning variance. Outside of that, establishing a streetery would go a long way toward containing the crowd. Or perhaps maybe they work with the city to set up seating in the Palumbo Rec Center park across the street?

One voice that’s been silent in all of this is DiGiampietro himself — per social media, it looks like he’s in Italy at the moment. But given how active he is on Angelo’s Instagram account, it’d be nice to hear his ideas for “giving back” to the “community that’s helped to make him successful” — and not just his attorneys.

What are your thought on this entire Angelo’s situation? Reply with your comments, and we’ll share some in next week’s newsletter.

💬 ‘A resounding success’

In last week’s Scoop, we broke down the continuing transformation of Washington Avenue, as the city looks to make the corridor less car-centric and more friendly for pedestrians and bikers.

We asked for your feedback, and Terry wrote in to show support for the project, which, as wrote last week, will soon expand down to Columbus Boulevard.

Reminder: just reply to the newsletter in your inbox with your thoughts on any of our topics each week, and we’ll feature the best ones!

🍨 More scoop …

🚭 Lighting the last match: Grumpy’s Tavern hung a giant sign behind the bar this past weekend announcing that no smoking will be allowed in the 9th Street dive beginning today, April 24. The end of an era indeed — these smoke-filled bars are disappearing one-by-one. By our count, only Bonnie’s Capistrano Bar and the upstairs at Dive Bar remain in South Philly.

🎡 Carnival ends this weekend: The SEYAA Easter Carnival down on the ball fields at 7th and Packer ends this Sunday. Admission is $3 and there are $30 all-you-can-ride wristbands available. Stop by with the kids!

🏗️ What’s coming at Broad and Snyder? This week, a notice of demolition went up on the old McDonald’s building at Broad and Snyder, saying that work will begin on or after May 2. Per demo permits issued back in February, the plan for now is simply to knock down the building to create a vacant lot — but hopefully this means something will ultimately be built here.

On the flip side, the vacant building has seen L&I violations pile up over the last five years, so it’s possible they’re just knocking it down so they don’t have to deal with it anymore. We really hope that’s not the case. This intersection needs new life, as it’s basically an open air drug market right now. A giant vacant lot at this site will just make this corner even worse.

🪓 Axe-wielding burglar hits East Passyunk restaurant: Late Saturday night, Ember & Ash was burglarized by someone who busted the door with an axe and stole some items from the restaurant. “We’re upset and shaken but grateful nobody was hurt,” they posted on their IG story.

🎤 Comedy club on Broad? It’s pretty annoying that you need to leave South Philly to get to truly experience the city’s great comedy scene. But that could change if the zoning board allows a comedy club to go in the old Circle Thrift location, in the basement at 1123 South Broad. The OCF Realty blog has a lot more detail on the plans, which will hopefully be approved in July.

🗓️ This week’s South Philly events calendar

We can’t possibly find all of the cool events in South Philly on our own. Please send your submissions each week to [email protected] or DM us on IG at @south.philly.scoop.

Friday, April 25

Gravestone and Historic Marker Community Day 🪦
Help erase years of wear on gravestones and historic markers.
⏱️ 1 p.m.
📍 Historic Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Church, 916 South Swanson

PSCA Art Auction 🎨
A neighborhood art showcase and auction from the Passyunk Square Civic Association.
⏱️ 6 to 9 p.m.
📍 St. Maron’s, 1013 Ellsworth

I Belonged To The Blank Generation 🎥
Philly’s punk and new wave scene, on screen.
⏱️ 7 p.m.
📍 Bok Auditorium, 9th and Mifflin

80s PROM Party 🕺
Wear your 80s best and dance the night away.
⏱️ 7:45 to 11 p.m.
🎟️ BYOB, $20 for non-members
📍 Society Hill Dance Academy, 1919 East Passyunk

The SINSation 🎭
An improvised reality TV show starring the seven deadly sins.
⏱️ 7 p.m.
🎟️ $20
📍 Sawubona Creativity Project, 1626 East Passyunk

Saturday, April 26

Sandy Sprint 5K 🏃‍♂️
The Sandy Rollman Ovarian Cancer Foundation raises money.
⏱️ 7 a.m.
🎟️ $45 for adults
📍 The Navy Yard Marine Parade Grounds

Earth Day @ Gold Star Park 🌍
A clothing swap and other Earth-themed activities.
⏱️ 10 a.m. to noon
📍 Gold Star Park, Wharton between 6th and 7th

National Pretzel Day at Mifflin Square Park 🥨
Folks from South Philadelphia Community Fridge will be handing out free soft pretzels in the park.
⏱️ Starts at 2:30 p.m.
📍 Mifflin Square Park, 5th/6th and Wolf/Ritner

Blue Note: A Jazz Concert 🎶
The 2025 performance season kicks off with “an afternoon of rare jazz pieces vocally and instrumentally that haven’t often had the spotlight.”
⏱️ 3 p.m.
🎟️ $30
📍 The Settlement Music School Building Theater, 416 Queen

Monster Jam 🛻
Monster trucks take over the home of the Eagles.
⏱️ 5 p.m.
🎟️ Start at $20
📍 Lincoln Financial Field

Settlement Music School 117th Anniversary Gala 🎼
“An amazing night of friendship, music and connection with like-minded peers who value the arts.”
⏱️ 6:30 p.m.
🎟️ Starts at $250
📍 2300 Arena, 2300 South Swanson

Sunday, April 27

Spring Cleaning Art Sale 🖼️
Cleaning out old art at the Magic Gardens’ studio on Watkins Street. Members of the Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens get first dibs beginning at 10 a.m.
⏱️ 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
📍 Magic Gardens Studio, 1002 Watkins

Flavors On The Avenue 2025 🎉
It’s the 15th year of the East Passyunk food-focused festival.
⏱️ 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
📍 East Passyunk Avenue, from Broad to Dickinson

Flower Pounding Workshop 🌸
Create a one-of-a-kind tote bag at this Bok Building Sunday craft and sip workshop.
⏱️ 1 to 3 p.m.
🎟️ $60
📍 Tuft The World, Bok Building, 9th and Mifflin

For Pete’s Sake Stride For Respite 🚶‍♂️
A charity walk around the ballpark concourses and bases all to support families facing cancer.
⏱️ 3 p.m.
🎟️ $10 to register as an individual
📍 Citizens Bank Park

Rooftop Salsa @ Bok 💃
The fourth year of rooftop dancing debuts at Bok.
⏱️ Starts at 3, goes til 8
📍 Bok Bar, 9th and Mifflin

Scribes on South: Poetry Open Mic 🎤
A monthly open mic night with featured reader Nycir Keen.
⏱️ 7 p.m.
🎟️ Free, no cover
📍 Tattooed Mom, 530 South

Tuesday, April 29

Phillies vs. Washington Nationals ⚾️
⏱️ 6:45 p.m. 📍Citizens Bank Park

Wednesday, April 30

Kitten Foster Orientation at PAWS 🐾
Ready to help a kitty in need? Learn all you need to know and meet some furry friends in the process.
⏱️ 6 to 7 p.m.
🎟️ Free, but RSVP at link
📍 PAWS, 2900 Grays Ferry

Book Proposal Workshop 📚
Two book editors discuss what makes a solid non-fiction book proposal, for those of you thinking of pushing that idea over the finish line.
⏱️ 6:30 to 8 p.m.
🎟️ Free, but donations encouraged
📍 A Novel Idea, 1726 East Passyunk

Phillies vs. Washington Nationals ⚾️
⏱️ 6:45 p.m. 📍Citizens Bank Park

Duki World Tour 🎤
Latin trap from Argentina comes to South Street.
⏱️ 8 p.m.
🎟️ $81.50
📍 TLA, 334 South

Openings and closings

If you’re opening a new business and would like to be included in this part of the newsletter, shoot us a quick note at [email protected].

🍕 Pizza renaissance on Oregon Ave: First, it was Angelina’s Pizza down at 7th and Oregon, debuting back in March. Now we have another new pie shop — DiVicinato’s Pizza, which officially opened at 19th and Oregon. They’re in the old Rita’s Water Ice spot, next to the CVS. They’re dishing out square seeded-bottom pizzas in addition to more traditional round pies.

👨‍🍳 C.M. Neff Cooking Supply moves: You may have noticed the new storefront for C.M. Neff on East Passyunk between Tasker and Morris, next to The Bottle Shop. They’re moving to the busier corridor from their old location at 13th and McKean. Should definitely help with foot traffic into the shop!

🍝 New Queen Village Italian: A new BYOB Italian spot has opened in Queen Village — Casa Nostra, at 775 South Front Street. They’re in the building that previously housed Catahoula, which closed during the pandemic. We can’t attest to the food just yet, but the vibes look great on their outdoor patio.

🍜 Southeast Asian on Passyunk: The former Ocho Rios Parilla will get new life in the coming months when Sao, a Southeast Asian crudo and oyster bar, opens at 1710 East Passyunk. It’s from the James Beard-nominated team behind Mawn in the Italian Market. We’ve known this was coming for a bit, but it seems a lot closer now with Mawn teasing the new spot on Instagram this week.

🏠 It’s finally done!?

A recurring South Philly Scoop feature — bringing you an interesting or notable real estate listing from around the neighborhood.

I seriously thought this project would never be done, but here it is — listed on Zillow in all its glory. The two homes at the corner of 12th and Tasker have been under construction FOR NINE YEARS, and one of them — 1143 Tasker — finally hit the market earlier this week at a whopping $949,999.

The four-bedroom, five (!) bathroom house looks beautiful on the inside, with a dreamy kitchen, a well-appointed master suite, and a killer roof deck. We’re sure its now only a matter of time before the neighboring house on the corner, at 1145 Tasker, comes online too.

Now we wait and see if somebody is brave enough to drop a million bucks on a house that sat exposed to the elements for the better part of a decade.

For fun, here are a few photos from Google Street View over the years of this corner.

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See youse next Thursday.