Wander through the front entrance of the recently-opened, two-story
Jonathan Adler emporium at 33 N. 3rd Street in Philadelphia's Old City district, and what you'll find--amongst the quirky pottery and the furniture and housewares, which have something of an upscale
Urban Outfitters vibe about them, and which Adler himself likes to refer to as 'happy chic'--is essentially a bricks-and-mortar metaphor for the current economic state of the city.
Adler's entree to the Old City retail scene, was, after all, seen as something of a surprise--albeit a very pleasant one--to the cadre of local bloggers and journalists who covered it. A
Philadelphia Inquirer article by Flying Kite contributor
Caroline Tiger, for instance, mentioned that a number of "home-and-design stores in Philadelphia [went] belly-up in 2010," including the store that previously occupied the space where Jonathan Adler now sits,
Foster's Urban Homeware.
But thanks to the season he spent as a judge the Bravo's reality TV show
Top Design, Adler--who still considers himself more of a potter than a retailer--occupies a slightly more rarefied public space than the boutique owners who were forced to close their doors last year. His celebrity status, in fact, may very well play an important role in keeping his Old City boutique in the black while the economic strength of the city, hopefully, continues to creep ever upward.
"We have long been interested in having a presence in Philadelphia, and were thrilled to find a fabulous space in Old Town," says company spokesperson
Starrett Zenko. "We are thrilled to be there!"
And Philadelphia, quite clearly, is just as thrilled. Here's to hoping we all feel the same way this time next year.
Source: Starrett Zenko, Jonathan Adler
Writer: Dan Eldridge
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