The population of Latinos in Philly is increasing, as it is in every major metropolitan area in the country. I don't have the exact census figures to document this, but if I remember the census bureau has a page about this on their website.
There is are larger communities of Latinos in north and South Philly. I believe it's Cuban, Puerto Rican and Dominican in North Philly, and Mexican and Central American in South Philly. I posted something earlier in the year about day workers here in West Philly. A dayworker population is usually the toehold before the real immigration starts.
If you look in many of the restaurants in the area, and the agricultural areas outside of Philly, you'll also find a large and growing community of workers.
Also, there was a Mexican market that opened briefly at 48th & Spruce about three years ago. They were probably just ahead of their time.
In a message dated 9/6/04 7:39:38 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
The Thriftway at 43rd and Walnut has almost an entire aisle of Goya products. Also Coco-Rico, which IMHO ranks right up there with Jamaican Cola-Champagne and ginger beer as high life nonalcoholic beverages.
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The guy who runs People's Market at 45th and Baltimore is Dominican. I don't go there a whole lot, but he always has Spanish lanuage TV playing for all to watch.
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My impression is that the Hispanic population in Philly is increasing, but I've just heard anecdotal evidence. For example, my friend who teaches ESL at Southwark School says there are more Mexican families moving into South Philly.
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I've always wondered why there are not more Spanish-speakers in Philly. OnÂa recent visit to NYC it struck me again how predominant Spanish is, and how much Spanish language advertizing there is on the subways.I don't speak the lingo, but when I first lived in New York there was this lovely poetic sign in all the subway cars:
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"La via del tren subterraneo es peligrosa. Si el tren se para entre las estaciones, quedese adentro. No salga afuera! Siga las instrucciones de los operadores del tren o la policia."
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So lovely, so beautiful, like some Surrealista ditty. Nowadays they have an abridged version.
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When I moved into my apartment at 108th Âand Amsterdam c. 1979, there was a bold graffito scrawled on the outside wall: "Celebremos la muerta del perro Somoza!" The neighborhood was strongly Dominican then, and to my surprise, on this recent visit, it still was. This despite 25 years of gentrification on the part of Columbia University, the 800-pound gorilla in the hood.
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Alas I never learned the language, despite the folk admonition that "Spanish is a loving tongue." Another fave from the subway ads of yesteryear:
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"Las cucarachas entran pero no pueden salir!" (Roach Motel)
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Ross Bender
http://rossbender.org
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In a message dated 9/6/2004 6:31:10 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
Wow! ÂI do not know if this is true but if we could have a Cousinâs Market at that site, it sure would be great.
I have to trek up to 5th & Berks or 3rd & Lehigh. ÂThereâs another one at Front and Duncannon but if there would be one here...well donât just sit there everybody; verify!
BTW, West Philly has a lot of Dominicans who operate small corner grocery stores in West and Southwest. ÂThere are also Mexicans and Guatemalans (employed in restaurants mostly) who are in the area and in Upper Darby as well. There are Central Americans working the vegetable truck at 44th & Sansom. ÂWhy not have a Latin market there?
Wilma
On 9/6/04 4:26 PM, "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Not me this time!
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I just got an e-mail from a neighbor who said she'd heard that Thriftway had sold out the location at 43rd and Walnut to a company that has a small group of Hispanic-oriented markets. This seems hard to believe ... considering the demographics of the neighborhood.
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Has anybody else heard this ... from a reliable source?
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Al Krigman
(Left of Ivan Groznyj)
