With multiple local train stops, boutiques, restaurants and entertainment all
within walking distance, Manayunk seems to have everything a walk-happy
city resident could want. So why does it seem everyone in this Northwest
Philadelphia nightlife destination drives? Turns out, the neighborhood
was missing one important necessity: a nearby grocery store. This week
marked the opening of
Main Street Market, a full-service corner grocery
providing 'Yunkers access to local coffee, meats and cheeses, and more
upscale products than you are likely to find at your average city
bodega. Owner Rob Nydick says his inventory walks a fine line.
"We realize there is a very wide demographic in
Manayunk, from young professionals to people who have been living there
their entire lives so we didn't want to alienate or exclude any of those
demographics," says Nydick. "We do have some higher end stuff, imported
products, some higher end cheeses. But we also have groceries and staple
items. We didn't want to pigeonhole ourselves as being a gourmet shop
or a quick stop, we wanted to be as well-rounded as possible."
Nydick and business partner Richard Rivera are no stranger to food sales in
Manayunk. The pair own Belvedere Restaurant Group, the company
responsible for
Terrace Tap Room,
Agiato and Agiato Bread Company, all
in the Manayunk area. Like many Manayunk properties, the building at
4345 Main Street used to be a retail store. Now, the L-shaped space
utilizes two entrances and bifurcates the deli counter from the dry
goods, creating an easy flow for foot traffic.
"The building allows
us to have entrances on two streets, which gives us great visibility,"
says Nydick. "There aren't many buildings on Main Street that are that
size and that shape so it was a really good fit for us."
Source: Rob Nydick, Main Street Market
Writer: John Steele