“Phoenixville is the armpit of the Main Line”… “Phoenixville?! Something’s wrong with the drinking water out there [cue hearty chuckle]”… “They don’t have teeth in Phoenixville.”
Hopefully, no one has ever uttered something this rude near you, but if such brainless insults have been directed at you and your town I suggest a devilishly witty comeback as the order of the day. I mean, come on, ‘The armpit of the Main Line?’ It’s just ridiculous, untrue, and rude!
I’m sorry to say that my ingenious imagination did not make up these ‘eloquent’ insults. They are taken verbatim from ‘upstanding’ (and surely jealous) citizens of neighboring communities.
My parents were told “Something is wrong with the drinking water,” and “Phoenixvillians are all toothless,” when they decided to move here 15 years ago. In the “Phoenixville is the armpit of the Main Line” case, I overheard an elderly teacher saying this to his class of 3rd graders years ago…in Phoenixville!
The good news is that these remarks aren’t recent; at least 12 years have passed since they were uttered and (as we all know) over the past few years the town has undergone an exciting renaissance and renovation. The benches and lampposts have been painted blue, the sidewalks redone, murals created, and numerous new cafes, bookstores, restaurants, and boutiques now line the streets. Also, the high bridge is finally being replaced (and will be closed until 2010), new homes are being built (and bought), and even the school systems have greatly improved!
But perhaps the biggest change is simply this: people are talking! Yes, talking about us: little old Phoenixville!
My mom is a hair-stylist in West Chester, and when she used to tell people she lived in Phoenixville she would receive responses like, “Where is that, exactly?” or, “Oh…That’s nice.” Now, however, people will tell her, “Oh yeah, Phoenixville! My husband and I go to the Colonial Theater every month! It’s great!” or, “I just ate at The Black Lab last week for First Friday…the food was fantastic, and the music was awesome!…I’m definitely going back!”
All this recognition is exciting, and I think it’s time we opened our eyes and realized that Phoenixville isn’t as boring and dull as we often complain it is: especially for a small town.
I’m tired of some people saying how boring Phoenixville is, and that there is nothing to do here. We’re close to King of Prussia, Philadelphia, and Exton, which is great in itself, but there’s also tons of new stuff to explore and discover here! New shops and restaurants are opening all the time. I was informed just the other day that a new restaurant, Spiedie Bistro, opened where the old Domino’s Pizza used to be by the Colonial Theater. I can’t wait to try it out!
There are tons of other delicious restaurants and eateries to attend, including Iron Hill Brewery, Majolica, La Creperie, Columbia Bar and Grille, The Black Lab, Artisan’s Café, Irish Joe’s Café, Molly McGuire’s, Los Mariachis, Nudy’s, Philadelphia Pretzel Company, Phoenixville Mansion House, Steel City Coffee House, Tyler James Pub, Brown’s Cow, Eliza’s Bakery, Cheese!, and of course all the other pizza shops and other places I’ve forgotten.
New restaurants are in the works as we speak. As it says on philly.com/inquirer, “Pat Ryan, whose Ryan's Pub is a favorite among twenty-somethings in West Chester hopes to commence business at his newest pub this spring adjacent to the Colonial Theatre. And Ron Morrison, president of Main Street Cafe, looks toward an early March unveiling of Baxter's Saloon & Eatery in the historic Superintendent's Building on Bridge Street, across from Iron Hill Brewery.”
There are other shops and restaurants that you may have overlooked. I’ll only mention a few. First of all, Wolfgang Books. Seriously, this place is amazing. It looks like the perfect movie set for a remake of the romantic comedy You’ve Got Mail! It can be hard to find because it’s a second story shop (the entrance is to the left of Earth Mart), but if you take the time to go up the 26 stairs and check it out, you’ll definitely be impressed. It has beautiful hardwood floors and bookshelves, and there is a quaint, comfortable reading room which hangs over Bridge Street with a great view!
Speaking of Earth Mart, be sure to stop in there too. It’s new, unique, and has a variety of products including home décor, jewelry, groceries, clothes, and much more! As their website says, their products are “organic, recycled, sustainable, fair trade and locally produced… [they’re] good for you AND good for the environment.” So if you want to start living green, Earth Mart is the place for you!
Let’s not forget; not every town has its own movie theater. The Colonial Theater is great because it plays a variety of films you won’t see in normal chain theaters and has some excellent concerts. It’s close, it’s famous, the atmosphere is unique, and it’s cheaper than other theaters.
There are also some special Phoenixville events including The Farmer’s Market (which takes place every Saturday morning next to the Family Dollar), the annual Firebird Festival, Blobfest, and First Fridays. In case you don’t know, First Fridays are held the ‘first Friday’ of every month and are super fun and busy, especially in the summer when musicians and performers line the street and all the stores are open ready for business.
Obviously our star (or perhaps bird) is rising after decades of negative press, so let’s all realize it and continue supporting the downtown institutions so they stay here. That way, “toothless” Phoenixville can go on having the last laugh!
HYPERLINK "http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/nabes/20080228_Renaissance___la_carte.html?imageId=6874102" Molly McGuire’s
Inside Wolfgang Books
Colonial Theater
Performance at First Friday
Performance at First Friday
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/chester/nabes/20080228_Renaissance___la_carte.html
Needless to say our star (or perhaps, bird) is rising
“Majolica brings what could be described as a little bit of South Street and Brooklyn's Park Slope to a borough that has worked hard to escape the fate of many former steel towns.” Inquirer Suburban
Majolica: A familiar name that dares to be different
Catherine Quillman INQUIRER SUBURBAN STAFF
http://www.majolicarestaurant.com/Reviews.html#LeBan

Restaurants (Majolica, Iron Hill [also in West Chester],
-ocean earth wind fire (massage)
122 Bridge Street in the vibrant heart of Phoenixville, PA
-Hipster Home 22 South Main St
Phoenixville, Pa 19460
-Colonial Theater
-Tiny Hineys

Posted by
Grace Farrell
Editorial - Phoenixville

On 227 Bridge Street, in Phoenixville, across the front of a building reads COLONIAL, in bright yellow letters. When you step inside, you’ll notice stairs to your left and right that lead to the balcony seats. Straight ahead lie the doors to the theatre. To the right, former PAHS student Ryan Wilson sells popcorn, soda, and candy. Through the theatre doors are rows and rows of seats and a stage in the front, with a drop screen hanging down.
The Colonial Theatre is a building with a rich history that has much more to offer than the average high school student might think. On this stage, professional and live entertainment was introduced to the town of Phoenixville for the very first time. The first silent movie debuted here in 1903. Fourteen years later, the world famous magician Harry Houdini performed on this stage. In 1958, the Colonial Theatre was used in the sci-fi horror film The Blob (and every year hosts a “Blob Fest”). The Colonial Theatre closed for a while in the 1990’s and reopened in 1999. In the last couple of years, some major changes and renovations have been made to the Colonial Theatre. There’s brand new carpeting in the lobby, an elevator for convenience of the disabled, and new seats. Everything is old-fashioned, yet comfortable and beautiful. The theatre is still undergoing renovations to its third floor.
In fact, right now the Colonial is working on installing a restored pipe organ, and needs community volunteers to help with the painting and heavy lifting. High school students – this is a great opportunity for a senior project! If you are interested in helping out, contact Jack Serdy (the project manager) at 610-933-3601.
Currently, The Colonial Theatre is owned and operated by the Association for the Colonial Theatre (ACT), a nonprofit corporation. Nowadays, the theatre shows art and independent films on weeknights and weekends. “There are a wide range of programs for all ages downtown,” said Scott, an employee at the theater. “[The Colonial] brings a lot of people who’d never usually come to Phoenixville.” There are children’s movies on Saturdays, and ‘Classics’ on Sundays. Regular admission is $7. Seniors and students with ID’s get in for $6. Children under 13 get in for $4. Starting April 4th, the Colonial will be showing horror films on the first Friday of every month. The Colonial Theatre is also well known for the concerts it hosts. Upcoming acts include Gaelic Storm on April 18th, Brain Damage (a Pink Floyd tribute band) on April 19th, and Dickey Betts (an original member of the Allman Brothers) on April 30th. These concerts sell out fast, so be sure to keep an eye on the website, HYPERLINK "http://www.colonialtheatre.com" www.colonialtheatre.com.
The Colonial Theater is a wonderful part of the Phoenixville community, offering fun films for all ages and tastes. Don’t be turned off just because it’s an older theatre… that’s the charm! Go see a movie you’ve never heard of! Attend the festivals and activities you might not normally attend! Combine the trip with a nice lunch or dinner at one of Phoenixville’s great restaurants or The Steel City coffee shop. I encourage you to try something different than the usual trip to the mall or regular Regal Cinemas. You can help Phoenixville grow as a fun-filled community. Plus, chances are, you’ll wind up having a wonderful time.

Posted by
Lindsay Burgess