Northern Liberties

Northern Liberties

Type	Neighborhood
Location	River Wards
ZIP code(s)	19123
Established	1891 (consolidated into Philadelphia)
Boundaries	North: Girard Avenue, South: Spring Garden Street, East: Front Street, West: 6th Street
Adjacent	Fishtown, Spring Garden, Old City, Callowhill
Major streets	2nd Street, 3rd Street, Spring Garden Street
Transit	Market-Frankford Line (Spring Garden Station, Girard Station)
Landmarks	Piazza at Schmidt's, Liberty Lands Park

Northern Liberties is a neighborhood in the River Wards section of Philadelphia, wedged between Center City and Fishtown. It wasn't always this way. Once an industrial powerhouse, the neighborhood has transformed dramatically into one of the city's most rapidly gentrified areas, packed with modern apartment complexes, trendy restaurants, and bustling nightlife venues. The Piazza at Schmidt's anchors the whole scene, a mixed-use development that rose from the ruins of a former brewery.

The neighborhood connects historic Old City and Spring Garden to the south with Fishtown's established residential character to the north.

History

Colonial Era

"The Northern Liberties" referred to the area north of the original city limits. During colonial times, settlers received a "liberty" (essentially permission to settle) in this space. When Philadelphia consolidated in 1854, the neighborhood wasn't even part of the original city yet. The Consolidation Act changed that.

Industrial Era

Fast forward to the late 19th century. Northern Liberties had become unmistakably industrial. Schmidt's Brewery, founded in 1860, dominated the neighborhood as the largest employer by far. Factories sprawled everywhere. Warehouses lined the streets. Working-class rowhouses filled in the gaps, packed tightly together to house factory workers.

Decline

Late 20th century deindustrialization hit hard. Factories sat empty. Warehouses collected dust and urban decay. Schmidt's Brewery itself closed in 1987, abandoning a massive vacant lot in the neighborhood's center. The area struggled for years.

Transformation

Redevelopment kicked off in the 2000s. Developers converted old industrial buildings into lofts. They put up new housing. Then came the Piazza at Schmidt's, which opened in 2009. That was the game changer. The former brewery site became a mixed-use development featuring apartments, retail space, and a European-style piazza where the community could gather for events.

Northern Liberties today is largely built out. It represents one of Philadelphia's most complete neighborhood transformations, though not without controversy over what was lost in the process.

Character

Architecture

The architecture tells the neighborhood's story through sharp contrasts:

• New construction apartment buildings (these dominate)
• Converted industrial loft buildings
• Historic rowhouses (fewer of them left)
• Former factory buildings now used as commercial space

Atmosphere

It's got a distinctly modern urban vibe:

• Packed with young professionals
• Energetic nightlife and dining scene
• Both chains and independent shops coexist
• Streets designed for walking and biking

The Piazza at Schmidt's

The Piazza at Schmidt's is Northern Liberties' centerpiece. Built on the former Schmidt's Brewery site, it's become essential to the neighborhood:

• Large public plaza for events
• Surrounding apartment buildings
• Ground-floor retail and restaurants
• Summer movie screenings
• Community events and festivals

It functions as the neighborhood's gathering place. A de facto town square.

Dining and Nightlife

There's no shortage of places to eat and drink in Northern Liberties.

Restaurants

• Standard Tap - A pioneering gastropub featuring all-local draft beer
• Honey's Sit 'n Eat - Popular brunch destination
• Bar Ferdinand - Spanish tapas
• Heritage - Farm-to-table dining
• Cantina Dos Segundos - Mexican cuisine

Bars

• Standard Tap - Known for local craft beer focus
• 700 Club - Neighborhood staple
• North Bowl - Bowling and drinks
• Jerry's Bar - Classic dive bar

Coffee

• ReAnimator Coffee - Local roaster
• La Colombe - Philadelphia-based chain
• Elixr Coffee - Third-wave coffee spot

Shopping

Commercial activity clusters around 2nd and 3rd Streets. You'll find boutiques and specialty shops. Home goods stores sit alongside local retailers. Some national chains have moved in too.

Getting There

Public Transit

• Market-Frankford Line (The L): Spring Garden Station, Girard Station
• SEPTA Bus Routes: 5, 25, 43, 57

Biking

Northern Liberties is very bike-friendly. The Delaware River Trail is right there, within reach.

Driving

• I-95 access via Girard Avenue
• Street parking available
• Paid garage parking at Piazza

Living in Northern Liberties

Housing

• Predominantly new construction apartments
• Converted loft buildings
• Some historic rowhouses
• Higher rents than Philadelphia average

Demographics

• Young professionals make up the largest population group
• Recent college graduates cluster here
• Creative industry workers call it home
• Few families with children, since most units are smaller

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• Walkable to Center City and Fishtown
• Active dining and nightlife scene
• Modern housing stock
• Good transit access

Cons:

• Higher housing costs
• Less historic character than surrounding neighborhoods
• Chain retail replacing independents in some spots
• Parking is genuinely difficult

See Also

• Fishtown
• Old City
• Spring Garden
• Callowhill
• River Wards