Philly Cool: Local Flavor at Philadelphia Java Company

A Cup of Coffee and a Slice of Philadelphia 

An exterior view of Philadelphia Java Company.

Office drudgery can stymie a writer’s creativity, so finding a place that inspires, intrigues and has enough refinement to satisfy a selective disposition is a treasure.  That’s why Philadelphia Java Company on 4^th Street just above South is one of my favorite places to refresh and rejuvenate.

Philadelphia Java has struck the perfect balance of atmosphere, quality and congeniality.  Visitors can count on an excellent cup of coffee, great food, interesting conversation and a genuine slice of Philadelphia life.  It’s an experience.

From the original artwork on the walls to the fresh-cut flowers, visitors are immersed in attention to detail that’s always comforting to find in a food establishment.  This isn’t cookie-cutter product marketing; it’s manifest hospitality providing a sense of welcome and warmth rarely found in our retail chain world.

Owners Alia Banna and Jerry Roseman set out to make it a Philly store, and it worked.  All the food and ingredients are locally grown and produced right down to the La Colombe coffee they serve.  The vibrant freshness of even the most subtle flavors resonates in everything from their tuna fish panini to the homemade soup. 

The eclectic mix of customers who frequent the store are generally more congenial and have cleaner eating habits than those found at other cafes.  The Queens Village location draws professionals from upscale Society Hill and the gritty, artistic crowd of the South Street neighborhood alike.  Blackberries and full-body tattoos are seen side by side here, and nothing seems more natural.  Conversation comes easily and runs the full spectrum of human interest.

Artwork from local artists lends a touch of color, and new pieces are in rotated every month.  It was the first improvement the owners established when they took over the store in August 2002.  The store had been at the location since 1997, but fell into a state of disrepair, so Banna and Roseman offered their brick walls to the creative community completely free of charge.  The store got a signature look and the artists were provided a display venue.  It’s the same symbiotic relationship the neighborhood association later adopted to spruce up vacant retail space in the area.

In a city plagued with Wi-Fi issues, Philadelphia Java is an oasis of free connectivity that keeps people productive even as they relax over fresh tea with friends.  It’s a little odd to find the latest technology within the confines of a Victorian era storefront when so many more modern facilities lack it, but that’s just part of the place’s charm.

Meanwhile, Banna’s mother is busy in the kitchen making lunch like she was making it for her own family, customers mill past with their leashed dogs in tow, baristas charm people with light conversation and humor, and a quiet writer absorbs it all from window seat in the corner as South Street tourists stroll along outside.  This is classic Philly at its best, and Philadelphia Java Company is destined to become a city legend.