WHYY
By
Alexie Encarnación and Yaritza Román of Northeast Philadelphia run an artisanal ice cream business called Helados Chupi Chupi and are regular vendors at La Placita. (Becca Haydu for WHYY)
Walking around La Placita, accompanied by the blasting of bachata music and the lingering smell of pinchos and empanadas, may transport you to Puerto Rico’s shopping and community corridor of the same name in San Juan.
At least that’s the hope for the organizers of La Placita Philly, a weekend flea market in Fairhill that opened April 10.
Every Saturday and Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., small business owners can sell their wares, from treasured antiques and thrifted finery, to handmade artwork and jewelry, to tacos and desserts, for an affordable vendor fee.