If you grew up in Philadelphia, you didn't just "go to the mall." You went to The Gallery.
It was a cavernous, neon-lit, somewhat gritty rite of passage. Honestly, for a long time, it was the beating heart of Center City retail, a place where you could grab a soft pretzel, catch the SEPTA Regional Rail, and buy a pair of sneakers all without ever seeing the sun. But walk past 9th and Market today and you’ll see something that looks vastly different—the Fashion District Philadelphia.
The transition from the old-school Gallery at Market East Philadelphia to this new glass-heavy "district" wasn't just a simple renovation. It was a billion-dollar gamble on the future of how we hang out in cities.
The Dream of a Suburban Mall... Downtown
Back in the 1970s, cities were in trouble. People were fleeing for the suburbs, and they were taking their shopping dollars with them to places like King of Prussia. Ed Bacon, the legendary (and often controversial) city planner, had a wild idea: why not bring the suburban mall experience into the heart of the city?
He envisioned an enclosed, climate-controlled paradise that would save Market Street. The Gallery I opened its doors in 1977. It was a massive deal. It wasn't just a building; it was a four-level urban fortress anchored by heavy hitters like Strawbridge & Clothier and Gimbels.
You've probably heard the stats from back then. In its prime, The Gallery was pulling in over $300 per square foot in sales. That’s "hot property" territory. It was so successful they doubled down and built Gallery II in 1983, adding J.C. Penney and another block of retail. For a decade, it worked. The mall was a massive transportation hub, connecting the PATCO Speedline and SEPTA subways directly to the stores.
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Why the Gallery at Market East Philadelphia Started to Fade
Nothing stays shiny forever, especially not 1970s architecture. By the late 90s and early 2000s, the "urban fortress" design started to bite back. The mall was basically a giant brick wall at street level. It felt cut off from the sidewalk.
Inside, the high-end anchors were disappearing. Gimbels closed in 1986. Strawbridge’s eventually became a Macy’s (which later left) and then a Century 21. The vacancy signs started to crawl across the upper floors. While the food court stayed busy with the lunch crowd and students, the mall’s reputation shifted. It became known more for discount shops like Kmart and Burlington Coat Factory than for high-end fashion.
Then came the "Dead Mall" era. You could feel it in the air—the dimming lights, the empty corridors, and the sense that the world had moved on to online shopping.
The $400 Million Transformation
In 2015, the owner, PREIT (Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust), decided the only way forward was to tear it all down—or at least gut it. They partnered with Macerich to pour roughly $400 million into a total rebranding.
The goal? Kill the "mall" and create a "district."
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They literally opened the building to the street. Huge glass windows replaced the blank walls. They moved the entrance to street level so you didn't have to walk down a weird set of stairs just to get inside. In September 2019, it reopened as Fashion District Philadelphia.
It wasn't just about clothes anymore. They brought in:
- AMC Theatres with power recliners.
- Round1 Bowling & Arcade for late-night vibes.
- City Winery, where you could actually get a decent glass of wine while waiting for your train.
- Wonderspaces, an immersive art gallery that looks great on Instagram.
The Reality of Retail in 2026
So, is it a success? Kinda. It’s complicated.
The timing was, frankly, brutal. The Fashion District had only been open for about six months when the pandemic hit in early 2020. That killed the momentum of the grand opening. Today, the space has a roughly 80% occupancy rate, which is decent but shows there’s still work to do.
The biggest drama lately hasn't been about the stores, though. It’s been about the Philadelphia 76ers. For a while, there was a massive push to build a new $1.3 billion basketball arena, 76 Place, right on top of a portion of the mall. It caused huge debates in the city—Chinatown residents were (and are) worried about displacement, while others saw it as the only way to save a struggling retail corridor.
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As of early 2026, the retail landscape here is a mix of high and low. You’ve got flagship Nike and Sephora stores alongside discount staples like Primark. It’s a weird, beautiful, chaotic Philly mix.
How to Actually Navigate the Area Today
If you're visiting or just haven't been down there in a while, here is the expert way to handle the Market East corridor:
- Enter via 9th and Market: This is the "grand" entrance now. It’s all glass and feels way less like a basement than it used to.
- Check out the Art: Don't ignore the public art. There’s about $1 million worth of installations throughout the District. The "Philadelphia Assembly" sculpture is a massive three-story piece that’s actually pretty cool.
- The Food Scene: The old Gallery food court is gone, replaced by "The Market." You’ve still got Tiffany’s Bakery (a local legend since the 70s), but now you can also grab a BurgerFi or poke.
- The Connectivity: It is still the best-connected spot in the city. You can get off a Regional Rail train at Jefferson Station and be inside the mall in 30 seconds.
The Gallery at Market East Philadelphia might be gone in name, but its skeleton is still there, holding up the heart of the city. Whether the "Fashion District" identity sticks for the long haul or it eventually becomes something else entirely—maybe even that controversial arena—it remains the definitive story of Philadelphia's changing face.
Your Next Steps: If you want to see the transformation yourself, head to the third floor of the Fashion District. Most people stay on the ground level, but the third floor is where the "new" Philly lives—Wonderspaces and the AMC are the best ways to experience how the space has shifted from a 1970s shopping bunker to a modern entertainment hub. Check the local SEPTA schedule before you go; Jefferson Station is your direct link.