Lower North Philadelphia CDC celebrates Juneteenth renames Sharswood Plaza—Webb Plaza

PHILADELPHIA, June 17, 2023—There is a belief that those who live their lives working toward the better good, doing for people, and trying to be true servants of God and the community, will have a good life after death. Another belief is that your work speaks for yourself, and those who are affected, will remember you and your deeds.
This is what happened last Saturday during the Juneteenth celebration at Sharswood Plaza. Sharswood Plaza, located at Ridge and Jefferson, is a pleasant addition to the North Philadelphia community. The plaza was made possible through combined efforts of political and community leadership and PHA. It has a Grocery Outlet Supermarket, owned and operated by Donta Rose, a young man from the community, a Santander Bank, Urgent Care Family Care Center, housing space, and more to come.
The Plaza hosted its first Juneteenth celebration with a day filled with food, fun for youth, and many vendors sharing community resources. In addition to celebrating Juneteenth, the community celebrated the unveiling of the plaza’s new name, Webb Plaza. The naming of Webb Plaza marks a special moment in North Philadelphia history because it is named after someone who was truly a prize to the community–Mr. Cornell Bruce Webb, owner of Webb’s Department Store at 22nd Street and Ridge Avenue.
Webb’s Department Store was a community staple, where most of us got our music and where many artists just came to visit, and also get guidance and support about the music industry from Mr. Webb. Webb was a Philadelphia music, history maker, working with young and old in the music industry and making his mark. Many artists, who came to Philadelphia, stopped to see Mr. Webb and take a photo for the Webb Department Store celebrity wall. Mr. Webb was more than just a business owner on 22nd Street–he was the person who looked out for everybody in the neighborhood, walking up and down Ridge Avenue many-a-night, looking out for other businesses. He was very active in the North Philadelphia community sitting on the board at the King Center, working with seniors, and working with young and old to ensure people had proper care. In addition to his love for community, Mr. Webb was also a part of the ScoopUSA family, attending events and taking photos to help us chronicle our history.
These are just a few of the things that Mr. Webb, or “Webb,” as our founder Sonny Driver called him, did for the community. We are sure he did more good deeds and that many community members have their own personal accounts of what Mr. Webb did for them.
So, renaming this plaza after Mr. Webb was more than a great honor; it was a testament to the community. In speaking with Darnetta Arce of Lower North Philadelphia CDC, we learned that the community was allowed to decide the official name of the plaza. Community members selected Bruce Webb to be the name that represents the plaza and the community at large. This decision to honor Mr. Webb is greater than just a renaming, because it reminds us that people remember those who are good to them, and that they give thanks when they can. It is a prime example of how someone’s work can speak for itself, and that people remember the man from the record store who had not much to give but still gave all of himself.
Many members of Bruce Webb’s family came out to celebrate the renaming and personally thank Arce and the Lower North Philadelphia CDC for recognizing Mr. Webb.
We thank the Sharswood Plaza, Darnetta Arce of Lower North Philadelphia CDC, Grocery Outlet, SHIFT, PHA, Brewerytown CDC, Mosaic, and Santander Bank, for allowing the community to take part in this event, and for recognizing Mr. Webb and his contribution to our community. Mr. Webb was a shining star, and we miss him, but Webb Plaza will allow us to remember Bruce Webb, Webb’s Department Store, and what he meant to us.