A beloved Philadelphia food market that stood for over 100 years has closed its doors for good. This family-run business survived wars, economic shifts, and neighborhood changes, but on 26 July, the family finally packed up for good. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the loss left a quiet hole in a market that once never slept.
The Name Every Local Knew
P&F Giordano Fruit & Produce was a cornerstone of Philadelphia’s Italian Market since 1921. Founded by Sicilian immigrants Paul and Frances Giordano, it grew beyond a shop to become a cultural touchstone, representing generations of family, hard work, and neighborhood pride, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
The Market’s Most Iconic Corner
For over a century, Giordano’s stood at Ninth and Washington, the Italian Market’s busiest spot. That corner once bustled with carts, barrels, and nonstop shoppers. Now, three of the four corners are empty. The Philadelphia Inquirer calls it a symbol of bigger shifts in how cities grow and change.
A Family Business Through Generations
Paul and Frances passed the business to their 13 children, then to their grandsons John, Wally, and Gene. John started working at age five. According to The Inquirer, the third generation gave their lives to keeping old-school produce alive in a world increasingly shaped by big chains and tech.
Why the Family Had to Walk Away
Competition from supermarkets, rising costs, and fewer shoppers all added pressure. John Giordano told The Inquirer that delivery apps and changing habits made it impossible to keep going. After years of struggle, they made the tough call. The corner store could no longer survive the modern retail environment.
They’re Still in the Produce Game
John Giordano and his son plan to carry on the family legacy through a wholesale produce business at the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, they’ll focus on supplying fresh goods to local pizza shops and restaurants across the region.
“We Gave It Everything”
John Giordano told The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Our business has moved into wholesale… It was a decision years in the making.”
On their final Saturday, he placed old store items on the sidewalk, letting neighbors take what they wanted, a quiet goodbye to a place that had served the community for generations.
What’s Next for the Building?
The property, five connected buildings at 9th and Washington, is now under contract. The Inquirer reports the buyer hasn’t shared their plans yet. Could it be condos? A chain? Or will it sit empty? What happens next could shape not just one corner, but the entire feel of the Italian Market moving forward.
Empty Corners, Fewer Shoppers
Giordano’s isn’t alone. According to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Italian Market is going through a tough stretch, with more empty corners and longtime businesses closing.
Local shopkeepers and residents share growing concerns about rising costs and the changing retail scene that’s making it harder for small, family-run shops to survive.
Locals Are Heartbroken
On Reddit, r/philadelphia users shared warm memories of the Giordano family. One said, “They were incredibly kind individuals,” while another added, “They always gave you more than you paid for.” For many, Giordano’s was about more than produce; it was a place where community and relationships grew over time.
COVID Made Things Worse
According to Yelp, Philadelphia saw over 250 permanent small business closures from March to July 2020. Giordano’s lost its festival and foot traffic for two years. The intimacy of shopping in person faded. Meanwhile, delivery apps surged. COVID didn’t start the decline, but it definitely sped things up.
This Is Happening Nationwide
Giordano’s story reflects a bigger problem. Family businesses rarely survive beyond a generation. Only 30% make it to the second generation and just 12% to the third. According to The Inquirer, markets like this are fading everywhere, replaced by chains, apps, and empty storefronts with no stories to tell.
The Brothers Go Separate Ways
After closing, the Giordano brothers followed different paths. Wally retired. Gene continued selling produce through nearby Anastasio Produce. John and his son went into wholesale. According to The Inquirer, they split up professionally, but all stayed rooted in produce, just not the old way their grandparents had imagined.
Back When It Was Always Busy
In the golden years, Giordano’s stayed open almost 24 hours. Upstairs, women cooked while men sold produce by warming barrels. According to The Inquirer, they even worked through movie shoots like Rocky and Trading Places. The store was a theater of real life, running day and night for decades.
The Giordano Name Still Lives On
Though the storefront is gone, the family’s story isn’t over. Marcello Giordano, a cousin, runs Giordano Garden Groceries. John and his son continue wholesaling. As The Inquirer notes, the produce legacy survives, even if the neighborhood has changed. The corner may be quiet, but their name still feeds Philadelphia