| Fabric Row | |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood of Philadelphia | |
 Fabric Row on South 4th Street | |
  Fabric Row | |
| Coordinates: 39°56′26″N 75°08′59″W / 39.9405°N 75.1496°W / 39.9405; -75.1496 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State | Pennsylvania |
| County | Philadelphia County |
| City | Philadelphia |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.01 km (0.004 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 175 |
| • Density | 17,000/km (44,000/sq mi) |
| ZIP Code | 19147 |
| Area code(s) | 215, 267 and 445 |
Fabric Row (Der Ferder, "the fourth", in Yiddish) is a historic Jewish textile and garment district located on South 4th Street in the Queen Village neighborhood of Philadelphia between Bainbridge Street and Catherine Street.
History
Fabric Row had its beginnings when the area was still part of the District of Southwark. Starting in the late 19th century when peddlers were able to purchase licenses for $25. Those who could not afford the $25 fee would rent a cart for $0.25 per day. This business practice allowed some to profit until the 1950s when pushcarts were banned. The area later became a known fabric market where there existed up to 30 fabric retailers between the 1930s until the 1950s at its peak.
In 1996, fabric shop owners on South Fourth Street successfully lobbied the city for official recognition of the "Fabric Row" name.
Preservation efforts
In 2015, the area went through major renovations with many services offered by the organization that manages the South Street Headhouse District. As generations get older and with the lack of succession, many businesses in Fabric Row ceased operations. For example, Marmelstein's had been in business for 96 years before its closure.
There are preservation efforts to retain the "fabric industry" culture on Fabric Row even though the textile market in Fabric Row still remains strong to this day. However, many businesses face uncertainty when the older generations pass and the younger generations leave.
Demographics
In 2016, Fabric Row, a neighborhood statistic which also includes 3rd and 4th Streets, had a population of 175 in an area of 0.004 square miles, giving a population density of 40,972 per square mile. The median household income is $93,750. The area consists of 96 males and 79 females. The median age is 31.6 for males and 34.8 for females. Since the year 2000, the area has experienced a growth of 7%.
See also
- Southwark, Philadelphia, the former district inside which the neighborhood resides in.
- South Street Headhouse District, the current neighborhood that this neighborhood is associated with
References
- ^ "3rd St Fabric Row neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (PA), 19147 detailed profile". City-Data.com. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- Historical Society of Pennsylvania. "Fabric Row". PhilaPlace. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- Palmer, Michele Winitsky. "The Fabric of Our Lives: A History of Philadelphia's South Fourth Street". The Fabric Museum. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- "Fabric Row: The place for fabric in Philly". Visit Philadelphia. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- "The District of Southwark". Southwark on Reed. August 11, 2016. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved February 4, 2018.
- ^ Stigale, Theresa (June 3, 2016). "The Generations Collide On Fabric Row". Hidden City Philadelphia. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- Moqtaderi, Heather Gibson; Moqtaderi, Mehron (2014). "The Jewish Quarter Markets". Images of America: Philadelphia's Old Southwark District. Arcadia Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 9781467121781.
- D'Amelio, Danielle (2018). "Fabric Row". The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
- Gelb, Matt (November 19, 2015). "After three generations, Marmelstein's closing on Fabric Row". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- Leonard, Lauren (March 2015). "The Future of Historic Fabric Row". QVNA Magazine. pp. 10–11. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
- "South Philadelphia: A History in Fabric". Philadelphia Neighborhoods. June 29, 2010. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- Wittchen, Samantha (June 30, 2015). "Sew and Tell: Fabric Row is Philly's Next Hot Street". Flying Kite. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
- "3rd St Fabric Row Philadelphia, PA". Weichert Realtors. Retrieved February 4, 2018.