Market East to get new pop-up businesses and see a demolition paused ahead of 2026 celebrations

Eight new pop-up businesses are coming to a stretch of Market East, which connects Old City and its historic attractions to the Convention Center and City Hall, ahead of the FIFA World Cup and other 2026 celebrations.

The vacant storefronts along the 900 block of Market are slated to get the injection of new life by early May.

“They will all be small, homegrown businesses,” said Center City District president and CEO Prema Katari Gupta at a Central Philadelphia Development Corporation membership meeting Wednesday. “Mostly neighborhood businesses, diverse businesses, that will really be able to take advantage of the increased foot traffic on Market East during the summer’s events.”

The businesses will fill a stretch of properties owned by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, Comcast, and the Fashion District Philadelphia.

Separately, Comcast and HBSE said Wednesday that they would postpone a demolition planned for properties they own that take up about half the 1000 block of Market Street. Construction would resume after the 2026 celebrations, they said. The owners had considered demolition before the summer as a way to “activate” the space with a beer garden or other pop-up, but the proposal drew concerns from preservationists and those worried about yet another vacant lot on the corridor.

“Following additional engineering regarding logistics and consultation with our demolition partner, we decided to pause demolition to avoid any delays or disruptions that could have an adverse effect on this summer’s events,” said a spokesperson for the project.

The companies have also paid for the physical upgrades required for the pop-ups and have donated the space for the businesses on the 900 block of Market, said Gupta. The pop-ups are expected to stay through the summer.

The private investments come as Philadelphia rolls out cosmetic improvements for the corridor, made possible with a $1.85 million city grant. Beautification efforts include planting more than 40 trees, installing 10 new temporary murals, and refurbishing four transit head houses and more than 20 bus shelters. Light and banner poles along East Market will also get a fresh coat of paint.

“We’re prepared to welcome 1.5 million visitors to Market East,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker in a statement. “We will greet them with a vibrant and welcoming Philadelphia experience that benefits guests and residents, alike, and paves the way for planning Market East’s enduring revival.”

Parker has championed a revitalization of the corridor, which has some of the most flexible land use districts in the city and is seeing some new life with the reimagining of the Wanamaker Building. TF Cornerstone and Alterra Property Group plan more than 600 residential units, office space, along with retail and entertainment space in the building that used to house Macy’s.

Harris Blitzer and Comcast, meanwhile, could begin mixed-use development as early as next year on the 900 and 1000 blocks of Market Street, where they have consolidated holdings.

These plans unfold as the Market East Advisory Committee, which aims to craft a unified vision of what the corridor could look like, continues community outreach efforts to get feedback.

Councilmember Mark Squilla, whose district includes the corridor, said Wednesday that those efforts are slated to wrap by July.

Both he and Gupta see Market East’s sprucing up as a way to get people excited about the future and test ideas that could inform long-term plans. Both said the response to the aesthetic tweaks and pop-up business could change the direction of future development plans.

Tiffany Thurman, Parker’s chief of staff, emphasized that the improvements slated for the corridor are a jumping-off point.

“We don’t want it to just be a one-time, feel-good, great experience,” she said. “We want it to be something that people experience long beyond all the amazing things that are going to happen this summer.”