Evergreen Deli

Great little convenience store and deli at 4^th and chestnut. Awesome beverage selection (10+ coolers) and then a wide array of snacks, chips, and protein bars. My main knock for 4 stars is that the hours are a bit limited.

We get sandwiches here all the time, walking back to our Society Hill apartment from the market-​frankford line. Way fresher and tastier than Subway up the street, more substantial and better priced than Cosi across 4^th. They are cash-​only for tabs under 10 bucks, so we have gotten used to picking up all sorts of indulgent extras (Haribo, European candies, fancy drinks, etc.) along with what can only be described as well-​engineered sandwiches: romaine lettuce and cheese laid down to protect a spongy hoagie roll with a perfect level of crustiness, toppings like onions and peppers that are crunchy and flavorful. The full-​size hoagies are large enough to put paid to a manly hunger, or to save the second half if you just aren’t super-​hungry. Even the wrapping of the sandwich is carried out well, with no leaking or loosening of the arrangement of the ingredients. Lines can be a little long for lunch, but move reasonably quickly, and the name of the place is «Grocery,» «Park’s Grocery,» or «Evergreen Deli» depending on where you look for it, but this is not a greengrocer’s.

Park’s Grocery (really: «Grocery» — I didn’t even know Park was part of the name until I found it on here!) is right next door to my office and I have to say… I don’t know where I’d be without this place.
Is it tiny? Yes.
Is it cash-​only? Yes.
Are there sometimes obscene lines that wrap all the way around the store, and you have to squeeze past a dozen pissed-​off looking 9-​to-​5-​ers to get a damn Snapple Iced Tea? Ohhh yes.
And are there plenty of other delis nearby in Old City? Yes, of course. But I come to Grocery for one reason: cheap, killer eats.
The sandwich line might get long, but in 2 years, I’ve never had to wait more than 5 minutes for my regular: egg-​salad with lettuce, tomato and onions on whole wheat toast. This bad boy? Just $ 3.25.
The chili (about $ 5) is banging; the CHICKEN POT PIE SOUP is out of this world, and the wraps… mmmm. They make me want to compose a rap! (Yeah ok, that was bad…)
Grocery prices (the aforementioned ketchup by Russ C.) are probably a little high — but I would never go to Grocery for ACTUAL groceries. For me, this is strictly a sandwich-​and-​soup kinda joint.

The name says it all. I swear, I looked all over for an actual name of this place, but all I could find was the large sign over the door that said «Grocery,» Park’s was nowhere to be found. I have worked in Marketing, perhaps I should offer my services.
This small market has less to offer than other local groceries such as Olde City Market and Lake Blue. There is a small deli counter in the back with 4 men working furiously… for what I have no idea, as there was only one person standing at the counter. Expect price mark-​ups for convince ($ 2.99 for ketchup, $ 3.75 for a small jar of Spaghetti sauce). It’s location on 4^th street is not really in a neighborhood, and is actually closer to some of the hotels along Chestnut St., so I’m not sure how they stay in business. If you are walking by and need a beverage stop in a grab a Pepsi… otherwise don’t bother.