Located in the heart of Philadelphia is one of America’s oldest public markets, Reading Terminal Market. Whether you’re looking for fresh produce, dinner with a friend or even handcrafted jewelry, the market is the place to go.
It’s the diversity of the market that makes Reading Terminal unique. Annie Allman, the market’s CEO and general manager, sees the market as a special space for the public to feel comfortable because of its diversity and its inclusivity.
“You get to meet so many people [in the market],” said Nina Bryan, owner of Sweet Nina’s, a shop that specializes in banana pudding. “The vendors themselves are all di- verse, from different backgrounds, different foods and different things that just make it a great experience.”
Sweet Nina’s has been in the market for four years, and Bryan continues to delight guests with her mother’s banana pudding recipe, named Best of Philly in 2019. Bryan makes the puddings as a tribute to her mother who helped her start the business. Reading Terminal is home to more than 80 merchants and their small, privately-owned businesses.
Each vendor brings something unique to the market but these businesses took some of the hardest hits during the coronavirus pandemic.
“[One of] the lasting effects of the pandemic right now is the staffing issue,” Allman said. “You don’t have the steady workers that you could count on, and I think that has been a challenge.”
One vendor that felt this effect was Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialties, which has been open for over 35 years. The restaurant
is run by three brothers, Adham, Anwar and Hesham Albarouki, who are the second generation of owners.
“We didn’t let anyone go, but we had no work for anybody,” Adham Albarouki said. “They [would] come in here, there’s nothing to do, there’s nothing to prep and we couldn’t afford to pay them. We had no staff for about four to six months. That time was a very big struggle.”
It is still a struggle to find and hire employees, but the family is determined to get through it.
“We’re just keeping our heads above the water,” Adham Albarouki said. “As long as we can breathe, we’re still alive [and] just
keep fighting through this.”
While the pandemic has been tough on established vendors, Allman has noticed a rise in entrepreneurship. Many aspiring merchants have sought out a place in Reading Terminal.
One of those merchants is Kathy Mirano, owner of Tambayan, which opened in July. Tambayan is a traditional Filipino restaurant and bakery that uses authentic flavors and ingredients.
Having worked as a server in the market for over 21 years, Mirano’s hours were cut back during the height of the pandemic, which led her to sell her baked goods to continue supporting her family.
A blessing in disguise, this cutback allowed Mirano to explore her own passions in the kitchen, leading to the creation of
Tambayan.
“I am so proud,” Mirano said. “Even though I grew up poor, I dreamed of something that people will love. I love what I’m doing.”
Not only is the market known for its variety of food options such as Tambayan and Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialties, there is also a diverse offering of goods. Specializing in handcrafted jewelry, Charita Powell, owner of Amazulu, has been in the market for over 27 years. Powell sells jewelry and clothing that she designs herself and works with a group of women in Indonesia to produce her apparel.
“I was self-taught, and then started perfecting my craft,” Powell said. “As a result of being in Reading Terminal, my designs have gone all over the world. This is a central location in Philadelphia, so I’m honored to say that my designs are everywhere.”
The diverse array of products and passionate vendors make Reading Terminal Market not only a tourist destination and a fun spot for good food, but “a city within a city,” as described by Adham Albarouki. “Where else would you want to go in Philadelphia?” Bryan said. “Reading Terminal is where you want to be.”
Allison Kite ’22 contributed to this reporting.
