Stand with Garden Court Eatery Workers and Friends

The workers at Garden Court Eatery have been a stable presence in our community for years, serving us with their foods and drinks, and most importantly, their kind-hearted conversations. I was very sad to hear that after years of being a part of this community, they are forced to close their doors due to building managers refusing to renew their lease. They have expressed many times over the past couple of years how the building management, during their big construction project to build an additional building on top of the store, have treated them very unfairly, often causing damages to the store.

I moved into this community back in 2018, brand new to the city and hardly knew anyone. For me personally, Lilly, Lee, and Diego have always treated me like family, asking about my days and very often treating me/ my friends (and especially my dog) to extra foods.

I believe that the heart of every community and our individual everyday experiences are shaped by all of our roles whatever that looks like for each one of us. As we all have felt at times, life can be hard and the current state of the economy has left many struggling with basic needs. Given all the hard times this little corner of West Philly has been through over the past few years, and the grim stories we hear everyday about this world, I think it is important for us to come together to help them feel our love and appreciation as a community. My only hope is that apart from the financial assistance, they feel immense hope and support while moving on to the next chapter in their lives. ☀️