PUBLIC ART

Revitalizing Produce Stands

As of January 2022, we have been revitalizing produce stands designed with the produce vendors, the most under resourced group in the 9th Street Market. Each produce stand and awnings are replaced with sustainable materials and artwork that reflect the produce vendors' stories.

By revitalizing the stands we are claiming spaces that would otherwise be taken away for city parking. By offering FREE new stands we are preserving the over 100 year old immigrant tradition of the Market. Each stand has a QR code that shares the stories of each of the produce vendors featured.

This work was created in partnership with the Mural Arts Program with lead support from the William Penn Foundation.

Gargano’s Produce

John Gargano’s connection to the 9th Street Market dates back to his Italian immigrant maternal grandfather who sold produce in the late 1880s. The patterns in his produce stand are inspired by the decorative hand painted food carts from Italy. In February 2023, we transformed over 70’ of space by revitalizing John’s with artwork honoring his connection to the Market. The artwork depicts painted portraits of John as a child and his grandfather as well as honoring longtime African-American workers Anthony Pough and Keith Smith. John is the third generation in his family to keep this 100-year-old tradition alive. Support his produce stand and spice shop located on 9th and Carpenter Streets. Learn more about John’s story here.

  • Produce Stands before

  • John disassembling the old stands

  • Newly installed stands with artwork

  • Hand painted panels on custom metal tables

  • John's words translated to Italian

  • Sammy works at the new produce stands

  • John's words painted on the stands

  • Hand painted portrait of John at 10 years of age

  • John's maternal grandfather

Ramos Produce

Lidia Méndez y Joel Ramos are from Puebla and arrived to the Market twelve years ago. Lidia worked in El Mercado Sonora in Mexico selling medicinal herbs. Both Lidia and Joel remember cultivating the land in Mexico. They continue their traditions here in our city to support their families. The colors and patterns on their stand are inspired by the festivities of their community in San Lucas. Support their business and visit their stand located at 9th Street between Carpenter and Montrose Streets. Learn more about their story here.

  • Hand painted phrases from Lidia and Joel

  • Joel sees the artwork for the first time

  • Installation of the new stands

  • Fully installed stands with sustainable materials

  • Custom made produce stands with weather proof wood and welded metal

  • Installation of new produce stands

  • Before

Tran’s Produce

Mr. Be and Hoa Tran crossed the ocean and survived refugee camps while caring for their small children. They arrived to Philadelphia and settled in the 9th Street Market in 1985. Mr. Be’s stands were revitalized with sustainable materials along with artwork displaying water patterns and Vietnamese folk sayings giving value to our earth and the worker. Graphic Designer, Kim Dinh, designed the text and helped choose the folk sayings for the work. Support Mr. Be and Hoa and visit their stand located at 9th and League Street. Learn more about their story here.

  • Before

  • After

  • Hand painted folk sayings in English

  • Hand painted folk saying in Vietnamese

  • Water and dragon patterns

  • The stands are fitted with new casters

  • Installing the new stands