Address: 111 S. Independence Mall East
Pricing: $7.00 and above for most meals
Phone: (215) 625-0300
Hours: Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. (all year), Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. (March through November)
How To Get There:
Public transit via SEPTA: Take the El or the most convenient bus route to 5th and Market. Walk south on 5th and the Bourse will be on your left.
PATCO (NJ): Take PATCO west. Exit at 8th and Market. Take the Market Street exit. Walk east three blocks and make a right onto 5th street. The Bourse will be on your left.
Driving: Drive north on 5th Street (one way). Park at the Bourse Garage between Chestnut and Market Streets located at the Bourse and the Ritz. (Address for GPS is 400 Ranstead Street.)
Parking:400 Ranstead Street - $7-$25 per day
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The Bourse at Independence Mall
Feb 11, 2010
The Bourse is a classic brown building built near Independence Hall and other historic landmarks in Old City. Serving many purposes, the Bourse building is a food and shopping hub for tourists and those who work nearby.
The Bourse can accommodate large tour groups, including student groups, and provides a special group entrance on the right hand side of the building on 5th Street (check for the stairs near the corner). This entrance leads groups to the lower level, where bathrooms are also located.
Other guests may enter through the main entrance on 5th or the back entrance on 4th, but may wish to take advantage of the bathrooms in this building as they tend to be cleaner and more frequently maintained than other public and private restrooms in the area.
Multiple businesses call The Bourse home—souvenir shops, dining establishments and even an espresso vendor. The secure upper levels of the building hold an embassy and other office buildings.
The docents and security personnel present at either entrance of the Bourse are incredibly helpful when it comes to providing directions or suggesting local attractions. The 4th and 5th Street entrances each feature brochure stands for area attraction brochures.
The Bourse offers many dining options—Italian (Sbarro), Chinese, Mexican, café, Japanese, Philly cheesesteaks, salads and even an ice cream storefront. Visitors purchase food at the vendors and eat in a food court setting. The Bourse is a particularly uplifting destination on a day otherwise ruined by rain—the frame of the building is lit splendidly by adorning lights on the interior.
The Bourse offers a voucher program for school groups, making lunch at The Bourse affordable for kids and other tour groups. There is also a box lunch option, allowing visitors to call vendors ahead of time to order limited box lunch selections timed for their arrival.
This building is also affiliated with the nearby Evergreen Deli, Bourse Cleaners (dry cleaning service), FirstTrust Bank and the Bourse Garage, all very convenient resources for tourists remaining in the area long or short-term.
To avoid the lunch crowds, groups and individuals should arrive by 11:30 a.m. or after 1:30 p.m., though most vendors are particularly speedy and accustomed to the lunch rush.
- by Tara M. Clapper, Philadelphia Reporter for HelloMetro
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Tara M. ClapperTara M. Clapper is a full-time freelance writer residing just outside of Philadelphia. Tara enjoys exploring traditional and historical locations in the city as well as quirky and innovative restaurants and attractions. Tara utilizes her background in academic, service-based and traditional publishing to create insider-perspective articles. Her topics of interest include travel, weddings, Irish American culture, and geek subculture.
