The Italian Market in Philadelphia is a Unique Cultural Experience

The Italian Market is the name given to an approximately six block stretch of 9th Street in South Philadelphia, from Fitzwater to Wharton Streets. A traditional outdoor curb market, the Italian Market - often referred to by locals simply as "9th Street'' - has long been the site of curbside produce stands and small privately-owned markets that occupy the first floor of many traditional Philadelphia row homes.

The history of the Italian Market dates back to the late 19th and early 20th century when the area known as South Philadelphia - which was outside city limits - became a mecca for Italian immigrants. Most arrived in the 1880s and settled at the boardinghouse of Antonio Palumbo, later earning enough money to buy their own homes and open their own retail establishments. Most offered items that would make the new immigrants feel at home, such as homemade pastas and meats, vegetables, and fruit that traditionally accompanied Italian meals. Many of today's vendors are from families that have owned their shops since the early days of the market.

Most of what visitors will find at the Italian Market today isn't much different than what could be found there 100 years ago. Proprietors still make fresh pasta on site. Others make homemade Italian sausage or crusty Italian bread and rolls. Some stores sell dozens of varieties of cheeses while others offer traditional Italian baked goods, such as cannoli, biscotti, tiramisu, and much more. Throughout the year, many of the stores peddle their produce or other items outside on tables perched beneath colorful awnings. Large barrels filled with blazing fires keep patrons warm while they shop outdoors during the cold winter months.

Many of the shop owners continue to live above their stores, much as they have since the inception of the Italian Market in Philadelphia but some travel into the city each day from the suburbs to tend their stores.

In recent years, as the area around the market became more gentrified, restaurants and small bistro-style eateries have popped up throughout the neighborhood, offering sumptuous cuisine with outdoor seating during the warmer months.

The ethnic make-up of the neighborhood surrounding the Italian Market, commonly known as Bella Vista, has changed a lot in the last 10-20 years. Today, new immigrants have taken up residence in the area and many of them have opened stores as well. It is not uncommon to see Mexican, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese businesses interspersed with the Italian-oriented shops. The Mexican shops are especially prevalent and most are tended my Latino immigrants, many of whom have recently arrived in the city.

The Italian Market attracts visitors from far and wide. Many suburbanites or former city residents travel to South Philadelphia from around the Greater Delaware Valley area specifically to shop at the Italian Market. The market also plays host each year to the Italian Market Festival, an event that also brings visitors from all over the city and beyond. At the festival, guests can enjoy not only excellent Italian specialties but also ethnic music, dance, and other arts-related performances.