Lancaster Avenue (34th to 38th streets)

The Lancaster Avenue Corridor is a quaint shopping district, anchored by Drexel University and surrounded by historic Powelton Village. Among Lancaster Avenue’s best offerings are:

An attractive and unique shopping district with tree-lined streets, brick sidewalks, and the #10 trolley that runs every 10 minutes.
An emerging arts community, with a concentration of businesses related to arts and culture, “2nd Fridays” monthly community festival, and a growing number of artistic residents.
A diverse offering of dining destinations where you can find gourmet Mexican and Thai restaurants, authentic Jewish Deli fare, and one of the city’s finest new cafes.
Civic groups such as the Powelton Village Civic Association, the Lancaster Corridor Group, and UC Green, who are engaged in enhancing the corridor through cultural events, tree plantings, mural arts projects, transportation and other beautification projects.
A prestigious history: Formerly known as The Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike Road, Lancaster Avenue was the first important turnpike and the first long-distance broken-stone and gravel surface built in America according to formal plans and specifications.

Lancaster Avenue Market Study
With grants from The William Penn Foundation and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce, UCD recently completed a comprehensive market study of the Lancaster Avenue corridor from 34th to 38th Streets. The full hard copy report is available from University City District for a fee or downloadable below for free (caution: it is a large file so a high speed connection is recommended). A summary document is also available as a download below.

Lancaster Avenue Market Study	Lancaster_analysis.pdf	[5.2 MB]
Lancaster Avenue Market Study Summary	Lancaster_summary.pdf	[85 KB]

Lancaster Avenue Featured Businesses

Arts and Culture

The Community Education Center 3500 Lancaster Avenue 215-387-1911 The Community Education Center is a non-profit community based arts and education center whose mission is to strengthen the sense of shared community and culture among peoples of differing backgrounds and cultures through the arts.

The Fencing Academy 3519 Lancaster Avenue (215) 382-0293 The Fencing Academy of Philadelphia, located in University City, Philadelphia, is in its 15th year of continuous programming. FAP is a full service Fencing Salle, with open bouting, classes and private instruction going on 6 days a week. Whether you are a beginner or a champion, young or old, you are welcome to come by, see the facility, take a lesson or bout with a friend or club member. Guests, friends, and visitors are always welcome. Group classes are scheduled regularly. Frequently FAP hosts USFA sanctioned competitions are on weekends during the season.

Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center 3611 Lancaster Avenue 215-222-7633 Gwendolyn Bye Dance Center offers daily classes, private and semiprivate lessons, pre-professional and professional training programs, children's summer camp and workshops covering many areas of dance and performing arts, including: Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theater, Exercise with Dance, Hip-hop, Funk, Ethnic dance, and more.

Power Yoga 3527 Lancaster Avenue 215-243-YOGA Offering Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga, a combination of deep breathing and specifically sequenced sets of flowing yoga postures. It has the ability to build strength, increase endurance, release tension, and create more flexibility in the entire body. Power Yoga Works is the only certified affiliate baptiste studio in Pennsylvania.

Retail

ReSource
3620 Lancaster Avenue
215-387-3403
Lancaster Avenue’s gift gallery and boutique, representing more than 50 local artists who work with reused and recycled materials. The shop’s catchall appeal comes from its variety. There are bowls shaped from old vinyl records, key chains of woven hemp, bracelets made of dominos, colander-shade lamps made of old percolators, wallets made of bike tubes and reconstructed clothing for all.

Neglected Truth
3612 Lancaster Avenue
215-387-9911
Neglected Truth caters to the aggressive in-line skating crowd, but has skates, clothing, videos and accessories open to all. Owners Mike Elias, Chris Majette, and Jimmy Shuda are all professional skaters in the aggressive industry and have sponsors, go on tours, and give demonstrations.

Treats and Things
3606 Lancaster Avenue
215-386-0474
A small, friendly gift shop on the Lancaster Avenue retail corridor. Offering flowers, balloons, candy, and small gifts.

Services

Urban and Bye
3529 Lancaster Avenue
215-222-4800
Urban & Bye Realtor is a local residential real estate brokerage that specializes in Philadelphia real estate in the University City area for buyer brokerage and seller representation. They are a full service company that offers sales, management and rentals of Philadelphia real estate West of the river and the University City folks. Jan Bye, Melani Lamond, and Arthur Bye have over 40 years of experience in all aspects of real estate in University City.

Dr Cycles
3608 Lancaster Avenue
215-823-6780
The friendly neighborhood bike shop specializing in tune-ups, flats, tubes, tires, brake pads, clean bikes, true wheels, parts, service, and more.

Restaurants, Cafes and Bars

Stan’s Jewish Deli
3632 Powelton Avenue (at 37th and Lancaster)
215-382-7826
Stan’s is an authentic Jewish deli offering indoor and outdoor seating, friendly service, delivery, catering, and a colossal half-pound corned beef sandwich worthy of a pedestal. Also on the menu: milkshakes and floats, soups and salads, hot and cold sandwiches, and more meat than you can shake a stick at.

Greenline Café Powelton
3649 Lancaster Avenue
215-382-2143
The Green Line Café Powelton is the third location for this University City café brand. The café is small and modern with changing art displays and two outdoor seating areas. The menu offers organic gourmet coffee and tea, fresh baked goods, bagels and pastries, as well as sandwiches, salads, and their own line of bottles sodas. All of the coffee is certified fair trade.

Zocalo
3600 Lancaster Avenue
215-895-0139
Enjoy fine margaritas or sangria at this contemporary Mexican-style restaurant with a bright and colorful atmosphere. There’s an outdoor seating area and a separate bar and lounge. The main attraction, however, is the menu, which is centered on a tasty selection of traditional Mexican platters with contemporary touches. Highlights include: homemade guacamole, tostada de pollo, and the marinated skirt steak in mole sauce. Voted “Best of Philly” (2001) by Philadelphia Magazine.

Lemon Grass
Thai Restaurant
3630 Lancaster Avenue
215-222-8042
Lemon Grass features imaginative dishes such as evil jungle princess, young girl on fire, and swimming rama, as well as an extensive list of vegetarian options. The food is as dynamic as the names, offering a surprising blend of zesty flavors and subtle design. Alongside creative drinks, the reasonably priced prix-fixe lunch is a favorite with the local crowd.

Ranas Middle Eastern Cuisine / Ed’s Buffalo Wings & Pizza
3513 Lancaster Avenue
215-222-7136
Rana’s reasonable priced menu offers a combination of Middle Eastern fare and pizza-joint standards, both tasty and fast. From Buffalo wings and sandwiches to babaganouj and tabouli, this recently remodeled eatery offers a wide selection of options.

Powelton Pizza
3651 Lancaster Avenue
215-387-1213
Aside from standard and specialty pizzas, including the turkey club and upside-down pizzas, Powelton also offers a selection of salads, strombolis, steaks, and other Italian eats. A local favorite seems to be the white pizza topped with fresh tomatoes.

Mokas Greek Restaurant and Bar
3505 Lancaster Avenue
215-222-4410
This affordable and casual Mediterranean-style bar and grill serves Greek specialties like hummus and babaganoush, a late night munchie menu, and boasts an impressive hookah selection with lounging areas around the bar.