Running to U. City, local retail finds support in Penn community

With the arrival of Philadelphia Runner, fans of locally owned businesses have a new place to turn to for their running needs.

The store, located on Walnut Street between 36th and 37th streets, celebrated its grand opening last week.

Philadelphia Runner's opening was the latest in a series of local businesses that have come to University City in the last several years, following student staples like The Last Word Bookshop, Pizza Rustica and Metropolitan Bakery.

Wylie Belasik, manager of the new store, said Philadelphia Runner had been considering expanding from its original site at 16th and Sansom streets for some time, and decided on the University City location after Penn reached out to the store's owners.

Ed Datz, Penn's executive director of real estate, wrote in an e-mail that "since the inception of a formal retail strategy in 2002, Penn has been committed to a mix of local, regional and national business," adding that the University has been able to foster a "climate friendly to local businesses because we have a variety of locations and store sizes to choose from."

Larry Maltz, a resident of the area for more than 20 years and owner of The Last Word Bookshop, said, "It's great [Penn is] trying to bring in more locally owned stores."

Datz also wrote that he was pleased with Philadelphia Runner's arrival.

The store "is a great example of our collaboration with our brokers to bring a local business that serves the community to Penn's campus," he wrote.

However, one issue facing landlords like Penn is that some local tenants do not have the credit backing of large regional and national firms.

Andi Pesacov, a real estate broker contracted by Domus - the multi-use apartment complex located at 34th and Chestnut streets - said, "Nationally known stores raise . the value of surrounding properties by bringing a customer base."

Property values in the area have risen in recent years, partly as a result of the arrival of national chains. Pesacov said some rental rates in the area near Domus have risen from about $45 per square foot nine years ago to up to about $105 per square foot today.

Rates aren't a problem for Philadelphia Runner, however. Belasik said the store's rental rate is "very competitive" compared with other properties Philadelphia Runner considered, but did not specify exact rates.

However, some members of the Penn community eschew national brands and franchises. Women's Studies and Sociology professor Demie Kurz said she orders her books through the Penn Book Center or House of Our Own, an independent bookstore located near 39th and Spruce streets.

"We need to preserve them," Kurz said.

English professor Hunt Howell also only orders from local retailers, citing better service from small businesses.

Independent booksellers "are one of the most vibrant things we have," he said.

And some students also appreciate having small businesses in the area.

"It's nice to have small businesses in the area," said College sophomore Kevin Taylor, "so you don't have to take a train and a bus to get one."

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