Every Zip Philadelphia

One Day at Little Pete’s in Center City, 19103

    By
  • Neal Santos (Video & photos), Alex Lewis (Audio & text)
    • March 10, 2016

Little Pete’s restaurant has been the greasy spoon of choice for Center City residents and workers for over 37 years. At the corner of 17th and Chancellor, just a block away from Rittenhouse Square, the all-night diner has managed to stay more-or-less the same while the neighborhood around it has changed rapidly.

But even Little Pete’s can’t withstand gentrification. The 24-hour diner and the three-story parking lot that lies above it have been slated to be demolished and replaced by a luxury hotel. Philadelphia City Council approved the re-zoning of the block to allow for the construction of a hotel in late 2015. The fate of Little Pete’s is now in the hands of developers.

In the meantime, life goes on as usual at Little Pete’s while they wait for the wrecking crew to arrive. Businessmen, taxi drivers, janitors, and couples crowd into the restaurant, some wondering whether they’re eating their last meal at one of Center City’s last 24-hour spots.

So we decided to camp out there for one day. We ate breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a late night snack. We wanted to make a kind of monument for the restaurant, a portrait of what life feels like at Little Pete’s while it’s still around.

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor

Here are more sights and sounds from our day at Little Pete’s:

  • Jessie used to eat breakfast every Saturday morning at Little Pete's before moving to New Jersey. She vividly remembers a first date at the diner. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
    Jessie used to eat breakfast every Saturday morning at Little Pete's before moving to New Jersey. She vividly remembers a first date at the diner. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
  • Late afternoon is a good time to enjoy a quiet moment at Little Pete’s. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
    Late afternoon is a good time to enjoy a quiet moment at Little Pete’s. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
  • Little Pete's attracts people from all walks of life in Center City. Businessmen, celebrities taxi drivers, janitors, couples, you name it. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
    Little Pete's attracts people from all walks of life in Center City. Businessmen, celebrities taxi drivers, janitors, couples, you name it. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
  • The late night scene on a Monday at Little Pete's. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
    The late night scene on a Monday at Little Pete's. (Neal Santos/WHYY)

  • WHYY thanks our sponsors — become a WHYY sponsor
  • Wayne has been a cook at Little Pete’s for more than 14 years. He says, “I’ve seen everything in here.” (Neal Santos/WHYY)
    Wayne has been a cook at Little Pete’s for more than 14 years. He says, “I’ve seen everything in here.” (Neal Santos/WHYY)
  • Eleni has been the late night manager at Little Pete's for five years. She says,
    Eleni has been the late night manager at Little Pete's for five years. She says, "I’m the bouncer, I’m the manager, I’m security, you name it. I’m the door person, the hostess. I do a little bit of everything." (Neal Santos/WHYY)
  • A hearty meal at Little Pete's. (Neal Santos/WHYY)
    A hearty meal at Little Pete's. (Neal Santos/WHYY)

WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today.

Brought to you by Every Zip Philadelphia

You may also like

Want a digest of WHYY’s programs, events & stories? Sign up for our weekly newsletter.

Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal

Donate
Learn about WHYY Member benefits
Ways to Donate