It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting Masjid alHaram in Mecca, IN gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Mecca, IN is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
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“Great staff!! Caring people!”
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“Working for Always Best Care has been very rewarding for me to help others in need. Whatever my questions may be or any help I need as a health care provider for my client they have always came through with help.”
“Very compassionate caregivers!”
“Great staff. Well trained and kind people.”
“The Beache’s Family are great people and I would trust my mom’s well- bean in their hands”
“Natalia has experience taking care of people with Alzheimer and I would be very trust my dad’s safety if they taking care of him.”
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Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting King Abdullah Park in Mecca, IN with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local Gurkan ef Steakhouse or visit Safaa and Marwah Saee, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
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While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Mecca, IN, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Mecca, IN understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Mecca, IN 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
Saudi Arabia alert: People have also been advised not to leave their homes or buildings until the danger is over, stay away from open areas and windows.ByMecca and several other parts of Saudi Arabia have been placed on alert after the kingdom's National Early Warning Platform sent warning messages about potential danger, the Saudi Civil Defense said.“A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger,” a post by the directorate of Saudi Civil Defen...
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Mecca and several other parts of Saudi Arabia have been placed on alert after the kingdom's National Early Warning Platform sent warning messages about potential danger, the Saudi Civil Defense said.
“A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger,” a post by the directorate of Saudi Civil Defense on X stated, while issuing instructions for residents.
The alerts were lifted a few minutes later. In recent weeks, alerts have often preceded attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
The Civil Defense had urged people who receive the alerts to remain calm, follow official instructions and immediately move to the nearest safe place, such as inside a building or an interior room away from windows, and remain there until the danger has passed.
People were also advised not to leave their homes or buildings until the danger is over, stay away from open areas, windows, glass, balconies and rooftops, and avoid crowds or dangerous areas.
Those outdoors were instructed to enter the nearest building or take shelter behind a solid barrier. People receiving the warning while driving should pull over to the side of the road, away from bridges and high-rise buildings, the Saudi Civil Defense said. The Civil Defense also advised people not to take photographs or approach dangerous locations.
Also Read | Houthis claim Saudi strikes kill civilians in northwest Yemen, including child
According to the Saudi Civil Defense guidance, people who noticed any danger were asked to contact 911 in Mecca, Medina, Riyadh and the Eastern Province, and 998 in other parts of the kingdom. Authorities also urged residents to follow instructions issued through official channels.
In a warning to the United States, a Houthi military adviser said American interests would become targets if Washington extends support to Saudi Arabia or tries to unblock the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
“If America gambles on supporting Saudi Arabia with airstrikes or air support... We will consider any American interests around us to be targets and we will not exclude anything,” Houthi military adviser Abed Mohammed al-Thawr told AFP in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
The 2022 Saudi-Houthi truce collapsed in July this year after the Houthis allowed an Iranian flight to land directly at the Sanaa airport. Saudi-led forces then responded with an airstrike targeting the runway at Sana'a International Airport to prevent or punish the landing.
The Houthis then launched retaliatory strikes towards southern Saudi Arabia and eventually took over Yemen's Red Sea coast, leaving hundreds dead and heightening fears over global trade.
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence on Thursday issued a series of brief alerts, including one for Mecca, in warnings that usually indicate a potential missile or drone threat."A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger," AFP quoted the Civil Defence as saying.Separate warnings were also issued for the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu as well as the Taif, Jeddah and Tabuk regions. The alerts were lifted a few minutes later.In recent weeks, s...
Saudi Arabia’s Civil Defence on Thursday issued a series of brief alerts, including one for Mecca, in warnings that usually indicate a potential missile or drone threat.
"A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger," AFP quoted the Civil Defence as saying.
Separate warnings were also issued for the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu as well as the Taif, Jeddah and Tabuk regions. The alerts were lifted a few minutes later.
In recent weeks, similar alerts have often preceded attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis.
Last week, Riyadh accused the group of targeting Mecca for the first time since 2017 with a drone that was intercepted. The Houthis denied the accusation.
A few days later, the group attacked the Saudi capital Riyadh for the first time in years, marking a fresh escalation in the conflict.
The Houthis, who have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen’s internationally recognised government since 2015, have stepped up attacks against the kingdom, further drawing Yemen into the wider Middle East war.
Earlier this month, the Houthis seized control of strategic coastal areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key waterway for Saudi oil exports, after taking territory from Saudi-backed government forces.
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In July, a fragile truce between the Houthis and the government that had been in place since 2022 fell apart after the group allowed an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa despite Riyadh’s control over Yemeni airspace, triggering a series of attacks.
The Houthis later announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and began targeting its tankers and territory.
The Houthi gains have strengthened the position of Iran and its allies around the two waterways that the wider Gulf, including top crude exporter Saudi Arabia, relies on to ship its oil.
With inputs from agencies
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan discussed convening an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to explore ways to assist Riyadh under the Mecca pact, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Friday.The pact treats an attack on any member as an attack on all. The three countries' foreign ministers condemned attacks targeting Mecca "in the strongest terms" and backed Saudi Arabia's right to defend itself.The ministers also discussed convening an urgent meeting of the three countries' chiefs of staff to explore ways to a...
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan discussed convening an urgent meeting of their military chiefs to explore ways to assist Riyadh under the Mecca pact, Pakistan's Foreign Ministry said Friday.
The pact treats an attack on any member as an attack on all. The three countries' foreign ministers condemned attacks targeting Mecca "in the strongest terms" and backed Saudi Arabia's right to defend itself.
The ministers also discussed convening an urgent meeting of the three countries' chiefs of staff to explore ways to assist the kingdom under the pact.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah and Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar met Thursday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly, according to a joint statement released by Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.
The ministers discussed plans for an urgent meeting of the chiefs of staff of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, the statement said.
The meeting would explore ways to assist the kingdom under the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement, which stipulates that an attack against any one of its parties shall be considered an attack against all.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan attends the Mecca Agreement Foreign Ministers Meeting for Joint Defense on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, US, Sept. 24, 2026. (AA Photo)
The ministers condemned what they called "heinous attacks" targeting the holy city of Mecca and civilian and economic facilities in Saudi Arabia, the statement said.
They praised the vigilance of the Saudi Armed Forces and their ability to defend the kingdom's security.
The ministers reaffirmed Saudi Arabia's right to take the measures it deems appropriate to defend its security, in line with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter, according to the statement.
The ministers also discussed plans for an urgent meeting of the chiefs of staff of Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The meeting would explore ways to assist the kingdom under the agreement, the statement said.
The ministers reviewed progress toward establishing the agreement's General Secretariat, committees and working groups, as well as preparations for them to begin work, the statement said.
The ministers also discussed the situation in the region.
They stressed the importance of upholding international law, good neighborliness, mutual respect for state sovereignty and non-interference in internal affairs, as well as ensuring the security and freedom of navigation.
They reiterated their determination to work together toward sustainable peace and stability in the region, support de-escalation efforts and encourage peaceful resolution of crises, the statement said.
Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan signed the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement in August at a trilateral summit in Mecca, pledging to strengthen collective security, deepen defense cooperation and promote peace and stability in the region and beyond.
Saudi Civil Defence on Thursday (September 24, 2026) issued a brief series of alerts including one for Mecca city, home to Islam's holiest sites, in warnings that usually indicate a potential missile or drone threat."A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger," it said, with separate warnings for the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu as well as the Taif, Jeddah and Tabuk regions.The alerts were lifted a few minutes later. In recent weeks, alerts have often ...
Saudi Civil Defence on Thursday (September 24, 2026) issued a brief series of alerts including one for Mecca city, home to Islam's holiest sites, in warnings that usually indicate a potential missile or drone threat.
"A warning has been issued by the National Early Warning Platform in Mecca City to alert of a potential danger," it said, with separate warnings for the Red Sea governorate of Yanbu as well as the Taif, Jeddah and Tabuk regions.
The alerts were lifted a few minutes later. In recent weeks, alerts have often preceded attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis.
Last week, Riyadh accused the group of targeting Mecca for the first time since 2017 with a drone that was downed, an accusation the Houthis have denied.
A few days later, the group attacked the Saudi capital Riyadh for the first time in years, marking a new escalation in the conflict.
The Houthis, at war with a Saudi-led coalition that has propped up the internationally-recognised Yemeni government since 2015, has ramped up its attacks against the kingdom, embroiling Yemen in the Middle East war.
Earlier this month, the Houthis seized control of strategic coastal areas overlooking the Bab al-Mandab strait, vital for Saudi oil exports, after capturing territory from Saudi-backed government forces.
In July, a fragile 2022 truce between the Houthis and the government fell apart after the group allowed an Iranian plane to land in Sanaa in defiance of Riyadh's control over Yemeni airspace, setting off a spate of attacks.
They later announced a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and began hitting its tankers and territory.
The Houthi gains cement the hold of Iran and its allies on the two waterways that the wider Gulf, including top crude exporter Saudi Arabia, relies on to ship out its oil.
Two miles north of Philadelphia's World Cup games sits a small but mighty mecca of small businesses attempting to reap the benefits of international soccer fandom.In East Passyunk, dozens of independently owned businesses — trinket shops, dive bars, cafés, pizza joints, breweries, and more — line the main thoroughfare of East Passyunk Avenue. They're used to a steady flow of locals, but are typically less on-the-radar for tourists visiting Philly's most popular monuments, said Katie Hanford, the executive director o...
Two miles north of Philadelphia's World Cup games sits a small but mighty mecca of small businesses attempting to reap the benefits of international soccer fandom.
In East Passyunk, dozens of independently owned businesses — trinket shops, dive bars, cafés, pizza joints, breweries, and more — line the main thoroughfare of East Passyunk Avenue. They're used to a steady flow of locals, but are typically less on-the-radar for tourists visiting Philly's most popular monuments, said Katie Hanford, the executive director of the East Passyunk Business Improvement District, also known as EPABID.
Hanford told Business Insider that she's been preparing nearby small-business owners and their tiny staffs for the marathon event since July 2024, when she was hired by EPABID. They've organized block parties, applied for city permits to close streets and stay open late, and bought public-transit ads to increase awareness among tourists.
Despite all the planning, city support has been confusing and lackluster, Hanford said. Historically, Philadelphia has been a difficult place to run a small business: the city double-taxes owners who earn more than $100,000 a year and has been slow to approve permit requests and to pay contractors. Experiencing this firsthand, many of East Passyunk's entrepreneurs are taking a self-reliant approach to the World Cup.
"In a very South Philly fashion, folks are very scrappy and they're just like, 'Whatever, you don't want to party with us. The city doesn't want to officially do something here. We will just do it ourselves,'" Hanford told Business Insider.
Business Insider took a few strolls up and down East Passyunk Avenue to check out EPABID's block parties and hear from small business owners and workers about how they've been handling the World Cup.
In the weeks leading up to the World Cup, EPABID — a nonprofit that does small-business marketing, event planning, and neighborhood revitalization year-round — announced a slate of block parties featuring game screenings, but faced challenges when the city denied street-closure permits that would allow festival-goers to spill off sidewalks and onto the avenue, Hanford said.
"It was a big surprise to us when we applied for our street closure permits within the typical reasonable amount of time, and the city denied them," she said.
Still, the block parties persisted, with some neighbors using their own cars to block off streets and make way for increased foot traffic. Outside Barcelona Wine Bar on June 19, a crowd of Brazil fans set up lawn chairs on the avenue and watched the game on a projector screen.
Marc Faletti, the owner of the record store Latchkey, said he was unsurprised by the lack of city support, as a longtime small-business owner. Visitors from Ecuador and Brazil were still able to find Latchkey and bought records to take home, he said.
"There was lots of excitement about the vinyl options they don't have access to at home," Latchkey employee Ben Mazzochetti told Business Insider. He recalled one soccer fan who was particularly excited about a vinyl record by the British psych-rock band The Afex, and another who purchased a Strokes album.
Hanford said the neighborhood has leaned into its geography as a marketing strategy for visitors.
"We are the closest commercial corridor to the stadium, so we're pitching that and making that a very big thing. We're taking the angle of 'You can walk here after the games, and you don't have to take the Broad Street line two stops.' We're very, very close," Hanford told Business Insider.
To spread that message, EPABID bought ads to run in an estimated 100 SEPTA subway cars from June 20 to July 22, aiming to entice game attendees to stay in South Philly rather than take public transit to the FIFA Fanfest in northwest Philadelphia, said Hanford.
While it's difficult to measure the success of the ads, many businesses on the avenue said they noticed a steady flow of shoppers during a period that's typically slow.
Tom Stives, the general manager of Triangle Tavern, said the restaurant typically sees fewer guests in June as school lets out and families leave town for vacation. This year, however, the traffic hasn't slowed. Stives added that the tavern didn't do much to prepare for the World Cup, save for a few country-themed drink specials.
At the Pub on Passyunk, bartender Ken Loveland said he also noticed the steady traffic. He told Business Insider that he especially enjoyed the energy of a group of Scots who came in three nights in a row to play bar games and drink Stella Artois on tap.
Emily Famularo, the store manager of the city-themed gift shop Hey There Philly, said they brought in more Philadelphia Union merchandise to gear up for the World Cup. She said it's been selling well, along with stickers and trinket dishes emblazoned with Philly monuments.
She also noticed more international visitors than usual, from places like Brazil and China, who asked her to explain Philly jargon like "jawn" — an all-purpose noun — and "wooder" — the way born-and-bred locals pronounce "water."
Supérette, East Passyunk's French wine bar and mini market, prepared by installing a second television in its wraparound bar space, general manager Lucas Grigri told Business Insider. They've also been running raffles and grilling outside, with the food inspired by the teams playing.
The setup proved especially useful when France and Iraq geared up to play each other at Philadelphia Stadium on June 22. Thunder and gray clouds rolled into South Philly, ultimately stalling the game. Meanwhile, a jersey-wearing crowd gathered at Supérette to watch the action more comfortably and enjoy Iraqi-inspired kebabs being made on a portable grill out front.
"It's been nice to see people getting into soccer who might not normally, and having a whole room full of people cheering for a team that might not normally cheer for," Grigri, who donned a Supérette-themed soccer jersey made ahead of the World Cup, said.
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