By Carla Ferro • Photos Provided by JPG Photography and Local Businesses
Opening and running a business takes a great deal of passion, determination, and hard work. Then put family at the heart of it all, adding another layer of pride and heart to the overall mission. Manayunk is home to a few of these unique, family-owned businesses, each with their own remarkable story.
Husband, Wife, & Daughters
Marchiano’s Bakery
Marchiano’s Bakery was started by Frank and Kathy Marchiano along with Frank’s mother, Nunziata. They started making bread out of the basement of their home in Manayunk. They began doing so because Frank had injured himself working and had to find a way to support their family. Nunziata’s response after the injury was, “Don’t worry. We’ll make bread, Frankie.” People would line up outside of their house to purchase the bread that’s recipe had been passed down from generations past.
Just like that, Marchiano’s was born. They sold their product out of their home for several years until they opened their own storefront, which is the same storefront you see on Umbria Street today. A Manayunk favorite, Marchiano’s has been a part of the community for the past 42+ years selling their specialty breads, tomato pie, and oreganata. Frank and his family have maintained their business all this time with family, friendship, and love being the cornerstones.
Frank Marchiano unfortunately passed away in March of 2024. His legacy will live on through the business he created with his family. His two daughters, Daneen Marchiano and Christina Marchiano Stafford, along with his wife, Kathy, aim to continue his old school mentality and loyalty to his customers. “There’s not many places that you can still shop at that are old school. You come in and forget cash- okay, send us a check. You’re short cash- okay, bring it next time,” Daneen explains. The two sisters have been working in the bakery their whole lives, and now manage the store. “Down to his last breath, my dad spoke about his customers and business. He made a name, with our mom, on being good to the community, and in turn, people shopped here and loved him. He built the business by being a real person.”
As so much has changed in Manayunk over the last 50 years, Marchiano’s has seen generation after generation of loyal customers. A great grandfather who shopped here 40 years ago now has great grandchildren coming to the bakery and keeping the tradition alive. “All of our customers become family,” Daneen and Christina agree.
When asked what to expect from their business in the future, the sisters explained that they hope to put into action plans that their father made long before his illness. “We want to maintain our product and keep our brand tasting the same as it always has. And maybe you’ll be able to find [their breads] far beyond the Philadelphia area.”
Mother & Daughter
Boostin’ Bowls
Jenna Cardello opened Boostin’ Bowls in 2017 with the help of her mother, Kathy Cardello. After quitting her full-time job because it wasn’t making her happy, Jenna contemplated what her next move was. “I’ll just hire myself,” she decided.
She had the idea to bring a healthy food option to Manayunk. Acai bowls were something more popular on the West Coast at the time, but weren’t as common here yet. When they opened, the customers here in Philadelphia weren’t familiar with the product and often didn’t know how to pronounce it. Getting customers in the door was a huge challenge that the store faced at first.
However, the customers started showing up, asking questions, and loved these healthy bowls and smoothies. Jenna’s new business venture was underway with her mother helping through every step.
“My mom was a huge part of the opening of the store.” Jenna was only 24 years old at the time, and didn’t know how to get a loan or run a business. Kathy helped her daughter figure out how to build the store, make and sell the product, and even worked in the store on weekends for the first year.
Another challenge the business faced, along with so many other small businesses, was the pandemic and the aftermath of it. Being a fairly new store at the time, Boostin’ Bowls had to adjust their prices, and figure out how to navigate shortages of supplies and labor. “It has made us stronger and taught us how to build our business bigger,” Jenna reflects.
Boostin’ Bowls just celebrated their 7th anniversary this September. “It was very cool seeing a line out the door with customers waiting to get these bowls that I created.” The store has seen great success here in the Manayunk neighborhood. Even some local heroes, such as Jason Kelce, have stopped by for a taste! “We sell something that no one else in Manayunk sells, and we do it in a way that no one else in Philadelphia does.”
Father & Son
Jake’s & Cooper’s Wine Bar and Wine Shop
The local wine bar and restaurant, Jake’s & Cooper’s, has had a longstanding home here in Manayunk. Motivated by wanting to work for himself, Bruce Cooper decided he wanted to open a restaurant in 1987. He had a vision for what he wanted to create, and was able to bring the vision to life.
37 years later, his business is still standing strong, having weathered through many different seasons of Main Street. In 2008, Bruce purchased the property next door, expanding the restaurant significantly. The interior of the restaurant has also been refurbished countless times over the years. Bruce explained that they went from more of a fine-dining restaurant to more casual, because that’s what the market was leaning towards. These changes and updates were all done to keep the business alive and relevant.
The pandemic brought on new challenges and changes. Bruce’s son, Bruce Joseph Cooper Jr., started taking on a bigger role at the restaurant, managing the store’s day-to-day operations. To adapt to the covid lockdown, they started selling wine like a store-front, which remains a part of their business today. Jake’s & Cooper’s is currently the only place in downtown Manayunk where you can purchase a bottle of wine to-go. One step further, these wines are special order products that can’t always be found at a grocery or liquor store. The father and son duo are proud of their consistent and reasonable wine prices.
Bruce Jr. reflects that he loves being a part of this community, and working here has allowed him to come out of his shell. He is the friendly face greeting you at the front door of the restaurant. “Manayunk has always been home to me. I know everyone here. I’m Uncle Bruce to all the dogs in town!”
From Bruce Sr.’s perspective, working with his son has been a very satisfying and fun experience. “It’s rewarding from a father’s point of view. I’ve been able to teach him how to manage. We’ve learned from each other. The trust- there’s no comparison.”
Father & Daughter
Manayunk Brewing Company
Manayunk Brewing Company originally opened in 1996 under other owners who also ran the farmer’s market on the upper floor of the building. They had a vision to add a brewery downstairs. Mike Rose, who is now the primary owner, was brought on as a General Manager the first year it opened. He had been working in Manayunk for some years prior at other restaurants and business ventures.
When the brewpub opened, they only had a liquor license to sell the beer that they brewed. “We had a problem in the beginning. People would come in and say ‘I’m not a beer drinker.’ [We] lobbied to get brewpubs to be allowed to sell liquor drinks,” Mike said, and the business grew from there. They started selling liquor and added a few outside beers onto their menu to accomodate to their customers.
Mike’s daughter, Paris Rose-Antonogiannis, is the Sales & Banquet Manager at Manayunk Brewing, and is his right hand. They do everything they can to create a family atmosphere at work, and treat each staff member with the same respect they want to be treated with. “They’re not just a number. We care about what happens to our team here,” Paris said, which they believe has contributed to a very high staff retention.
Even the next generation of the family is getting involved. Mike’s granddaughter hosts at the restaurant, and his grandson is a busser. “Family or not family- you’re a worker, I’m a worker. You come in, it’s a job- do your job.” He believes they’re proud to work here and be a part of the family business.
Family-run for the Roses also means they have the luxury of making changes where they see fit. They have a brand-new menu that was rolled out this fall and are aiming to do more and more events in the years to come. They are in the process of renovating a second event space in their building, which will be called the Bridgeview Room. They host a jazz jam session on Tuesdays, a comedy show on Wednesdays, and trivia on Fridays. They also have different kinds of sampling events that come through, such as wine, bourbon, and beer tastings. Their mentality is to try different things to draw people in their front door. They have overcome many challenges over the last 28 years, including countless floods and the pandemic. Manayunk Brewing resiliently remains a staple of the Manayunk community.