Sustaining businesses
in Philadelphia since 1854.

Grant Awards - February 2008 Recipients

The Merchants Fund opened offices in the summer of 2007 in downtown Philadelphia after a twenty-five year hiatus outside the City. The board has outlined an ambitious grant-making program to support small businesses in Philadelphia.

The El Bar ($8,000) 
Website: http://www.theelbar.com/
The El Bar is a mutli-generation family business which was flooded when the adjacent furniture warehouse burned down.  The El Bar has a rising reputation as a music venue and the bar is positioned to feed into the master plan to make lower Girard Avenue a music destination.  

Johnny Manana’s ($20,000 Emergency Grant)
Website: http://www.johnnymananas.com/
Johnny Manana's is a restaurant in East Falls which experienced a massive drop off in business when the water department closed all but one downhill lane on Midvale Avenue. The Manayunk CDC is working on a campaign to re-establish the traffic at the critical juncture of Midvale and Ridge Avenues.  Past traffic assessments have counted 70,000 cars a day pass this vital corridor.

Mr. Peeper’s Optical ($5,000)
This business has been negatively impacted by the Germantown Avenue construction project to replace and upgrade utilities.  The owner is working with the business association to plan a comprehensive marketing concept for the area using state funds which have been allocated.   Funds will be used for web development, new software, and additional inventory to create new business.

Little Duckies Daycare ($5,500 loan match)
Website: http://littleduckiesdaycare.metrodaycare.com/
The initial mortgage was part of a daycare growth initiative at The Reinvestment Fund. The owner is refinancing and extending her loans. 

Brewer’s Outlet ($5,000)
The Brewer's Outlet is a craft beer and general beverage distributor located on Germantown Avenue and has been negatively impacted by the construction project to replace and upgrade utilities.  Mt. Airy USA sponsored the application and worked closely with the merchant to evaluate new options. The grant will be used to build a web site and start a home delivery service which are insightful responses to the construction project on the avenue.   

Hakim’s Book Store ($5,000 inventory $5,000 façade)
Website: http://www.hakimsbookstore.com/
Hakim's Book Store is a second generation bookstore (40 years) specializing in books by and about African Americans.  The current owner (daughter) has refinanced her home to finance the store and she has been negatively impacted by the El reconstruction. The Enterprise CDC strongly supported her application noting that this is keystone business for the growth and revitalization of 52nd Street. The owner regularly receives requests for books she does not have on the shelves so funds to expand her inventory will include popular titles she cannot afford to carry.  She will also upgrade her façade to make it more inviting and increase foot traffic. 

Cassandra’s Creations ($4,000)
Cassandra's Creations, a hair salon, applied for additional security cameras, computer equipment and client management software.  The owner lives on site above the store. The grant was approved in light of the safety concerns for a cash business, her visible commitment to improving her property and the support of the CDC.

Mugshots Manayunk ($10,000)
Website: http://www.mugshotscoffeehouse.com/
Mugshots Manayunk is the second location for this business selling coffee and food and has been in place for 1.5 years.  Manayunk is experiencing an economic lull with many empty stores and more to come.  The restaurants are doing well but retail is not thriving.  The co-owners have take radical steps to change the operations including setting up a local food buying club which now yields more income than the core business. They want to upgrade the web site and purchase the software to maintain it in-house to support the food buying club.  Increased catering will be targeted for local businesses.   Installing a bike rack will allow bikers to linger over meals. The purchase of a large refrigerator for the food buying club will expand capacity. Ads in the local biker magazine and direct mail campaigns will complement all the outlined efforts.  The owners have negotiated a rent break with the landlord and bartered services with the local bike shop.  The owners are working extensively with the Manyayunk CDC to jump start the local economy through events and marketing.  They are members of the local SBN selling fair trade coffee.

Mugshots Fairmount ($10,000)
Website: http://www.mugshotscoffeehouse.com/
Mugshots Fairmount is a thriving café.  The space adjacent to the cafe is available to support an expansion project for more seating, a bigger kitchen and the start up of a food buying club.  A credit line has been approved. Working drawings are proceeding then licenses and construction will start as soon as possible.  The business owners are aggressive and engaged in looking for new ways to do business in the light of a changing market.  This corner business is a major asset in a changing neighborhood and strongly supported by the Fairmount CDC.

Kim’s Wig & Handbag ($10,000)
Kim's Wig & Handbag is located on a retail strip several blocks below Cheltenham Avenue and has been there for over 30 years on a stable commercial corridor.  The owners would like to replace the security grates, repair the roof and replace the front windows and door.

Hinge Café ($10,000)
Website: http://www.hingecafe.com/
Hinge Café is located in Kensington.  The owner opened up expecting to sell coffee and display art.  The café now offers a full lunch and dinner menu in response to the neighborhood demand.  On the side they run a not-for-profit which teaches art to local kids with a homework club and after school program.  They have just started teaching cooking classes.  The neighborhood is changing slowly and they are prepared to remarket their café in response.  They would like to double the size of the main kitchen to segregate cold and hot prep, increase storage and reroute service.  The business has changed quickly to respond to the market in the neighborhood.  The owner, her family and partner all pitch in and have done construction work.

Center City Proprietor’s Association ($5,000)
Website: http://www.centercityproprietors.org/
Center City Proprietor's Association proposed working with corridor managers (Kensington, West Philadelphia, West Girard Avenue, Point Breeze) outside the traditional borders of the city downtown area to identify 20 new members who could benefit from the education programs and networking.  The CCPA matched the grant by discounting the true cost of membership.