Imagine having over thirteen hundred businesses to be concerned about and cheerlead for when more than 85% of them were forced to shut down for months. It’s a tough job to do, but business owners and community and civic leaders alike agree that Shalimar Thomas is the right one for the job. At a time when medical institutions and educational institutions have a stronger presence than ever along North Broad Street, small business owners are also making a positive impact on the North Broad Street business corridor.
The North Broad Renaissance (NBR) is a non-profit that serves as a Special Service District (SSD). The primary role is to provide communication and information to city administrators and Council, neighborhood and community groups, and others who are (or may) do business or development or other activities on North Broad, from City Hall to Germantown Avenue. In partnership with community stakeholders, the staff of NBR is always looking to revitalize the community, create opportunity, and improve the economic power and overall quality of life along with one of Philadelphia’s most prominent corridors – North Broad Street. Top priorities include clean and safe corridors, maintenance and landscaping, marketing and communications, and economic development.
The ultimate goal of the North Broad Street Business Corridor is community revitalization.
Shalimar Blakeley, Executive Director of The North Broad Renaissance stated, “Our business owners on North Broad Street have done a good job of figuring things out since the pandemic hit and some of them have a done a very good job at it. We were there to help from the beginning in making sure that when they got notifications about reopening, they also understood they needed X, Y, and Z to do it successfully. Some of the things that business owners now need inside their establishments to help keep their staff and customers safe weren’t on their budget sheets prior to the pandemic. I understood that organizations like mine had to step in and help with this. We had to make sure our business owners had the PPE that they needed, the social distancing markers for the floor, mask requirement signs, and hand sanitizer.”
Initially, North Broad Renaissance was the only group handing out needed items along a business corridor for small business owners. But what they were offering on North Broad Street made so much sense that Blakeley shared, “Leaders from the city of Philadelphia Commerce Department saw what we were doing, and they asked us if they could duplicate what we were doing, citywide. We said, of course. Ultimately our idea became a citywide initiative to get that PPE to businesses who were struggling to get it so that they could open safely. When I walk or drive down North Broad, I can tell you that business owners who have reached out for resources and advice, they’re the ones who are really doing well right now, and it’s great to see it. We want to help everyone that we possibly can.”
“So many of our businesses are sole proprietors, and they’re trying to do everything. Understanding that, we got a special [pocket of funding where we were able to fund four businesses. For one month, we gave them on loan a marketing professional to assist them in getting the word out about what they do. Thanks to Truist Foundation, the bank that actually helped fund that. We helped those four businesses put together promo videos. We got their advertisements in the SCOOP USA Newspaper, on WURD, and in the Philadelphia Sunday Sun Newspaper. They also had access to digital printing services, so they could create online content if they wanted to. We want to grow this concept and even add accounting on the next round.”
Harry Hayman, Manager of South Restaurant, owned by the Bynum Brothers at 600 North Broad Street commented, “Like most restaurants, we closed when we had to, for in-house dining. We switched to a to-go-only option. So, we were still able to satisfy our customers. Obviously, we weren’t able to offer live music like we normally would, inside the restaurant, so customers were missing that special brand of entertainment that they’re used to us offering for a bit of time. Fortunately, at this time, we’re back to full capacity in terms of our operation. We have the jazz shows again and in-house dining, for as long as we’re able to do that, remains to be seen. We did focus our attention on helping others while we had extra time on our hands during the height of the pandemic. We were reaching out to the less fortunate, which is what the Bynum Brothers do.”
Hayman says through the Bynum Brothers’ commitment and the work of their restaurant staff, they were able to give away twenty-five thousand meals during the course of the pandemic for folks less fortunate. Hayman closed by stating,” One hundred percent, we can feel the kinetic energy on North Broad Street, despite the health crisis. You see it and feel it every day with new construction projects still underway and everything else positive that’s happening. We opened Warm Daddy’s in 1995 in Olde City Philadelphia, and what’s happening right now along North Broad Street reminds me of what was happening back then.”
There are approximately 1,300 businesses providing more than 29,000 jobs in the North Broad area. The majority, more than 70% of the jobs offered, are in the health care and social assistance and education services sectors, generally characterized as high-skill, high-wage jobs. The largest employers on North Broad Street are Shriners Hospital for Children of Philadelphia, Temple University Hospital, Temple University, and Hahnemann University Hospital. Overall, North Broad area residents and commuters have great access to the city’s major job centers such as Center City, University City, and the Navy yard. In addition, North Broad Renaissance is focused on expanding existing access to additional employment opportunities in the professional services, health care, technology, and arts and culture sector, along with and adjacent to North Broad Street.
“If you are a property owner, local developer, or business owner interested in acquiring a building or rehabbing a property, please reach out to the North Broad Renaissance, so we can help you connect with the individuals who can help you with identifying possible funds, if you qualify, for projects on North Broad Street.” Shalimar Blakeley added, “Our phone number is 267-318-7772. We’re located at 440 N. Broad Street on the 3rd-Floor Portal G. I suggest people call before you come in for health safety purposes.”
The North Broad Business Corridor covers about four miles and runs from the Northside of City Hall, down to Broad and Butler Street.
