North Franklin Street in the 1920s and 1930s was filled with retail shops, hotels, and businesses. Even before Burt’s was here (in what was then called upper Franklin), Mrs. Nannie Boyette opened her Philadelphia Café along this same stretch as early as 1898. Burt’s opened around 1920. By the time this photo was taken in 1930, Vickers Printing Company, Alfredo Zagaroli’s opera coaching school, and at the far end Prince Theater, “Home of Musical Comedy and Vaudeville,” were also on the block.

Burt’s was bought by Dorrie’s Hardware in 1942 and closed. As time progressed, the area saw its share of used furniture stores and second-hand clothing shops but became more depressed. In the 1980s, Luciano Prida renovated the old Burt’s store and the accounting firm of Prida, Guida & Perez, P. A. practice there today. The other buildings further north on the block were demolished, and the Residences of Franklin Street replaced them..

© Chip Weiner. All rights reserved