Shopping on the Street Where You Live: Philadelphia Road

As part of Patch’s local business coverage, we’ve been examining shopping centers, strip malls and general locations that most of us pass in some way on a regular basis. It’s human nature to overlook things that are right in front of us, so it’s a good thing to slow down and take a look.

This week, I examined a stretch of road I’ve traveled most of my life: Philadelphia Road. Specifically a section located between Golden Ring Middle School, just past Golden Ring Road and the Gardenville Moose at the corner of Philadelphia Road and Seling Avenue.

While I was a student at Golden Ring Middle School, my school bus traveled that path daily, and I had all but memorized the houses along the route. Here and there shops cropped up. When I started researching for this article, I felt confident that I still knew the businesses along the road. Just as with the other pieces I’ve written like this, I found myself stopping my car to take a look at a business that had obviously been there for years, but I never really “saw.”

In the spot next to Golden Ring Middle School, bordered by Kenwood Avenue, businesses have come and gone several times over. At one point, it was a small grocery store where kids could pick up snacks after a rec league game on the field next to the school. It has also been a pool hall, but now the triangle of property features a gas station and dental practice. The Liberty Gas Station has a small convenience section indoors and an automatic car wash outside.

Directly next to the school is The Dental and Friendship Dental Laboratories. (both at 8510) Drs. Paul Trintis and Peter Diacoloukas both graduated from the Maryland School of Dentistry. Lifelong friends, they wanted to start a practice in their hometown of East Baltimore.

Continue on Philadelphia Road beyond Kenwood Avenue and you’ll come upon a small strip mall on the right that’s packed with lots of food options, whether you’re running in for a lunch special or need to pick up something for dinner.

Pastore’s (8438) sells classic Italian groceries and offers deli and catering services as well. It features daily sub specials, several for $3.99, including meatball, Giacomelli, cold cut and Italian sausage.

Also located in that strip center are: Philadelphia Cleaners (8436), which offers basic dry cleaning services as well as services for bridal and prom gowns, draperies and suede items; Sitter & Associates (8434), a tax accounting service, open only Wednesdays and Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; as well as two other eateries, Rosedale Pizza (8432) and Jacky Chen Chinese Food Carryout (8426).

The anchor for the strip center is Family Dollar Store, open Mon.-Sat., 8 a.m.-9 p.m. and Sundays 9 a.m.-9 p.m. It offers everything from clothing to housewares to food deals, and it lists a weekly circular of special purchases and deals. (I found movie theater-style candy for $1, and Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup for $1.)

Past the strip mall is the freestanding Fiesta Mexicana (8304), known for selling "authentic" Mexican food. This is one of those eateries a person tends to discover by accident, then returns on purpose. The City Paper posted a review on Fiesta Mexicana a few years back.

Almost across the street from Fiesta Mexicana is Family Dentistry and Associates (8241). Dr. Edward Rose and Wendy Rose-Hyatt own the practice.  

Another small strip mall on the right side of the road houses the Classy Beauty Salon, Burritos California and Philadelphia Subs, which offers delivery on its subs and pizzas, as well as a few tables if you’re running in for a quick bite.

Next to the strip mall is a Rosedale landmark of sorts: Fairmount Bank . Last year, I finally discarded that original paper bank book from Fairmount. Until Fairmount relocated from its Philadelphia Road/Neighbors Avenue location to its current spot almost across the street, locals still brought those paper books into the bank to be updated by the friendly ladies who were a constant in a changing neighborhood landscape.

This tour of local businesses ends at the corner of Philadelphia Road and Selig Avenue at the Gardenville Moose. This was a neighborhood bar for years that changed hands many times. Locals remember it as The Maple Inn, but nowadays, it’s the private club, Moose Lodge 1242, Chapter 1138.