RTM Open Sundays in December

[rlibkind]

The Reading Terminal Market will be open on Sundays for the three weekends prior to Christmas: Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Hours will be 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (though individual merchant hours will vary.)

Of the 76 merchants at the RTM, about three dozen (nearly half) will be open, including Iovine's Produce, Harry Ochs, all three fish vendors, Coastal Cave, Salumeria, Downtown Cheese, and Termini Brothers.

The Pennsylvania Dutch merchants, of course, will not be open. Among other purveyors who, as of today, are not participating: Metropolitan, Le Bus, OK Lee Produce, Martin's Quality Meats & Sausage. It should surprise no one that the six vendors whose leases aren't being renewed will not be open.

For a full list of Sunday vendors, visit the RTM website.

[KatieLoeb]

This is great news, but isn't helping me now, when I'd love for them to be open THIS Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Anybody know where I can get a nice side of salmon on a Sunday? Is Ippolito's or any other good fish monger open on Sunday? I need to start the gravlax for Thursday. I suppose I could do it on Monday, but I'd rather have it purchased so I can do the prep on Monday.

[mrbigjas]

anastasi and the other fish vendors in the italian market are open on sunday...

[Greg Salisbury]

Ippolito's is open on Sunday, and I must say that it is far and away the most impressive retail operation in the entire city, bar none. I was there two weeks ago to get diver scallops - and they had them, as well as fresh octopus, 2 dozen types of fish, prepared foods, etc. Sure, it's at 13th and Dickinson, but it's worth the trip, and there is plenty of parking available.

[KatieLoeb]

Ippolito's is open on Sunday, and I must say that it is far and away the most impressive retail operation in the entire city, bar none. I was there two weeks ago to get diver scallops  - and they had them, as well as fresh octopus, 2 dozen types of fish, prepared foods, etc. Sure, it's at 13th and Dickinson, but it's worth the trip, and there is plenty of parking available.

←

Thanks Greg. I was hoping they were open and it looks like that's where I'll be stopping tomorrow to pick up some salmon for Thanksgiving gravlax appetizers and probably a nice piece of fish for dinner on Monday as well. I also tend to forget what a great store it is since it's sort of off the beaten track.

[shacke]

Do any insiders know if the RTM is open on the 26th, day after xmas?

Evan

[rlibkind]

Do any insiders know if the RTM is open on the 26th, day after xmas?

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The RTM will be open. However, the Pennsylvania Dutch section is normally closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and the day after Christmas would not be an exception to this rule.

In addition, it's conceivable some other individual merchants may close; however, most wait until after New Year's to take a brief vacation.

[shacke]

Do any insiders know if the RTM is open on the 26th, day after xmas?

←

The RTM will be open. However, the Pennsylvania Dutch section is normally closed Mondays and Tuesdays, and the day after Christmas would not be an exception to this rule.

In addition, it's conceivable some other individual merchants may close; however, most wait until after New Year's to take a brief vacation.

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Thanks for the info. I have to delay our 7 fishes dinner on x-mas eve and wanted to do it the 26th but not if the RTM was closed. That's great news to me. I was concerned because the 26th is the federal holiday.

Evan

[rlibkind]

. . . . I have to delay our 7 fishes dinner on x-mas eve and wanted to do it the 26th but not if the RTM was closed.  That's great news to me.  I was concerned because the 26th is the federal holiday.

Evan

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I don't think the fish will be any fresher Monday than Saturday (in fact, it will be less fresh). Difference is that the fish mongers can probably do a better job of storing it to hold.

[rlibkind]

RTM now up to 43 out of 76 vendors for Sunday. They are:

2th Street Cantina

Amazulu

Amy's Place

Bassetts Ice Cream

Bee Natural

Beer Garden

Blue Mountain Vineyards

Braverman's Bakery

Chocolate by Mueller

Coastal Cave

Cookbook Stall

De Village African Art

Down Home Diner

Downtown Cheese

Don't Forget Your Pet

Famous 4th St. Cookies

Flower Basket

Foster's Gourmet Cookware

Golden Bowl

Golden Fish Market

Harry G. Ochs & Sons

Iovine Bros Produce

John Yi Fish Market

Market Blooms

Natural Connection

Nanee's Kitchen

Nomad Trading

Old City Coffee

Olympic Gyro

Original Turkey

Pennsylvania General Store

Profi's Creperie

Rick's Philly Steaks

Rocco's Famous Italian Hoagies

Salumeria

Salad Express

Sang Kee

Shoe Doctor

Termini Brothers Bakery

Terralyn: Bath, Body & Spirit

Wan's Seafood

Young Botanicals

[rlibkind]

Back from the RTM's first December Sunday opening of the season, and the above photo says it all. Hardly any food shoppers, at least between 10 and 11:20 a.m., when I was there.

Weather may well have been a factor. And maybe this afternoon traffic will increase.

The only busy vendors while I was there were two eateries: the Down Home Diner and Profi's Creperie. Since neither Metropolitan nor LeBus were open, I breakfasted on a cup from Old City Coffee and a decent, very sweet marble pound cake from Braverman's. The only other vendor doing decent business was Iovine's, and even they weren't that busy (3 checkouts were more than adequate to handle to flow).

See the Reading Terminal Market: What I Found On My Most Recent Visit topic string for a report on today's offerings.

[mrbigjas]

there were certainly more people than that wheni was there about 145 or so today. got a nice sirloin tip roast from harry ochs, our veggies for the week from iovines, some other supplies from 12th street... i hope it's successful enough for them to consider continuing it, even though the terminal is kinda weird when it's not all open and full of people.

[rlibkind]

According to RTM Manager Paul Steinke, while traffic and sales were on the low side last Sunday, most of the merchants who opened felt it worthwhile. Nick of Harry Ochs said business was on a par with a Monday, a traditionally slow day. Steinke and merchants do, however, expect more volume this Sunday and next.

Steinke said he thought the big crowds last week at the Down Home Diner (and at lunchtime at Rick's Steaks) were due to hotel guests. Many try the doors of the RTM every Sunday and find them closed, to their surprise; this past Sunday they were open.

[sockii]

According to RTM Manager Paul Steinke, while traffic and sales were on the low side last Sunday, most of the merchants who opened felt it worthwhile. Nick of Harry Ochs said business was on a par with a Monday, a traditionally slow day. Steinke and merchants do, however, expect more volume this Sunday and next.

Steinke said he thought the big crowds last week at the Down Home Diner (and at lunchtime at Rick's Steaks) were due to hotel guests. Many try the doors of the RTM every Sunday and find them closed, to their surprise; this past Sunday they were open.

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I'm sure tomorrow will be a fairly good day, with Philcon going on at the Marriott this weekend, and us Sci-Fi geeks do love to eat (today my hours in the dealers room were made much more tolerable with some cinnamon rolls, tuna salad and kettle chips from one of the Amish vendors, and whoever's open tomorrow will be getting my lunch business as well...)

[MarketStEl]

Iovine's had a modest number of customers when I stopped by today around 12:30 p.m. The Down Home Diner looked pretty busy. Didn't see Bobby Iovine or Paul or anyone else, so didn't get a feel for whether the trend was up, down or neutral.

[rlibkind]

RTM manager Paul Steinke reports that foot traffic this past Sunday was double that of the previous Sunday, more than 9,000 vs. fewer than 4,500. Some of it no doubt came from a big convention, but Steinke believes there were increased numbers of locals as word as spread of the Sunday openings.

This Sunday will be the last of the three scheduled for December.

[MarketStEl]

My report after a visit ~11:30 a.m. today, Sunday, 12/18:

Traffic was modest throughout the market, except at the Down Home Diner, where the patrons were waiting in line to get in.

I asked a clerk at Iovine's how business was, and she said, "A bit slow."

I imagine things picked up later in the day.

My advice for Paul: This may be one of those things where you will have to drag the merchants along kicking and screaming into the present. And also one of those things where you will have to boost your advertising budget for a while.