? Do you like Philly? record for Free Billy Benn newsletter For everything you need to know about Philadelphia, every day.
Philly Transit enthusiasts have gone without new goods for the past 18 months, but the drought is finally over. The SEPTA store reopened last week for the first time since March 2020.
Located inside the lobby of SEPTA HQ at 12 and Market, the store is filled with T-shirts, toys, books, key chains – and of course, old metal tokens, turned into a variety of memorabilia.
“We’ve definitely had a lot of foot traffic in the past four days,” said Paige Maguire, senior sales development specialist at SEPTA who helps oversee the store. “It’s fun to see everyone come back. With customers waiting for us to reopen, it was like a little reunion.”
When non-essential businesses were forced to close at the start of the pandemic, that means there is no way to stop the good stuff from SEPTA, because there is no online store.
That will soon change, according to Maguire. Although it likely won’t be ready until 2022, the transport authority is working on a website where you can order items.
It should make customers happy. “We had a few phone calls here and there, like, ‘Can you remember us when the store reopens?'” Can you call us, said Al’Lee Davis, Store Customer Experience Supervisor.
In the meantime, you can now visit the store in person. It is open from 10am to 3pm from Wednesday to Saturday. Pretty much everything in stock is very affordable, and you’ll get an extra 15% off if you show the cashier your SEPTA key.
Here is a list of some fave products and what they will cost you.
Merchandise for your commute representative
If you have always dreamed of getting dressed in your everyday clothes, now is your chance. New in store this season are T-shirts with maps of the Broad Street Line, Market-Frankford Line, and trolley and bus routes ($17).
If you want a more subtle look, check out our Single-Stripe Shorts Embroidered Baseball Caps (also $17).
baby clothes
There is a new T-shirt design for Younger Philadelphia. Offered in teal, yellow, and lime green, it features a cartoon SEPTA bus cut above the name of the world’s greatest city ($11.50).
Miniature replicas of the vehicle
While we’re on the topic of kids – a kid’s birthday coming up? The store offers a selection of Cipta buses, minivans, and subways ($7.75). Perfect for light play and slow memorization of general transit appreciation.
Reading material on your favorite public transport network
Another point in favor of the store: There is a small library in the back. Lined on the shelves are dozens of books related to Philly public transportation, or other regional and national transportation networks. Even if reading isn’t your thing, it will look great on the coffee table.
Makes a Philly tracksuit
Do you want to look like you live in Philly or not? To really stick, you should wear a tracksuit and sprinkle some Tastykake crumbs on your chest. These tops and bottoms look super cute, embellished with the iconic red, white, and blue logo and don’t cost much. Time to kick back ($22 to $33).
Drinking supplies
Come on, $5 for a pint cup? It’s theft! Impress your friends by pouring a cold one into bowls decorated with detailed graphics of MFL’s, BSL’s and trolleybuses.
Transit-themed accessories
It’s not just about shirts and sweats – you can also go for a low-key, loyal look. Think baseball caps, bucket hats, visors, and even SEPTA-branded socks, all on a $10 to $15 soccer field.
Cepta Retro Jewelery
If you’re a die-hard fanatic, this is the way to show it. There are less expensive options, like railroad car lapel pins for $8.50 and logo earrings that cost $38. Then there are the high-end accessories: the SEPTA necklace with a small diamond for $125; Cuff Links That Will Make You $165.
And don’t say the code is dead: You can get a ring made from old transit fare, for anywhere from $235 to $250.
