Here’s a chin-scratcher for you: What’s the best way to cater to a white, monocultured tourist demographic that wants to shop in Philadelphia, but also in all of the exact same stores and environments as they do at home? It’s a question that was danced around yesterday at a forum on ‚ÄúThe Future of Center City.‚Äù Not many answers here, folks, other than 1) apparently Walnut Street, Old City and South Street are seemingly just too far for these fat fuck fannypackers to walk (as all are viable, energetic retail districts) and 2) THE GALLERY is BLACK and SCARY!
The quotes:

“People want retail shopping,” said Peter Iacovoni, special projects manager for the city Commerce Department. “And that’s not downtown.”

Um, OK.

The stretch of Market Street from City Hall to Independence Mall took the most hits during yesterday’s forum, with its underground shopping mall, The Gallery, identified as the most problematic retail center in Center City.

Well, part of that, um, very problematic problem might be that the Gallery also has three more floors that are above ground, and hence, not underground.

[...]the Gallery and its surrounding low-end stores don’t exactly welcome visitors, Central Philadelphia Development Corp. Executive Director Paul Levy said.
“What you see is not exactly welcoming into Center City,” Levy told the audience.

Not welcoming. Got it. Now all of you: Get the fuck out of my office. And don’t come back until you’re prepared to talk about race, the Disney hole and attracting businesses like grownups.
Metro: Fear Of A Black Hat
Wikipedia: The Gallery At Market East

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 13th, 2006 at 1:08 pm.