Holiday Gift Guide: What the El has to offer

Riding the Market–Frankford Line (El) during the holiday season is a reminder of how much life moves along these tracks. The El isn’t just a way to get from one neighborhood to another – it’s a living artery, connecting blocks shaped by history, creativity, and the people who keep Philadelphia’s spirit intact. As it rises above 52nd Street through its underground into Center City and its final stretch toward the river, the El carries you through communities that reveal themselves stop by stop, storefront by storefront.

This gift guide follows that path, highlighting seven Black-owned businesses that sit along or within a short walk of El stations, each offering a different way to experience the city’s craft, culture, and care. On 52nd Street, where the train hums over one of Philadelphia’s most storied commercial corridors, African Cultural Art Forum and Hakim’s Bookstore stand as anchors of legacy and community grounding. A few stops east, the taproom of Two Locals Brewing brings a new chapter to University City, where craft beer meets West Philly pride.

Stepping off closer to Center City, Common Ground offers a curated blend of streetwear and vintage finds that reflect the diversity of the city’s fashion landscape. A short ride toward Old City leads to Cadrae, where luxury craftsmanship, leather goods, and personalized service create an intimate shopping experience. And as the El pushes north toward Kensington and Fishtown, Harriett’s Bookshop and Trunc provide two distinct ways to engage with storytelling, one through literature, the other through handcrafted objects made with intention.

Together, these businesses map a portrait of Philadelphia that is rooted, imaginative, and deeply local. Follow the El long enough, and you’ll find gifts that reflect the city itself: Bold, handmade, storied, and offered with love.

African Cultural Art Forum (ACAF)

Address: 221 S. 52nd St.

Hours: Monday through Friday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday: noon to  6  p.m.,

Since 1969, the African Cultural Art Forum has served as a cultural anchor on the 52nd Street corridor, offering a warm, grounding entry point into the heart of West Philly. Inside, the shop is a living archive of Pan-African art and heritage: hand-carved drums, vibrant textiles, jewelry, incense, and body-care items fill the shelves with color and intention. Owner Khdir Abdur-Rahim (affectionately known  as Kaddi) sees the space as both a marketplace and a historical vessel – preserving traditions that have shaped the neighborhood for generations. During the holidays, ACAF becomes especially vibrant, offering Kwanzaa bundles, seasonal art auctions, and curated cultural gifts. What makes the shop most resonant, though, is its philosophy: Customers aren’t just buying items, they’re nourishing a cultural lineage. A visit here feels like stepping into a legacy still being written.

Hakim’s Bookstore

210 S. 52nd St.

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday: noon to 6 p.m.; Saturday: 11 a.m. to  6 p.m. 

A cornerstone of Black Philadelphia since 1959, Hakim’s Bookstore stands as one of the oldest continuously operated Black-owned bookstores in America. Located along the bustling 52nd Street, the shop offers a curated, intergenerational collection of African-American history, children’s books, contemporary fiction, and culturally rooted gifts. Hakim’s is more than a bookstore, it’s a sanctuary for literacy, legacy, and community care. Now in its fourth generation of family involvement, Hakim’s remains a living testament to founder Dawud Hakim’s original mission. Guests are guided through shelves with warmth and deep knowledge. Holiday shoppers can find everything from beautifully illustrated children’s books to history bundles, memoirs, and Kwanzaa cards. While the store carries decades of history, it remains active, present, and alive, serving as both a bookshop and an intellectual gathering space. Hakim’s continues to honor its founding mission—sharing Black stories with the communities that need them most.

Two Locals Brewing Company

3675 Market St.

Monday through Thursday: 3 p.m. to  9 p.m., Friday and Saturday: noon to 10 p.m., Sunday: noon to 8 p.m. 

Just steps from the 36th Street El stop, Two Locals Brewing Company marks a milestone for Philadelphia as the city’s first Black-owned brewery. Founded by brothers Richard and Mengistu Koilor, the taproom blends craft beer culture with a welcoming, distinctly West Philly energy. The space is airy and modern, filled with people stopping in for small-batch brews like the Clean Sweep Pilsner, Nubian Brown Ale, and Spool Haze IPA — all made on-site. The menu extends beyond beer with Pennsylvania-produced wines, cocktails, and rotating food pop-ups, creating a relaxed, communal atmosphere. Two Locals is more than a brewery – it’s a statement of possibility and representation within a historically exclusive industry. For the holidays, visitors can grab four-packs, branded merch, or gift cards, offering a flavorful way to support local craft and Black entrepreneurship.

Common Ground

Address: 134 S. 11th St.

Hours: Monday through Thursday: noon to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday: noon p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday: noon to 5 p.m. 

Common Ground, tucked into a lively stretch near 11th Street, is a streetwear and vintage haven that effortlessly bridges generations of style. Owner Phil Moore has built a shop that moves fluidly between eras— one wall might showcase 1970s outerwear while another holds contemporary drops from brands like Supreme and Bape. The store’s layout is intentionally democratic: Pre-owned pieces up front invite casual browsing, while new and harder-to-find items line the back shelves for collectors. Sneakers are a major draw, with both everyday staples and rare editions rotating through the shop. Moore’s philosophy keeps the space welcoming and accessible: He aims to offer “a little bit of everything” so no one feels excluded from the culture. For holiday shoppers, Common Ground delivers the thrill of the unexpected—vintage jackets, unique accessories, and standout streetwear you won’t find anywhere else.

Harriett’s Bookshop

Address: 258 E Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Hours: Monday through Sunday: noon to 6 p.m. 

Harriett’s Bookshop, located just a short walk from the Girard Avenue El stop, is a literary and cultural haven shaped by owner Jeannine A. Cook’s commitment to amplifying the voices of women authors, artists, and activists. A lineage of Black women writers surrounds you from the moment you step inside: Shelves lined with works by Toni Morrison, Zora Neale Hurston, Audre Lorde, and contemporary Black writers sit alongside small-batch art prints and thoughtfully chosen gifts. The space is warm and meditative, designed to slow you down and invite reflection. Since opening in 2020 — and later securing ownership of the building with community support — Harriett’s has grown into a gathering space where readers come not just to browse, but to connect. For the holidays, the shop offers curated book bundles, new releases, and gift cards that allow loved ones to explore at their own pace. Harriett’s remains a testament to storytelling, dreaming, and the transformative power of literature.

Trunc

Address: 929 N. 2nd St.

Hours: Wednesday - Saturday: 11am - 6pm, Saturday: 12pm - 5pm 

Nestled near the 2nd Street Station, Trunc offers a cozy, intentional shopping experience centered on handcrafted goods, sustainability, and women-led creativity. Owners Janell Wysock, Dorothea Gamble and Dagmar Mitchell curate a lively mix of artisan-made jewelry, upcycled clothing, candles, ceramics, and Colombian clay cookware, transforming the small shop into a living gallery of local and international makers. Trunc is known not just for its beautifully arranged shelves, but for the personal care that defines each visit— customers are welcomed like friends, guided thoughtfully through the space, and seen off with the same warmth. The inventory rotates often, making every visit feel like a new discovery. For holiday gifting, Trunc shines: Think handmade earrings, aromatic candles, or one-of-a-kind pottery that carries a story. In an age of mass production, Trunc offers connection, intimacy, intention, and artistry.

Cadrae

Address: 72 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Hours: Monday - Saturday: 10am - 3pm (Appointment Only)

Just a short walk from the 2nd Street El stop, Cadrae offers a calm, intimate contrast to Old City’s busy sidewalks. The boutique feels like a modern atelier — warm lighting, textured fabrics, and clean lines that invite you to slow down and take in the details. Founded by designers Eric White and Alyssa DiMarcantonio Scheier (who previously collaborated on the shop Damari at the same location), Cadrae specializes in custom suiting and made-to-measure garments, guiding clients through fabrics and cuts with the ease of practiced craft. The showroom also carries ready-to-wear pieces — linen button-downs, soft tees, and tailored separates — that balance everyday comfort with quiet luxury. What stands out most is the personal attention built into the experience; each piece is designed to reflect the person wearing it. For the holidays, a Cadrae gift card or consultation session makes an elegant, deeply personal gift for anyone who values style and craftsmanship.