There’s a new destination for sports memorabilia celebrating its grand opening this weekend, and this is not your grandpa’s memorabilia store. Foley’s: The Philly Sports Shop (2206 South St.) is a new store selling signed Philly sports memorabilia and apparel featuring art and designs by Philadelphia-based independent artists, set to open on Mother’s Day, May 10.
The brick-and-mortar retail location is led by longtime sports writer and Philly sports superfan John Foley. He's best known for creating a community of over 45,000 Philly sports fans through X (formerly Twitter) and Bluesky, as well as his independent newsletter. He has also written for local sports outlets Crossing Broad, OnPattison and PHLY.
Foley’s: The Philly Sports Shop is built around a simple idea: creating a space that reflects the humor and passion often found in the creative names and voices around Philly sports culture while supporting the artists and designers who author it.
Foley has already partnered with several local creators, including Dhwani Saraiya, a rising artist known for transforming iconic Philly sports moments into artwork and apparel designs. Saraiya previously designed the Phillies’ City Connect mural at Citizens Bank Park and opening-night T-shirts for the Flyers. Foley has also partnered with Olivia H. Smith, a Philly sports-themed illustrator and graphic designer, along with Phannies, a handbag company founded by La Salle graduates Abby Zweigle and Beck Gilber.
“There’s so many talented people in Philadelphia and so many of them just on Twitter,” Foley explained when appearing alongside me on Oscar Budejen’s 'Phillies Weekly’ podcast on YouTube. “I really think this is such a creative community, and I think this is going to be a lot of fun to bring that all together in one place.”
Foley wants to build relationships with more emerging artists and give them a space to showcase their artwork, and to sell apparel and other products that reflect the passion and humor of Philly sports culture. As for how he specifically came about those partnerships, that was the easy part, according to Foley.
"There are so many talented people in the Philly sports community doing so many creative things," he explained. "I started by just reaching out to people that I’m a fan of. As word spread, people started to approach me with their creations - custom Eagles BBQ items, earrings with Brandon Marsh’s face on them, a children’s book about Philly fans. I’m having a blast learning what’s out there."
As for memorabilia, Foley is partnering with Exton-based Hunt Auctions, which, in partnership with the Phillies, also sells memorabilia inside Citizens Bank Park.
Foley believes the blend of new-school, non-licensed, independent artist style and traditional memorabilia, items typically dealt at very different price points, is a strong mix.
"They’re separate themes in some ways," he explained. "But I think it all fits under the big umbrella of 'cool Philly sports [stuff].' If you’re a fan, I think you’ll be interested in the memorabilia, you’ll be interested in the apparel, you’ll be interested in the art...If it fits the vibe, we sell it."
“Everything in the shop is curated with Philly fans in mind,” Foley said via a press release. “We’re focused on unique, locally made products you won’t find anywhere else. This is about celebrating the city and the people who create around its teams.”
Foley’s: The Philly Sports Shop will celebrate its grand opening with an event on May 10, running from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., featuring a full day of activities, including appearances by Ben Franklin and “Sports Team Mascot” (12:30 to 3:30 p.m.), a meet and greet with the legendary "Philadelphia Chicken Man," Alexander Tominsky (2 to 4 p.m.), and a live set from DJ Extraordinaire (4 to 7 p.m.). Free refreshments will also be provided throughout the day by Kenwood Beer.
The shop aims to provide a fan-focused retail experience rooted in authenticity, bringing together sports, community, and local culture in one space. In addition to their brick-and-mortar location, Foley’s will also offer online sales and is actively seeking to collaborate with additional local artists and creators.
“This isn’t just a store," Foley said. "It’s a platform for local talent. If you’re creating something cool tied to Philly sports, we want to work with you.”
For more information on Foley's: The Philly Sports Shop, visit foleysonsouth.com.
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