Meet at the corner of 6th and Market Streets under the building overhang outside of La Colombe Coffee. 100 S Independence Mall W #110, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Dec 13 2025 at 2pm
Golden Age of Retail
Member Tickets are $10 and the price will automatically be discounted at checkout for logged in members.
Gimbels Thanksgiving Day Parade…Strawbridge & Clothier’s Corinthian Room Restaurant…Blum’s window displays…Wanamaker’s Light Show and Rocket Express…
Join us on our last tour of the 2025 season and revisit the enchantment and resplendence of downtown, brick-and-mortar retail on this special holiday tour. Executive Director of the Preservation Alliance and honorary tour guide Paul Steinke will share the architectural history of Philadelphia’s central commercial district and recount the tricks of the trade that the city’s visionary merchants once used to generate goodwill and foot traffic during the holiday shopping season.
While Philadelphia’s original “Big Five” department stores had all closed their doors by 2006, their legacy lives on in countless memories and traditions passed down from generation to generation. Learn the history of the rise and fall of Philadelphia’s great department and specialty stores, and see how Center City retail continues to adapt to new consumer demands. If you were ever one to meet at the eagle or rub the boar’s nose, be sure to join us for this guided walk along Market and Chestnut Streets, and a trip down memory lane.
Meet at the corner of 6th and Market Streets under the building overhang outside of La Colombe Coffee. 100 S Independence Mall W #110, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (map)
Note : This tour will end at 1310 Drury Street (McGillin’s Olde Ale House). Stay for a drink at this iconic tavern.
Preservation Alliance walking tours utilize an audio system that transmits from a headset worn by the guide to earpieces worn by tour attendees. The equipment is thoroughly sanitized before and after each use. Tour attendees can also plug in their personal headsets or earbuds that use a standard headphone jack (Not compatible with Bluetooth or Apple earphones).
A limited number of $2 tickets are available for PA ACCESS or Art-Reach ACCESS card holders. Please email us at [email protected] for discount.
Email us at [email protected] for any questions or join the waitlist for a sold out tour!
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