Morning Headlines: Which New York-to-Philly Projects Flopped and Which Did Not?


Image via Curbed Philly

Yesterday Curbed Philly had an item breaking down and explicating New York imports that have made it here and those that haven’t. Sandy Smith touched on this in a column for PhillyMag.com about the Brooklyn Flea’s departure, which he attributes, in part, to its NYC branding. Those transplants that haven’t flaunted their New York-ness do better, Smith said.

Here’s what Curbed’s Tishon Woolcock had to say:

Brooklyn Flea/FAIL: “Has anyone mentioned the fact that Philly already has great flea markets and thrift shops?”
3rd Ward/FAIL: “Reportedly, mismanagement – more than a move to Philly – was responsible for 3rd Ward’s undoing”
Shake Shack/SUCCESS: “Philly has little beef with the chain’s arrival”
Barcade/SUCCESS: “The friendly staff, inviting decor, plus games and craft beer make Barcade an excellent addition to the city’s bar scene.”
Fette Sau/SUCCESS: “A year in, the brisket is still selling by the pound.”

Woolcock also mentions the Ritz-Carlton, which was actually minted in Europe. But its first American location was in New York in 1911, and its second was in Philadelphia. Verdict? SUCCESS until the Great Depression, then FAIL, then SUCCESS again after it reopened in 2000.

Speaking of Curbed Philly — which made a successful transition from New York — its parent company, the Curbed Network, was just acquired by Vox Media, which counts The Verge among its properties. Curbed owns national and regional Curbed, Eater and Racked websites, and will get somewhere between $20 and $30 million in a mix of stock and cash, according to the New York Times.

Speaking of the Times, that’s one New York export that’s absolutely transcended its origins. And judging by how quickly the Sunday print version sells out a my corner store, I’d guess its journey to Philly has been as SUCCESS.

Success and Failure: Importing NYC Things to Philly [Curbed Philly]

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