Little Pete’s Update
Awhile back, I wrote a post about the closing of the much-loved Chestnut Street Little Pete’s. I still get a little shiver of sadness every time I walk by there, the metal gates pulled down and locked tightly, decorated with new graffiti. I’ve been wondering what happened to the staff from “Chez Petite Pierre” (as my mom jokingly called it). The waitresses, who always threw a little “hey hun” at me when when I came in for coffee or soup. The surly delivery guys, who once in a while would surprise me by showing stunning kindness to the elderly patrons.
Well, I wonder no longer. Yesterday, as I was walking home, I noticed a sloppy, handwritten sign posted on the brick wall across the street from the shuttered restaurant. It said, “Carol, Sue, Mike and Dominic (from Pete’s) are now at the Midtown.” They migrated to a diner a block away. It made me feel good to know that tuna hoagies, eggs over easy and roasted half chickens will still be served and delivered on Chestnut St. by the same people who’ve been serving the neighborhood for years. On a street that has changed as rapidly as this one, it’s nice when somethings stay the same.
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whew. good to hear. where on chestnut is the place?
Midtown, It is on 18th Street between Chestnut and Market. It is open 24 hours. The Original Little Pete’s is still at 17th and Chancellor (between Walnut and Locust on 17th St and also opened 24 hours a day.)
Also now located there serving traditional Deli food during the day is Pastrami and Things. They are open six days a week, most days till 5:00 PM.
One Friday when I was still living in the suburbs, a few friends came from out of town and wanted to see Philly. We stayed in the city well until after the last SEPTA had left, so we found our way to Little Pete’s from about 3 to 5 in the morning. We ordered quite a bit of food, but we stayed until well after we were done eating and by the time we left we had all taken mini-naps sitting in the booth. All night diners are key.