Abakus Takeout

Definitely a unique concept for a store. Walking around Chinatown, you’d probably just walk past this place and never give it a second thought. Abakus Takeout is designed to look and blend into that Chinatown feel. From the Chinese take-​out restaurant look outside, to the makeshift kitchen inside, this place is definitely a cool spot. However, the selection at Abakus Takeout just isn’t up to bar. This streetwear store is a consignment shop for sneakers, and a place to get some clothing. They have roughly 30 or so shoes on display to buy, and a couple clothing brands such as Stussy and their in-​house brand.
This place is definitely a store to see, but after going to it once, I don’t really have the urge to go back. The clothing selection is limited in comparison to Ubiq, and the prices for their consignment items are just a tad overpriced in comparison to the prices on eBay. Location-​wise, it’s a little out of the way. Unless you’re in Chinatown doing something, you’re probably not going to make a special trip here.

Great concept, awesome merchandise, excellent staff!

Great store. Friendly workers. Concept of the store is really cool. Love the ceiling in there. Got some Abakus stickers with Chinese takeout condiment design… ill.

Aimlessly walking around Chinatown, we happened upon this place as I saw it from across the street and was immediately drawn to it’s irreverent storefront display of sneakers and mock roast meat hanging from their window. I love the design approach that this place has taken to incorporate their surroundings, a very novel pastiche of elements in Chinatown all cleverly weaved into their small space. From the hanging sneakers, to the «takeout menu» right above their registers, and the cool use of the woks, to the Asian motif tiles on their ceiling, you know a lot of smarts and humor went into designing Abakus Takeout. Even the lucky Chinese cat can be found perched high upon one of the shelves.
Lastly, if you are into streetwear, this place will fit the bill. The bf knows a thing or two about such brands, and was surprised to see they carry ONLY merchandise. I just thought the guys running the store were pretty friendly, and I was honestly amused by the store’s design.
Abakus might be in an obscure spot in Chinatown, and may stick out like a sore thumb since it’s not really in a retail location, but for the streetwear devotees, they will surely amass a following.

What is most surprising about Abakus Takeout is it’s unassuming location. I’ve lived in Chinatown for a couple months now and have passed it a handful of times without ever noticing the shop, it’s pretty low key. But once you step in you will see a wide array of shoes, selvedge denim, and street wear. They carry big name street wear brands like Stussy, The Hundreds, Undefeated, as well as their own house brand. The inside is minimalistic and most likely a converted restaurant, kind of neat. After scrolling through their blog it seems like they have promotions every now and then. The clothes will still by no means be cheap though, but if your’e into this stuff it’s to be expected. One last thing, its unfortunate that people are comparing street wear to kanye west, a better point of reference would be skate boarding culture meets hip hop culture.

I thought I had completed a visit to every store in Chinatown, and then I stumbled on this place. What a unique concept — shoes hanging on the window like fried duck, hats laying in wok pans. Never seen anything like this.
I’m no b-​boy, and I’m by no means ill, so it’s not really a place that I would personally buy my clothes. But it’s stores like this that remind me why I’ll always be a city boy for life.

I love love LOVE exploring Philadelphia, so one recent weekend I convinced my bf to go for a walk around Chinatown… and into almost every single store there. He’s a good sport about it — something about how cute I am — so he doesn’t mind if I suddenly dart into a doorway, as I did with Abakus Takeout. I had no idea what it was, but I had to know right at that moment.
This is seriously the most fun-​looking sneaker store I’ve been to, and definitely the best in Philly. I was so confused when I first walked in because the interior design mimics a Chinese takeout place, but it’s filled with amazingly cool sneakers and streetwear clothing. There were also two guys playing some video game, but I was too intrigued by the sneakers to care. These are some pricey sneakers, but the style value is reflected in the price tag. Bottom line: I have GOT to bring my brother, and every other guy I know, here!

I was walking through Chinatown one day on my way to Sang Kee (that’s another review for another time). When I saw a suspicious looking takeout place. It’s the one with sneakers hanging as if they were roasted ducks.
Abakus is pretty much the coolest looking sneaker store in Philly. The interior décor resembles a Chinese takeout, fryers and all. Sometimes people are even playing Street Fighter 4 on a flat screen near the entrance. The sneaker selection bar none. Shoes are even shrink wrapped with little Chinese takeout boxes inside them. Good selection of clothing if you’re into street wear.
However, there is one downside. Don’t go in there thinking you will pick up sneakers for anything less than $ 100. That small gripe should only be a problem for the casual shopper. True sneaker heads will be in heaven once they walk into this place.
Even if you aren’t looking to buy anything at Abakus you should still stop in to see a true example of an amazing speak easy sneaker shop.

Abakus Takeout isn’t your typical Chinatown business.
Barely on the cusp of their two-​year anniversary, Abakus is a young clothing store that caters to a young audience. Its stylings — a juxtaposition of Chinese restaurant with trendy fashion stop — are a clever riot that works.
Blood red walls and vintage ceiling tiles frame their space. A faux walk-​in freezer serves as dressing room, complete with meat hanging from hooks — painted, that is. Step into their kitchen to see a selection of jeans and caps; even the price tags on their merchandise look like takeout slips! A flat-​screen TV and stereo sound system (appropriately, Lloyd Banks’s «Victory» was playing) are modern touches.
Jackson, one of the owners, pointed out features in the store, highlighting Abakus’s focus on streetwear, showing me designer varsity jackets, branded sweatshirts, tees — for both sexes — and an array of sneakers. I picked up a graphic tee that caught my eye (credit cards accepted), leaving satisfied. Almost.
If only Abakus actually served Chinese takeout.

A place that I’ve been interested in checking out for awhile now. But I’ve had the hardest time finding it mostly because I’m faithful to my Abacus enough to the point that I’ve been spelling here wrong and haven’t been able to locate it to the point of near madness. But that came to an end when I had time to kill before meeting Aaron O. and Baby Badness for dinner and was determined to find it. and the success paid off.
I’ve heard talk about how it was a boutique that played off the Chinese take out theme beautifully so I sort of knew what to expect. But I didn’t know exactly how well until I saw those hook hanging ducks that we’ve all grown accustomed to in Chinatown materialize into some fresh pairs of shoes right before my very eyes. They add onto the theme by putting smaller items in Chinese takeout boxes, and their store tag is made to look like the guest check that you get at the end of a meal. Score one for being unique while keeping close to your surroundings.
While most of the clothing wasn’t McThrill’s bag, he definitely admired the work into it ($ 70 – 100 for a hoodie not so much, but most of them did manage to look the part). But they did have plenty of unique T-​Shirts that where far less, and I would have picked one up if I wasn’t battling old man winter. they also had plenty of shoes that were worth splurging on, and plenty of bad ass figurines that were worth collecting. I don’t know what fresh is in Chinese, but I think that it definitely fits the profile.

check out grungy philly chinatown. look who’s getting some street style.
abakus seems to be high on style but light on substance. there was a bunch of kanye-​esque designer clothes, a few pairs of hightops and a few vinyl toys in the case up front. But, I think they need more & better options. Expand the choices a bit. But, the layout & attention to detail is sick.

Walking around Chinatown pre-​Punk Rock Flea Market, my sister and I walk by a store with sneakers at the window and toys on display. WTH? This trendy store seems to be in a poor location and would mostly benefit on Walnut/​Chestnut/​South Street area.
Anyway, it’s like Ubiq but mostly for men? Nike dunks, pricey sneakers, BAPEish clothing. To say it a little better, you shop here if you want to look like Kanye West (*cringe*) who was appropriately being played when I walked in («Stronger» was playing).
The boutique has a VERY nice design. The back area has a faux kitchen setup with woks filled with merch. There is also a display with kid robot type toys. Since I’m not the type to spend $ 30 on a trendy t-​shirt that says something like «I *heart* dope boys» I wouldn’t shop there. I do dig dunks and sneaks, though, still, I would stick with chain stores for that.
All in all, this is a fancy boutique with fantastic design and layout (I love the menu on LCD TVs). Just check out their website for pictures of their selection and store. The website is also pretty clever, with it’s Chinese takeout menu design. It’s not the type of place I’d shop, but I like to browse to look at the shoes and toys.