5009 Baltimore Avenue, then and now

Jennie and Margaret Grumbine with family

Totally neat post over at the blog of VIX Emporium about discovering the history of the building at 50th and Baltimore that now houses their neato shop where local artists/crafters/whatever can sell stuff on consignment. A comment on their blog put them in touch with the great-niece of the two sisters who used to run J.M. Grumbine Millinery in that space from the ’30s to the ’70s…

They did custom-made hats for middle-class ladies, in their choice of color and style. Customers would shop and try on hats in the front, and the hats were sewn in the back. All of the work was done by hand.

I love hearing about previous incarnations and histories of buildings in the city. And outside of interesting Philly history, VIX Emporium’s assortment of jewelry, prints, clothes and quilts showing a robot destorying a Hummer with its laser eyes is certainly worth a trip on the 34.

VIX Emporium, 5009 Baltimore Ave.

Tuesday – Friday 12 – 7, Saturday 11 – 7