PHILADELPHIA – Really Reel Ginger, a ginger-based food and beverage business, is expanding its presence at Reading Terminal Market and becoming a full-time merchant. The operation has been a longtime participant in the Market’s Day Cart Program, which started in 2017 as an incubator for micro-businesses and will now occupy a space three times the size of the historic market cart from which it has been serving customers since 2017.
Owners Iliyaas and Hadia Muhammad sell products inspired by Hadia’s roots in Mali, West Africa. Over the years, Really Reel Ginger has become a staple in the Market, serving customers with ginger-based beverages, candies, and their signature crumble. In its new space, the business will expand to sell a whole line of skincare, including ginger facial oil, body butter, soap, shampoo, and condition. Additionally, Really Reel’s expanded selection will offer ginger shots, new ginger-based snacks, a small selection of produce, and kitchen tools like ginger graters.
“We want to be the ginger go-to for the city of Philadelphia. Our presence at Reading Terminal Market has allowed our customer base to grow and it has been a pleasure educating locals and visitors on the benefits of ginger over the past five years,” said Iliyaas Muhammad, co-owner, Really Reel Ginger. “Becoming a full-time merchant and expanding into this new physical space will allow us to provide the community with even more exciting food, beverage, and skincare. My wife and I pride ourselves on innovating high-quality products that put a twist on items found in the old country and look forward to exploring more options for our customers.”
In 2017, Really Reel Ginger came to the Market as a Day Cart operating two days a week. The team quickly expanded to operating seven days a week and has ever since. Really Reel Ginger’s core product, fresh-pressed juices, are available with or without sugar and contain a variety of ingredients that are said to be beneficial for heart and gut health, including hibiscus tea, tamarind, baobab, seamoss, and prebiotics. Studies have shown ginger to be anti-inflammatory, anti-nausea, anti-bacterial, and anti-fungal.
“If you’ve visited the Market in the past five years, you’ve been offered a sample by Iliyaas and his energetic staff. Really Reel Ginger has become a store that Philadelphia natives and tourists look forward to visiting and keep coming back to,” said Annie Allman, CEO and General Manager, Reading Terminal Market. “The team behind Really Reel Ginger is passionate and committed, and I’m extremely excited to have them opening this new space to expand their product offering.”
Beginning April 2, Really Reel Ginger will be open 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Avenues 3 and A inside Reading Terminal Market, situated between Famous 4th Street Cookie Company and Contessa’s French Linens. For more information on their product offerings, please visit https://reallyreelginger.com/.
