How Hill’s is keeping its legacy going after 50 years | Inquirer Greater Media
Plus, Media is getting a Wonder food hall and Wawa is opening its first travel center.
Hi, Greater Media! 👋
After 50 years, Hill’s Quality Seafood has continued to find success by leaning into its old-school charm. Also this week, rapidly expanding food hall Wonder is planning a location in Media and Wawa is readying to debut its first travel center. We have questions about why it isn’t near its hometown.
We want your feedback. Are we missing something? Should we add a section? What community events or groups should we keep an eye on? You can tell us by taking our survey or emailing us at greatermedia@inquirer.com.
If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.
This year marks the 50th anniversary for Hill’s Quality Seafood. Founded by Bernie Grogan in 1975, the business has grown from a single location in Media to four, with a wholesale and warehousing operation, as well.
Part of its growth has been fueled not by apps and delivery services, but by creating a sense of community and having familiar faces behind the counter.
Today, Hill’s is led by second-generation owner Alexandra Grogan. Like her, many of Hill’s patrons are multigenerational.
“It’s a lot of pride to carry that forward and hopefully continue to honor him and the 50 years,” she said.
Read more about how the business began and grew here.
💡 Community News
Wawa is getting ready to open its first travel center on Aug. 28 in North Carolina. It will be bigger than a typical store and have six high-speed diesel fuel lanes, 20 passenger car fuel pumps, interior and exterior seating, a weigh station, tractor-trailer parking, bathrooms, a relief area for pets, and its full food and beverage offerings. While the store ushers in a new era for Wawa, The Inquirer’s Stephanie Farr can’t help but wonder why the beloved local institution is testing the new initiative so far from its home base, noting that “Wawa is fowling its own nest a bit.”
Reminder to SEPTA bus riders: Service reductions go into effect Sunday. The Inquirer has built an interactive tool where you can plug in your address to see the impacts on your commute.
Heads up for drivers: Swarthmore Borough is planning road work this week on Thayer Road, the 200 block of Dickinson Avenue, and the 400 block of Park Avenue. Milling is planned for today, followed by paving on Saturday. And in Middletown Township, paving is underway on certain roads and will continue through Sept. 2. There will be partial paving on High Meadow Drive, Ridley Creek Drive, and Lantern Lane, and full paving on Harrison Road, Penn Way, Little Lane, Eric Lane, Josephs Way, Wedgewood Lane, and North Old Middletown Road.
A prisoner escaped from Pennsylvania state constables’ custody Tuesday afternoon and was involved in a crash at Route 1 and Turner Road in Nether Providence Township after stealing a vehicle. The prisoner, Jaliel Johnson, then fled into a wooded area before being caught. It is the second prisoner escape in the area in recent months.
A transgender female athlete sued Swarthmore College last week, alleging the school violated Title IX when it banned her from competing on the women’s track and field team earlier this year.
Registration is open for the Providence Animal Center’s annual fundraiser, Bark in the Park. The event includes a dog-friendly 5K race at Rose Tree Park or a one-mile walk, followed by a festival with food trucks, arts and crafts, plus dog-friendly activities.
While you’re at it, registration for the Delco Turkey Trot opened this week. The event on Thanksgiving morning includes a 5K or one-mile run at Nether Providence Elementary School in Wallingford and benefits the school’s parent-teacher organization.
Registration is also open for the Media Youth Center’s Saturday Morning Games 2025 program. Kids in fourth through sixth grade can spend Saturday mornings from Sept. 13 through Oct. 11 playing sports like hockey, basketball, kickball, and dodgeball. The program is $75.
The Swarthmorean recently profiled Vito Baldini, a Swarthmore resident who heads up Small Things Philly. The nonprofit works to fight food insecurity in the region, an effort that Baldini told the publication he approaches through small acts of kindness. Founded in 2020, the organization now has a team of 20 and has distributed nearly 24 million pounds of food.
Philadelphia Jewish Exponent recently profiled Aviva Marchione, the new associate rabbi and education director at Congregation Beth Israel of Media. She said she’s “most looking forward to engaging our young families.”
Swarthmore jewelry designer and painter Martha Perkins will be the first artist-in-residence at the Park Avenue Community Center this fall. The Swarthmore institution is launching a new program in which an artist-in-residence each year will offer free art workshops, operate an open studio, and also work with the center’s classes and instructors. (The Swarthmorean)
🏫 Schools Briefing
There were some familiar names on U.S. News & World Report’s ranking of the top 50 high schools in Pennsylvania, released this week. Strath Haven High School in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District ranked No. 13 in the state and No. 588 nationally, while Penncrest High School in the Rose Tree Media School District landed at No. 35 in the state and No. 1,124 nationally.
Reminder for parents and guardians: Monday is the first day of classes for students in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, while Rose Tree Media students don’t return until after Labor Day.
🍽️ On our Plate
Media is getting a new food hall this fall. Wonder, which has been rapidly expanding in the region in recent months, is planning to open at the Promenade at Granite Run in November. Wonder is known for its quick service pickup or delivery options of popular eateries throughout the country, ranging from pizza to barbecue to Mexican. The exact restaurants for the forthcoming Media location have not been revealed yet.
🎳 Things to Do
🃏 Adult Game Night: Those 18 and older can play board or card games, complete puzzles, and enjoy snacks with fellow participants. ⏰ Thursday, Aug. 21, 5:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Swarthmore Library
🎵 Amped Up Concert Series: This year’s final installation features youth bands from School of Rock Delco. ⏰ Thursday, Aug. 21, 6-8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Swarthmore Amphitheater
☀️ End of Summer Party: Before school resumes, celebrate the final class-free days of summer with games, bubbles, and water ice. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 22, 4-5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Swarthmore Library
🐶 101 Dalmatians Kids: Catch the stage adaptation of the Disney classic. ⏰ Friday, Aug. 22, 5 p.m. 💵 $5 📍 The Media Theatre
📚 Philly Bookstore Crawl: Media’s Bookish Notions is participating in the annual event and will have extended hours from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., sales, a picture book event at 10 a.m., and a queer open mic from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Here’s everything you need to know, plus recommendations from bookstore owners. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 23, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Bookish Notions, Media
🦀 2nd Annual Crab Fest: Media VFW Post 3460 is hosting a crab fest complete with seasoned crabs, fried chicken, hot dogs, mac ‘n cheese, as well as live music. ⏰ Saturday, Aug. 23, 1-5 p.m. 💵 $50 for adults, $20 for children📍Media VFW Post 3460
⚾ Wiffle Ball Tournament: It’s your last chance to compete head-to-head in this Wiffle ball tournament. Registration closes tomorrow, in which each team of four to five players ages 14 and older will play at least two games before elimination rounds. ⏰ Sunday, Aug. 24, 1-4 p.m. 💵 $50 team registration fee 📍 Rocky Run YMCA, Media
👋 Swarthmore Showcase: This new midday event, part of an effort to welcome new residents and Swarthmore College students, includes retail and restaurant participants, with many stores setting up on the borough’s sidewalks. ⏰ Tuesday, Aug. 26, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 Swarthmore Town Center
🏡 On the Market
Built in 1955, this three-bedroom brick home in Media has undergone a number of updates with more on the way. The first floor has living and family rooms separated by a dining room, as well as an office with a bay window that could be used as another bedroom, and a kitchen with stainless steel appliances. There are three bedrooms upstairs, including the primary bedroom, which has a walk-in closet. Outside, the home has a fenced backyard and a patio, plus a covered front porch. A number of spaces in the home, including its two full bathrooms, have been renovated, while a new roof and chimney updates are planned next month.
Price: $625,000 | Size: 1,694 SF | Acreage: 0.11
Have you seen an interesting listing in or around Greater Media? Share it with us in an email to greatermedia@inquirer.com.
🗣️ We want to hear from you!
See something we’re missing? Want to alert us about a community event? Take our survey or reach out to us at greatermedia@inquirer.com.
By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.
This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.