GIANT Heirloom Market Fashion District

With an appreciation for history and architecture, The GIANT Company undertook a careful renovation of a historic Philadelphia landmark. What once was the main shopping floor of the iconic Strawbridge & Clothier department store is now an ultra-modern, urban format grocery store that offers shoppers a glimpse into the stately building’s art deco past. All the original character has been maintained, while adding elegant lighting, soft gray tones, and pops of gold to create an experience unlike any typical grocery store.



As a centrally located urban store, the building’s renovation posed as many challenges as opportunities. Situated on the ground floor of an office building, the store is located above a subterranean retail level and an active subway concourse. The GIANT Company worked through these impediments to design a thoughtful, modern 32,000 square foot venue that functions well in a busy, historic building.



In the shadow of City Hall, this historically registered building features cavernous 18.5-foot-high ceilings, original decorative plaster columns and ceiling, nine original large-scale, candelabra-style chandeliers, an original wall-mounted clock, decorative trim, and the famous “Il Porcellino,” a memorable wild boar statue that longtime visitors will immediately recognize.



In building its largest-to-date GIANT Heirloom Market store, architects and designers took care to not only incorporate these important elements but restore them to their original beauty and function. The team restored the wild boar statue, allowing it to become a working fountain again and the centerpiece of the store’s attractive on-premise dining area and beer eatery.



Within a bank of 10 ornate elevator doors from the 1920s-era store, a sleek seating area, with tones of charcoal and wood, offers a place to enjoy a meal and wine or beer from the modern, interactive Tap Hall with 32 self-serve options. A food hall features a sushi bar with zen blue under-counter lighting, a Starbucks, and more freshly prepared signature dishes.



Outside, the historic facade was maintained, but The GIANT Company took advantage of three window displays to showcase on-theme department store-style window dressing, including a street facing artistic plate mural and a kitchen scene.