Base Butter
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Milder Furniture
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Moore Vintage Archive
even as we grieved, we grew even as we hurt, we hoped Bok is a historic former school that has been sensitively adapted into a vital part of the Philadelphia creative commercial landscape. The 340,000 sq ft building occupies an entire city block and today is home to over 250 businesses ranging from glassblowers to a daycare to ESL classes to tattoo artists to interior designers to jewelry makers and more. Key tenants include the US Headquarters of Diadora, Jefferson’s Hansjörg Wyss Wellness Center, Bok Bar and Irwin’s (Esquire Magazine’s Best New Restaurants in America 2020). The building has over 600 people coming to work at Bok on a daily basis. The rooftop bar attracts more than 75,000 visitors annually, with another 30,000 attending events hosted in the building. Bok is a place of
imagination, sweat, enthusiasm and opportunity. It is a place with a strong and powerful presence that fosters an ever-evolving ecosystem—one that is dependent on flexibility and grows a bit bigger together every day. The building’s diversity of users and adjacencies are its strength. Bok encourages a carefully considered mix of tenants, activities, and events. It is a place of production and collaboration, providing more than square footage. Bok is respectful and proud of its prominent position in South Philadelphia. The building provides generosity at concentrated points, inviting the public to its edges and through its doors. Bok is a product of carefulness—it is aware of its history, but is not bound by it.
— AMANDA GORMAN
THE HILL WE CLIMB
Our mission is to lovingly redevelop and restore the historic Bok building into an innovative space for makers, artisans and entrepreneurs. We believe that the building is a constantly evolving and richly layered ecosystem that requires both nimbleness to attend to short-term needs and a thoughtful commitment to the long-term development of the building and surrounding neighborhood. Our approach is to be supportive, surprising and collaborative in everything we do.
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BOK BY THE NUMBERS
53%
Women Owned Businesses
19% Minority Owned Businesses
Our smallest tenant is
73 sq. ft.
Our largest tenant is
21,500 sq. ft.
97% Occupancy
BOK BY THE NUMBERS
70%
of our tenants live within 1 mile of BOK
348,000 Square foot building
⅓ of our ⅓ of our tenants are tenants are <1,000 1,000-2,500
sq. ft. sq. ft. ⅓ of our tenants are over
2,500 sq. ft.
11%
of the Businesses at BOK are Nonprofits
“I live 2 blocks away and just love Bok. It truly is a priceless gem for our community. Congratulations and also thank you very much!” LYNNE BROSCH
“Thank you guys for supporting me all these years. No place like home.” ANDY BREE (Braxton Guitars
& Big Sound LLC)
“So happy that Bok has been reclaimed, reborn, and reimagined into what it is today, and that continues to be re-formed and evolve” TIM MCFARLANE
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THE TEAM @ BOK
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THE TEAM @ BOK
building BOK 9 8
Bok wouldn’t be the special place it is without this dedicated team of professionals. Our massive and majestic building is maintained by this wonderful group of individuals who make our days brighter and pipes cleaner. 1
Steve Sabulsky Facilities Director
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Frank Stephan Facilities
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Tyrone Young Facilities
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Robert Moore Facilities
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Matthew Ober Ambassador
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Ralph Coco Facilities
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Matthew Stansbury Facilities
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George Toy Facilities
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Robert Boone Ambassador
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THE TEAM @ BOK
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THE TEAM @ BOK
scout
Scout is an urban development and design practice reimagining how once neglected places can be transformed into vibrant and unexpected spaces. With a diverse mix of expertise—from design and planning to project management and community engagement—we bring a thoughtful pragmatism to our work.
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We think about creative and engaging ways of inhabiting space.
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Cacie Rosario Marketing & Communications Manager
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Hannah Baker Leasing & Operations Administrator
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Jackie Rush Director of Operations & Building Community
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Julie Guinto Community Engagement & Events Coordinator
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Lindsey Scannapieco Managing Partner
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Everett Abitbol Director of Development & Hospitality
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Wayne Woodward Operations & Leasing Coordinator
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Liz Maillie Director of Leasing & Marketing
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Danielle Demuro Bookkeeper
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Naomi Lukov Intern Kristin Vessio Former Staff 13
key 2021 accomplishments Opened the WKSHP in 2021, we created three new public-facing retail spaces on the first floor, including a BIPOC residency.
Provided $370,718 to Tenants
in rent relief and deferment to help tenants to navigate through an unprecedented time.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Signed our largest lease to date
for 21,521 sq. ft. for U90, a New York-based soccer training and retail facility coming to the East Gym, East Locker Room, and 7th Floor East Roof.
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BOK projects
Print House PHS Flower Show June 2021
The Print House was a working risograph production studio brought to you by a collection of talented people based at Bok created specifically for the PHS Flower Show. It captures Bok as a space of production, making, and curiosity for many. The Print House was not only quirky and curious like Bok, but also a space for making and working. This project reflects the spirit of making and collaboration while also responding to the collective trauma we all endured in 2021. A year that has been filled with disappointments, fear, frustration, anger, and injustice and we all require an even greater need for hope as we move forward. With that in mind we created this piece with the hope of a healed and brighter future. Made in collaboration with: Centerpeak (product designers), Texture Florals & DNA Floral (floral designers), All Caps Studio (graphic designers), Klip Collective (experiential designers), Scout (urban designers), and Riso Resident Claire Cooke.
BOK PROJECTS
WKSHP February 2021
The former school’s auto body shop, lovingly called the Workshop (or “WKSHP” for short). In 2021, we began building out additional retail spaces in the WKSHP with the goal of welcoming three new businesses to this unique and vibrant ground floor. These businesses give visitors a taste of all that’s happening at Bok and act as “ambassadors” for the building.
Pod Office
COVID presented many challenges in the workplace. Our hallways responded to the demand for small office space by creating The Pod—designed and built by our own wonderful tenants, Milder Furniture.
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AWARDS + RECOGNITIONS
Awards+ Recognitions 2021 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Philadelphia Vision Award for Transformative Development
for excellence in adaptive reuse, mix of uses and catalytic economic development
2021 Eater Philly Award
for Best Converted School That’s Also a Food Business Incubator
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buzz about bok BUILDING BOK/BOK WED NEWS
Philly’s Most Creative Neighborhoods… | Travel & Leisure An Incredibly Stylish Wedding Under the Stars | Philly Mag Philly Mag’s Best in Philly | Philly Mag Bok Carving Out space for Creatives | Philly Inquirer Becoming Bok (Regan Stephens) | Philly Mag The New School | Grid Magazine BOK BAR
Actually cool things to do in Philadelphia this summer | MSN / Thrillist Batalá Philly brings global reggae drumming to Philadelphia… | Billy Penn IRWIN’S
Martha, Irwin’s, & Musi BYOB Begin Wave of Philly Restaurants Requiring Proof of Vaccination... | Eater Philly Irwin’s Sicilian flavors and grand city views make it a destination restaurant | Philly Inquirer Esquire’s Best new restaurants in America | Esquire
BOK BUZZ
“Bok’s resilience illustrates a wider trend: When people lost jobs and were forced to stop and reflect on their lives, careers and goals, many decided they wanted to be more self-reliant.” Becoming Bok
“South Philly’s BOK building, known for its rooftop bar, is carving out space for creatives”
“The Bok Building embodies a deeper ethos at play in East Passyunk and in Philadelphia overall: a desire to bring creative people together to learn from one another and have each other's backs.”
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TENANT BUZZ
“Fabscrap, a Brooklyn-based nonprofit, is addressing it by opening a Mid-Atlantic hub in Philadelphia in the artist-anddesigner-filled Bok building”
Sweet Dreams Are Made of Room Shop
Grounds for Sculpture presents “Night Forms”
“Cheesemakers are pushing the boundaries of cultured, plant-based milks, producing more compelling vegan cheeses than ever before”
buzz about bok tenants
PhilaTuner (Tom Rudinisky) restoring a rare, historic piano | Billy Penn Philadelphia florists feature (DNA Floral) | Philly Inquirer Now Open at Bok, a New Health Center for Philly’s Immigrant & Refugee Population (Wyss Center) | Philly Mag Vegan Cheese, But Make it Delicious (Conscious Cultures) | NYTimes Questlove gives Philly artists a boost…(StreetsDept & Symone Salib) | Billy Penn A former professor embraces Asian philosophies…(Sabbatical) | PHLINNO Remark Glass founders’ big vision for recycling is underway | Grid Magazine This Philly Landmark To Women’s Empowerment… (Rohe Creative) | Forbes New Philadelphia Filmmaker Lab to support…(BlackStar) | Philly Voice A Brooklyn nonprofit comes to Philly to recycle…(FABSCRAP) | Philly Inquirer Grounds for Sculpture presents ‘Night Forms’ (Klip Collective) | PHL 17 This Fashion Archivist and Shop Owner…(Moore Vintage) | Architectural Digest Sweet Dreams are Made of Room Shop (Room Shop) | Office Magazine An Old Textile Mill In Rhode Island Is Now A Vibrant Hotel (Deacon Hospitality Group) | Dwell Magazine 23
leasing From the very first interactions with a prospective tenant, we are looking to determine if we are a fit for one another. What qualifies as “a fit”? An alignment with Bok’s mission and culture as well as the physical and financial limitations and opportunities; the symbiotic potential between the prospective tenant’s business operations and those of the existing tenant make-up and wider building operations and procedures; and the viability of the prospective
tenant’s business or organization. The physicality of the building and its spaces require a nuanced and non-traditional approach. Bok consists of spaces that range as dramatically in size as in infrastructure and character, providing the ability to accommodate a diversity of types and scales of activity. From the beginning, our intention was to create affordable workspaces. We’ve accomplished this by
identifying existing, valuable infrastructure and thoughtfully matchmaking tenants to spaces that meet their business’s needs. We are mindful of adjacent uses and aim to ensure neighboring tenants can peacefully coexist. When we are successful in cultivating and nurturing those relationships, and in encouraging a collaborative environment, we set the stage for a sustainable long-term landlord-tenant relationship.
LEASING
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THE TEAM @ BOK
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THE TEAM @ BOK
tenant committee
Bok is a richly layered and constantly evolving place that attends to its immediate needs and opportunities while also considering long-term outcomes to achieve a balanced, socially-minded, commercially viable approach. In doing so, the participation of a diverse tenant advisory committee has been critical to balance the needs of the community within our walls. Thank you to this year’s wonderful committee that provided time and energy during a most challenging year.
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Avigail Milder Room 201, Milder Office Mid to Large Scale Production
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Lauren Hunter Room 314, BlackStar Nonprofits
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David Guinn Room 207 Artists
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Erin Anderson Room 505, Fringe Salon Professional & Personal Services
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Nicole Rossi Room 404A Texture Florals
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Megan Stover Room 106, Stover Ceramics Retail
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Juliet Whelan Room 504D Jibe Design
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Adam Gery Two Persons Coffee Food and Beverage
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Danielle Ruttenberg Room B07 Remark Glass
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Bev Beaulieu Room 518, Bevy of Objects Small Scale Production
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new tenants Alexander Tominsky Hold Etc
Amy Novinski Ballet School
Anthony DeMelas
Aubrey Levinthal
Aubrey Mascali
Black Cat Design House
Bryan Kentner RESAWear
Days Away Creative
DNA Floral & Design
Eric Karnes
FABSCRAP, INC.
Four/Ten Media
Girls Inc.
Holly Simple Studio
Jacob Zelenkofske
Jeffrey Maki
OUR TENANTS
Katelyn Bladel & David Campbell
Minimal Chaos
Moore Vintage Archive
Mural Arts Philadelphia & Southeast by Southeast
Nat Fry Woodworking
Occasionette
Past Present Projects
Rapport Communications
Rita Carroll - Out and Back Creative
Second Daughter Baking Co.
Soccer Center Philadelphia - U90
Studio 1935
Surry Hills
Theodore Harris
Tony Havrilla
Wild Chairy & Carolyn Cannuscio
Yamanya Natural 29
OUR TENANTS
Ars Nova Workshop
Art Sphere
Atelier Jacobi
BOK Bar
Braxton Guitars & Big Sound LLC
Cambodian American Girls Empowering
David Guinn
Done and Dusted
Emily Eichelberger
Federation of Neighborhood Centers
Fringe Salon
Garces Foundation
Glenn Kellum
Gnome Architects
JV Collective
Kyle Cook
OUR TENANTS
seniors
5+ years at Bok
tenant directory
Lobo Mau Designs
Milder Office Inc.
Phillips Black
Project P.L.A.Y. School
Remark Glass
Revival Letterpress
Sam Oberter
Scout Urban
Stevie Chris & Jessica Saint
Thom Lessner
Toner Architects
Writtenhouse Records 31
OUR TENANTS
tenant directory juniors
3-5 years at Bok
Abby Schwartz Associates
Alexa Stefanou
Blair Brothers Music
Amazulu
Ann Roantree
Arsenal Mediaworks
Bevy of Objects
BiFocal
Caitlin McCormack
Cory J Popp
Crisco & Frisco
David Morgan
Design Manifest
Donna Wells
Echo Metals
FEB31st
Firth & Wilson Transport Cycles
Forever Valentine Tattoo
Forrest + Rood
Franklin & Whitman
Hiding Place
Highline
Isaac Lin
James Dybvig
Jibe Design, Juliet Whelan
Diadora U.S., Inc
OUR TENANTS
KG Strong
Kara Howland
Forever Valentine Beauty
Kenneth Pendergast
Klip Collective
Lauren Lyles Friday Kids
Leslie Abend - Evening Star Gallery
MAKESUPPLY
Machine Shop Boulangerie
Madlab Entertainment
Mangrove Media
Marcelino Stuhmer
Matt Stanley
Stover Ceramics
Sweetwater Portraits
Miles Table
My ND Integrative Health
Night Shift Studio
Ohm Family Chiropractic
Peter Brown + Susan Fang
Philadelphia Printworks
Print Liberation
Redshift Sports
Robert Boone
Room Shop
SALOMON PHOTOGRAPHY
Scale Design Group
Scipio’s Commercial Cleaning
Shira Walinsky
Shola Olunloyo
Smith & Diction
Two Persons Coffee
Squidynamite
T. Kahres Jewelry
Texture Florals
The Tiny Jeweler
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OUR TENANTS
tenant directory
OUR TENANTS
sophomores
1-3 years at Bok
12th Glow
Lace in the Moon
ALLCAPSTUDIO
PhilaTuner
Alex Kuzoian
Philly InMovement
Alex Wasserman
Phoebe Witmer
Apostrophe Technologies
RGA Associates
Aubrié Costello
Rachel Pierson Art
Base Butter
Raw Street Productions
Beehive
Rebecca Asch
Bike and Build
Rider Ceramics
BlackStar Projects
Rohe Creative
CMG Designs
Sabbatical Beauty
Caroline Kunka
SKOVeS Art
Centerpeak
Sarah Heffner
Conscious Cultures Creamery
Shira Friedman
Daniel Labrie
Sierra Montoya Barela
Deacon Hospitality Group
StreetsDept
Dindga McCannon
Symone Salib
Dragonfly Audio Post
Two Robbers
Dutch Label Shop
Studio Incamminati
Elizabeth Bergeland
Tern Water
Erik Wright
The Challenge Program
Ficks Music
The Foundry Collective
KNE II
The Water Trust
Kylee Ackler
Uh Huh Art Objects
Lea Colie Wight
Uzoamaka Anakwe
Linda Dennin
Wag Days
Lockman, LLC
Weaver House
Lynn Snyder
Whitney Alexander
Mt Airy Custom Furniture
Wyss Wellness Center
NaturAll Club
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OUR TENANTS
freshmen
one year or less at Bok
8 Fields
Moore Vintage Archive
Surry Hills
Amy Novinski
Nat Fry Woodworking
Theodore Harris
Anthony DeMelas
Occasionette
Tony Havrilla
Aubrey Levinthal
Out and Back Creative
Triyo Fitness
Aubrey Mascali
Past Present Projects
Wild Chairy
BICYCLE TRANSIT SYSTEMS, INC.
Rapport Communications
Yamanya Natural
Black Cat Design House RESAWear Carolyn Cannuscio Carl Durkow DNA Floral & Design David Campbell Days Away Creative Eric Karnes FABSCRAP, INC. Four/Ten Media Girls Inc. Hannah Kaplan Hold Etc Holly Simple Studio Izzi Stein Design Jack Kubizne Jacob Zelenkofske Jeffrey Maki Jennifer Riley Leigh Gallagher Mural Arts Philadelphia & Southeast by Southeast Minimal Chaos
Ruth Feldman Second Daughter Baking Co. Soccer Center Philadelphia Studio 1935 Studio Bladel
OUR TENANTS
tenant directory 37
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
Bicyclette
While we miss coming off the 4th floor elevator and seeing the wonderful pieces created by Brian Christopher—or his pup, Aggie—we couldn’t be happier to see Brian and his family take their life and talents to Brunswick, Maine. Brian’s work can be seen at BOK in our WKSHP at the Machine Shop Boulangerie counter.
OUR TENANTS
where are they now
Two Robbers
It was a major year for the Nayar brothers and Two Robbers. The hard seltzer startup has called Bok their home since day one and while we are always sad to see folks leave, when they do so and grow it always makes us smile. Two Robbers will be opening their first burgers & seltzer concept at 1221 Frankford Avenue this summer. Congratulations Vivek and Vikram! 39
tenant impact
Our partnerships are critical to the success of Bok. Our team continuously works with a variety of organizations and communities in South Philly to consider how we can support one another.
South Philadelphia Community Fridge & Pantry on Mifflin Street
Conrad Benner celebrates 10 years of StreetsDept!
OUR TENANTS
BlackStar celebrates its 10th BlackStar Film Festival
Jefferson & the Wyss Wellness Center provide physical, mental, and emotional support to Afghan refugees, with 5,000 vaccinations & counting!
Remark Glass expands Bottle Underground, their sister organization leading the way on glass recycling Garces Foundation continues their food pantry program
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2021 events
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2021 EVENTS
B[L]OK Party
Smiles filled Mifflin Street in 2021 after this neighborhood tradition returned from a 2020 hiatus. At the 5th annual B[L]OK PARTY, neighbors and friends celebrated all things Bok and South Philly with activities for kids
and adults of all ages like a bouncy castle, food trucks, arts and crafts, a fire truck demo, and more. It was a special day for tenants and neighbors.
2021 EVENTS
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2021 EVENTS
2021 EVENTS
Open Studios
So many wonder what goes on in the spaces at Bok. Open Studios gave an inside look at Bok-based artists, makers, and business owners at work. This buildingwide event allowed many to wander the building, meet dozens of members of the Bok community, watch demos and purchase Bok-made wares and artwork.
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2021 EVENTS
Irwin’s Reopening “The romance is unexpected. Graffitied room, perched atop an old art deco high school, a sprawling terrace with science-lab tables and plastic school chairs, lit by string lights and the moon (if you’re lucky), with sweeping views of the low-slung row houses and the Walt Whitman Bridge. And then chef Michael Ferreri’s modern Sicilian fare is rolled
out by a gracious staff—a fritto misto with succulent shrimp and fried lemons, handmade al dente twists of trofie pasta, a perfect caponata. Natural wines are poured, Prince comes on and all of a sudden South Philly feels like the most hip, romantic place around.” - Esquire Magazine Best New Restaurants in 2021
2021 EVENTS
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2021 EVENTS
2021 EVENTS
Studio Incamminati Bokannalia
Celebrating their first year at BOK, Studio Incamminati enchanted the 7th floor at BOK with an evening of art, wine, great food and works available for purchase made by students and professors. The show was comprised of thesis work from the class of 2021 and marked the first annual Founders Day celebration for the beloved art school. 51
2021 EVENTS
FABSCRAP opening event Brooklyn-based nonprofit FABSCRAP celebrated the opening of their second location with an opening event to showcasing their new space at BOK. With support from Philadelphia-based Urban Outfitters and Nordstrom, the event highlighted the company’s mission to reduce and reuse textile waste.
2021 EVENTS
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THE TEAM @ BOK
THE TEAM @ BOK
irwin’s
Chef Michael Vincent Ferreri moved to Philadelphia in 2011 where he worked for acclaimed chefs such as Jose Garces at Tinto, Michael Solomonov at Zahav, and Joey Baldino at Zeppoli. It was at Zeppoli that the seed of Ferreri’s love affair with treating beautiful ingredients simply started to blossom into his expression of Modern Sicilian Cuisine. In March 2019 Ferreri fulfilled a lifelong dream to cook a beautiful meal in the kitchen at The James Beard House, for The Feast of Saint Giussepe. Also in 2019 Ferreri was named among Philadelphia’s Star Chefs Rising Stars. His cuisine celebrates the seasons and the farmers that harvest the best of their terroir. Ferreri is thrilled to call Irwin’s his home, which has been fortunate to be named one of Esquire Magazine’s best new Restaurants in America in 2021. Michael Ferreri Executive Chef / Partner Ervis Kullolli Chef de Cuisine Katie Chase Manager Noah Burke Wine Director
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THE TEAM @ BOK
THE TEAM @ BOK
Bok Bar offers a packed events calendar featuring some of Philly’s best and brightest creative minds.
BOK bar
We partnered with local chefs in 2021 to give them a space to share their food. We curate events in three categories: SPARK (for panel discussions that start conversation), MOVE (for wellness—everything from DJs to yoga classes), and MAKE (for hands-on artist workshops). We prioritize inclusivity and intentionality—our partners in 2021 were 50% BIPOC-owned and 50% womenowned businesses—and we pledge to keep this going every summer. We are firm believers in creating the change we want to see in the world and we are lucky enough to have patrons who agree. We are so thankful to our Bok Bar staff who has been with us each season and works so hard to help make each Ian Kingsbery General Manager Dani Kessler Assistant GM
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THE TEAM @ BOK
THE TEAM @ BOK
BOK collective In the face of a global pandemic and national outcry, we knew we had to approach Bok Bar from a different perspective. Built on intentional programming and inclusivity, summer 2021 was about creating a safe space — one that was approachable and reflective of Philadelphia at large. We wanted to prioritize the diverse voices in our community, create opportunities for folks displaced by COVID, and keep everyone safe while doing it. With this in mind, we welcomed dozens of Philadelphiabased food entrepreneurs and thought leaders who could make use of our wide open spaces to grow their work. We paid our staff a living wage. We read (and re-read) CDC guidance and made painstaking efforts to keep our community safe. The result was 29 weeks of dynamic programming and a unique opportunity for chefs, creatives, and innovators to share their stories with the city.
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BOK BAR COLLECTIVE BY THE NUMBERS
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philly-based businesses put on programming
Bok-based businesses put on programming
$431,000 total raised for Bok Bar partners
75,000+
guests visited over the summer
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weeks of programming
$12.45 hourly Philadelphia’s Living Wage paid to all Bok Bar employees
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BOK BAR COLLECTIVE BY THE NUMBERS
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events and pop-ups in 2021
BIPOC-owned businesses put on programing
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women-owned businesses put on programming
17,500 golden hour cocktails sold
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restaurants/chef partners supported that we displaced by COVID
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Uli
forever in our hearts 2005 — 2021
1901 S. 9th Street Philadelphia, PA 19148 @buildingbok hello@buildingbok.com © 2022