Fishtown is stepping into the late-night food scene with a new experiment aimed at addressing long-standing issues surrounding food truck vendors in the neighborhood.
An overnight marketplace is set to debut in October outside the Fillmore Philadelphia, offering food trucks a place to park from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. every Thursday through Sunday. This initiative comes in response to the community’s rejection of a ban on street vendors at the intersection of Girard and Frankford avenues last year.
The Fishtown District, the business association behind the failed attempt to restrict food trucks, announced the new plan on Monday. Collaborating with Raheem Manning, the nighttime economy director for the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, the district will launch the Overnight Market as the first of potentially similar concepts in other Philly neighborhoods.
The inaugural Fishtown marketplace will be located in the outdoor stage area at 25 East Allen St., just a short walk from Girard and Frankford avenues. Owned by Live Nation, the fenced-in property under Interstate 95—often referred to as the Fish Tank—has seen recent development with venues like Brooklyn Bowl and Punch Line comedy club.
The Overnight Market will kick off on October 3 at 8 p.m., with a lineup of participating food truck vendors being announced prior to the event.
According to Marc Collazzo, executive director of the Fishtown Kensington Area Business Improvement District, the Overnight Market represents a compromise between the community, the Commerce Department, and vendors in response to past legislation.
‘Compromise’ creates two spots for late-night food
Last year’s attempt to ban food trucks sparked debates within the Fishtown community, with some concerned about the impact on local businesses and neighborhoods.
The success of the Overnight Market in Fishtown will pave the way for similar initiatives in other parts of the city, aiming to provide late-night food options for both residents and third-shift workers.
Food truck vendors participating in the market have the flexibility to offer takeout and delivery options, providing a social gathering space rather than just a grab-and-go spot.
Fishtown District is collaborating with architects and designers to create a welcoming and inclusive space at the Fillmore, with a focus on supporting women- and minority-owned businesses. Initially, vendors will not be charged to participate in the market, with potential changes to this policy in the future based on the market’s success.
As the Overnight Market unfolds in Fishtown, lessons learned from this pilot project will inform the expansion of similar concepts across the city, contributing to a vibrant and diverse food truck culture in Philadelphia.
Stay tuned for more exciting updates on the Fishtown Overnight Market and its potential return during the holiday season and beyond.