• Philly Health Department Unveils New Solar-Powered Sensors to Monitor Air Quality in Real Time

    Philly Health Department Unveils New Solar-Powered Sensors to Monitor Air Quality in Real Time

    Philadelphia officials have introduced a real-time air-quality network that collects data from solar-powered sensors installed at strategic points across every neighborhood, writes Frank Kummer for The Philadelphia Inquirer. A new online dashboard allows residents to monitor outdoor air quality before going for a walk, run, or park visit. The system gives alerts when pollution levels…

  • Five Below’s Turnaround, Lifting Stock Threefold, Can Be Credited to This Shopping Demographic

    Five Below’s Turnaround, Lifting Stock Threefold, Can Be Credited to This Shopping Demographic

    A renewed focus on teen shoppers has helped Philadelphia-based Five Below offset tariff pressures, positioning the retailer as one of retail’s standout comeback stories, writes Rachel Phua for Bloomberg. Following a five-year stock low that was triggered by President Donald Trump’s April 2024 tariff announcement, the retailer reworked its strategy around licensed products tied to…

  • Valentine’s Day in Philadelphia: Romantic, Budget-Friendly Getaway

    Valentine’s Day in Philadelphia: Romantic, Budget-Friendly Getaway

    With Valentine’s Day spending hitting record highs this year, Philadelphia once again stood out as a hidden gem and a budget-friendly destination for couples, writes Amanda Hurley for FOX 29 Philadelphia. The city once again ranked among the more affordable major metros where couples can enjoy Valentine’s Day without having to overspend. A budget of…

  • Comcast’s NBC Invests $8 Billion in Live Sports Content in Effort to Grow Viewership Numbers

    Comcast’s NBC Invests $8 Billion in Live Sports Content in Effort to Grow Viewership Numbers

    NBC is busy at work in terms of its sports content for this month as its parent company, Comcast, aims to keep up with its competitors, writes Hannah Miller for Bloomberg. Comcast has labeled Feb. 2026 as “Legendary February,” as NBC and its subsidiaries are playing host to several major sporting events this month alone.…

  • MLB Plans to Invest Millions in Philadelphia Communities for 2026 All-Star Weekend

    MLB Plans to Invest Millions in Philadelphia Communities for 2026 All-Star Weekend

    In 2019, the MLB did something it doesn’t typically do in announcing the host city of its All-Star Game seven years in advance. Knowing that 2026 is the 250th birthday of America, the league knew there was an opportunity there that it could not miss, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. “We put…

  • America’s Largest Privately Held Real Estate Brokerage Enters Philadelphia Market

    America’s Largest Privately Held Real Estate Brokerage Enters Philadelphia Market

    Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the largest privately held real estate brokerage in the nation, is now in the Philadelphia market and is already looking ahead to expanding, writes Paul Schwedelson for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The brokerage firm entered in Philadelphia by bringing on the team at Long & Foster Real Estate. This one…

  • Philadelphia Ranks Among Best Startup Cities in Nation as Funding Freeze Shows Signs of Thawing

    Philadelphia Ranks Among Best Startup Cities in Nation as Funding Freeze Shows Signs of Thawing

    Philadelphia ranks among the top ten best startup cities that have at least 1 million residents, as the funding freeze that has lasted several years starts to ease, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The Philadelphia innovation ecosystem placed eighth in a recent CommercialCafe ranking, beating out cities such as Chicago, Los Angeles,…

  • Philadelphia Small Businesses Hope to Convert 2026 Tourism Surge into Sustained Growth

    Philadelphia Small Businesses Hope to Convert 2026 Tourism Surge into Sustained Growth

    Philadelphia expects a major tourism-driven economic windfall this year, but the city needs proper strategy and preparation to ensure small businesses do not miss out, writes Sarah Huffman for Technical.ly. With World Cup games, the MLB All-Star game, and America’s 250th birthday all coming to the region, Philadelphia is set to welcome over one million…

  • Greater Philadelphia Will Be Among Hottest Housing Markets for 2026, Zillow Predicts

    Greater Philadelphia Will Be Among Hottest Housing Markets for 2026, Zillow Predicts

    Greater Philadelphia ranks in the top ten hottest housing markets for 2026, according to Zillow’s recently released annual forecast, writes Ryan Mulligan for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The analysis evaluates the nation’s 50 most populous metro areas using an index based on projected home value appreciation, time homes spent on the market last year, the…

  • New $11.5M Project Aims to Beautify Philadelphia in Preparation for 250th Birthday Celebrations

    New $11.5M Project Aims to Beautify Philadelphia in Preparation for 250th Birthday Celebrations

    Mayor Cherelle Parker has announced a partnership between the city and various other partners on a new $11.5 million project to beautify key access points into Philadelphia, writes Tom MacDonald for WHYY. The new beautification project is both in preparation to welcome the world to Philadelphia to celebrate America’s 250th birthday and part of the…

  • Wawa Shelves Shelfless, All-Digital Store at Drexel University

    Wawa Shelves Shelfless, All-Digital Store at Drexel University

    Wawa has made a “business decision” to close a shelfless, all-digital store at Drexel University, 3300 Market Street in Philadelphia, writes Michael Tanenbaum for PhillyVoice.  The Wawa store in University City was an experiment in virtual shopping. It opened in September 2018 on the ground floor of a parking garage owned by Drexel University. In…

  • Karina Sotnik, Who Helped Shape Silicon Valley’s Global Expansion, Now Brings International Startups to Philly

    Karina Sotnik, Who Helped Shape Silicon Valley’s Global Expansion, Now Brings International Startups to Philly

    Having played a key role in Silicon Valley’s global expansion, Karina Sotnik and her company WorldUpstart are now introducing international startups to Philadelphia, writes Sarah Huffman for Technical.ly. Philadelphia-based Sotnik began advising West Coast companies on global expansion in the 1980s. In the 2000s, she took a brief break from advising founders to become one…

  • Philadelphia Region Expects $1 Billion of Economic Impact from Tourism Blitz in 2026

    Philadelphia Region Expects $1 Billion of Economic Impact from Tourism Blitz in 2026

    The Philadelphia region could see an estimated $1 billion of economic impact in 2026 from the surge in tourism that is being driven by some of the world’s largest events, writes Mike D’Onofrio for AXIOS Philadelphia. Over one million visitors are projected to attend 22 events in Philadelphia and the surrounding area this year, including…

  • Here Are Some New Philly Laws That Could Go Into Effect in 2026

    Here Are Some New Philly Laws That Could Go Into Effect in 2026

    The calendar has officially turned to 2026 and with that comes a number of state and city law changes, including dozens of bills passed in Philadelphia, write Mike D’Onofrio and Isaac Avilucea for AXIOS Philadelphia. Last year, Philadelphia City Council passed about 240 bills. Now, Philadelphia school officials are required to notify parents and guardians…

  • Iconic 30th Street Station in Philadelphia Set to Receive Preservation-Led Makeover

    Iconic 30th Street Station in Philadelphia Set to Receive Preservation-Led Makeover

    Philadelphia’s iconic William H. Gray III 30th Street Station, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful Amtrak stations, is undergoing a makeover to restore its historic grandeur while adding some modern updates, writes Felix Ngeso for The Travel. Guided by a preservation first philosophy, the renovation seeks to maintain the historical details while upgrading…

  • Philadelphia-Based Aramark Will Play Key Role in Local 2026 Festivities, Here’s Why

    Philadelphia-Based Aramark Will Play Key Role in Local 2026 Festivities, Here’s Why

    A number of events will be taking place throughout Philadelphia and Aramark will play a significant role in the festivities, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. While the Philadelphia-based food services company typically operates behind the scenes, it will likely be much more visible. Aramark is the food services operator for Lincoln Financial…

  • What to Know About the 2026 Mummers Parade

    What to Know About the 2026 Mummers Parade

    As we approach a new year, the Mummers Parade is right around the corner. Since 1901, the Mummers Parade has been a Philadelphia staple in welcoming in the new year. 2026 will be no different. Here is all you need to know about the 2026 Mummers Parade. When Is the Mummers Parade? The Mummers Parade…

  • Book Excerpt: A Brief History of the Mummers Parade: A Philadelphia Tradition Since 1901

    Book Excerpt: A Brief History of the Mummers Parade: A Philadelphia Tradition Since 1901

    The following is an excerpt from Greater Philadelphia and the World (Vol.3), the third of a three-volume book series. The Greater Philadelphia: A New History for the Twenty-First Century book series, edited by Carolyn T. Adams, Howard Gillette Jr., Andrew Heath, Charlene Mires, and Jean R. Soderlund, celebrates the role Philadelphia has as the nation’s…