What's Up With The Philly Sports Shop?

Local weirdo opens weird little store

We held the grand opening of Foley’s: The Philly Sports Shop on May 10, at 2206 South Street.

DJ Extraordinaire played a live set. Kenwood Beer took care of refreshments. Ben Franklin entertained customers, Alex Tominsky (a/k/a the Philly Chicken Man) brought great vibes, and the lowest-budget Gritty you’ve ever seen terrified neighborhood children.

It was a perfect day.

Understandably, the endeavor has generated a lot of questions. So I drafted these FAQs:

What is Foley’s, exactly? What does it sell?

There are two main themes to the products we offer.

First, we’ve partnered with Hunt Auctions to sell high-quality, fully authenticated sports memorabilia such as this framed, signed Kyle Schwarber jersey, this Jimmy Rollins-signed Louisville Slugger, and this Saquon Barkley-signed Eagles helmet. Hunt has been in business for over 30 years and is one of the most trusted names in the entire sports memorabilia industry. They even provide the authenticated items you’ll find for sale at Citizens Bank Park.

Second, we’ve partnered with a dozen or two local artists and creators to offer unique Philly sports-themed art, apparel, and home decor items.

Altogether, we think we’ve created a very fun spot for any Philly sports fan to come and browse our selection. Odds are you’ll find something you didn’t know you needed, whether it’s an autographed baseball or a pair of Brandon Marsh earrings.

Is this some kind of mid-life crisis?

Yes, probably.

Are you still a lawyer?

Nope. This is my day job now.

Are you still a sportswriter?

Absolutely. In many ways, the shop is an extension of this substack and the 2008philz social media accounts. It’s all Philly sports-centric, of course, but it goes deeper than that.

I think most sports media outlets treat their customers and employees terribly, and I love providing independent coverage as an alternative. Similarly, I think most large corporations gouge sports fans at every turn with soulless, overpriced merchandise, and I love the indie alternatives that we’re going to provide in the shop.

Foley’s also lets me work directly with talented, creative individuals that impress the hell out of me, much like the folks who join Cre8tor Club or write guest features for this newsletter. People who take great pride in their work, pour their hearts into it, and actually care about the city of Philadelphia and its teams.

Sounds great, but how are you going to feed your kids?

Ehhhh, to be determined. I have some savings. Early returns from the store are encouraging. And paid subscribers to this newsletter certainly help!

That reminds me…

Most importantly, I fully believe in what we’re building on our little slice of South Street. I love waking up each day and figuring out how to make it better. And with our community, friends, and family behind us, I really don’t think we can be stopped.

Awwwww, that’s beautiful, I’m tearing up. But can I get a discount?

Yes! It’s only right to hook subscribers to this newsletter up with a deal. Check out our online shop HERE, and use code SUBSTACK15 at checkout for 15% off your entire order.

Can we talk about the Fightins for a moment?

I really think they’re going to be okay. The starting pitching will take them a long way. The bullpen is fine. They’re 13-5 in one-run games, and they will have to keep winning the close ones because they’re not going to score seven or eight runs very often.

I don’t think they’re going to catch the Braves to win the National League East, but a Wild Card spot will do. Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Brandon Marsh should give them just enough offense to get there. Maybe Trea Turner will get back on track; the man won the NL batting title last season, after all. And maybe this is the year they finally go big at the trade deadline for a right-handed bat.

In the postseason… Well, who knows. But would you want to be the team that has to face Cristopher Sanchez and Zack Wheeler in the first two games of a series?

Can I get a dumb photoshop?

If you insist.

When can I visit Foley’s: The Philly Sports Shop in person?

We’re open every Thursday through Sunday, 11:00 a.m. through 7:00 p.m. Meeting online friends in the real world has been a lot of fun. Please come by if you can!

Are you going to make me look at a dog?

You know I am.