Recommended - Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop

Philadelphia's historic 9th Street Italian Market is truly one of the city's gems. I'm a sucker for open air markets and authentic specialty stores like Claudio's or DiBruno Brothers. You'll even find my mouth watering at more corporate chains such as Dean and DeLuca and Williams-Sonoma. Nothing compares, however, to Fante's Kitchen Wares Shop at 1009 South 9th Street in Philadelphia. From friendly greetings to fabulous products, I can't wait to return to this wonderful store.
The windows are lined in wonderful Le Creuset and All Clad pots and pans, along with high-end appliances that only someone comfortable in the kitchen would really recognize. I was impressed immediately by the homey atmosphere of the massive store. Well-worn hardwood floors and perfectly dusty shelves made me feel as though I was allowed to touch things, pick them up, and even play a little with some of the more obscure gadgets. Despite the wide array of products (much more expansive than even the most comprehensive Williams-Sonoma), everything was organized in a way that made sense. If I'd been searching for something in particular, I could have instantly found it. Instead, I chose to walk the entire store in a few laps.
I was struck by how, in each room, friendly staff offered assistance but never pressure me to buy anything. Everyone was knowledgeable, particularly a wonderful young associate named Jess at the front of the store. Even as an avid foodie, I found items with which I was previously unfamiliar. It was really quite an experience. For a family-owned shop that's been around more than a hundred years, there's no hint of obsolescence. I can picture the family who runs the place answering customer inquiries one hundred years ago in the same friendly tone that Jess answered my questions.
The best part was yet to be discovered until I sat down to write this post -- they have a wonderfully comprehensive website. They offer their products online to the entire country. From perusing the store for quite a while earlier today, I strongly encourage you to give them a look.
http://www.fantes.com
Fante's
1006 South 9th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
215.922.5557
800.44.FANTE
mail@fantes.com
I offer Fante's my highest possible recommendation and look forward to buying cookware from them for decades to come.