Spring Break
Lunch cart near library for sale after 21 years
Jenni Izzo
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
Pete's Lunch Cart on 33rd and Market, in front of Hagerty Library, is closing after having served the University campus for many years. A "For Sale" sign was placed at the cart window earlier this week.
The cart has been at the location for 21 years and is very well known to the University students, faculty, staff and other members of the city community. The cart was run by Pete Papadopoulos, who it's named after, until five years ago when he retired. Since then, his wife, Athina Papadopoulos, has been running the cart.
"I love this," said Athina. "Good food. Good people. I will miss Drexel."
Papadopoulos' contagious smile and friendly personality have kept her customers coming back daily. She knows many of them by first name and has memorized their typical orders. As Stephanie Clark, University librarian and daily costumer, approached the cart, Papadopoulos already started getting her daily hot tea ready for her.
"She's a very nice lady," said Clark. "I work in the library so it is not only a pleasure, but very convenient to see her every day."
Frequent customers are not only familiar with Papadopoulos, they also know her granddaughter Athina, who is named after her. Athina spends her summers off from elementary school helping her grandmother. She was currently on spring break when The Triangle stopped by the cart to talk to her. University students and facilities workers alike were happy to see her and one even commented on how much she has grown over the years. As customers leave, she is quick to cheerfully wish them a good day.
"The best part is talking to people," Athina said. "I'm a blabbermouth. I can admit that. And of course I love being able to spend time with my grandma."
Family is important to Papadopoulos and is one of the main reasons why she will be leaving the cart to join her husband in retirement. They have lived in the Philadelphia area for many years now but they are originally from Macedonia, a small village in Greece. As a proud grandmother of three, she has pictures of her grandchildren up on her cart for her customers to see. After her grandson was born, she promised her son that she would help him take care of the child.
"This is my dream," Papadopoulos said. "To be able to care for my family."
There is not a set last day for Pete's Lunch Cart yet. Papadopoulos is still waiting for someone to show interest in buying the cart.
"It could be days, weeks, or months," said Papadopoulos. "I'm not sure."
With the possibility of not much time left, one thing is for sure: students are going to miss the cart that has become the favorite of many.
"It's such a shame they're not going to be around anymore," said Anthony Ambriz, a junior majoring in computer engineering. "I've hit them up since freshman year for a quick bite whenever I'm at the library."
The cart has been at the location for 21 years and is very well known to the University students, faculty, staff and other members of the city community. The cart was run by Pete Papadopoulos, who it's named after, until five years ago when he retired. Since then, his wife, Athina Papadopoulos, has been running the cart.
"I love this," said Athina. "Good food. Good people. I will miss Drexel."
Papadopoulos' contagious smile and friendly personality have kept her customers coming back daily. She knows many of them by first name and has memorized their typical orders. As Stephanie Clark, University librarian and daily costumer, approached the cart, Papadopoulos already started getting her daily hot tea ready for her.
"She's a very nice lady," said Clark. "I work in the library so it is not only a pleasure, but very convenient to see her every day."
Frequent customers are not only familiar with Papadopoulos, they also know her granddaughter Athina, who is named after her. Athina spends her summers off from elementary school helping her grandmother. She was currently on spring break when The Triangle stopped by the cart to talk to her. University students and facilities workers alike were happy to see her and one even commented on how much she has grown over the years. As customers leave, she is quick to cheerfully wish them a good day.
"The best part is talking to people," Athina said. "I'm a blabbermouth. I can admit that. And of course I love being able to spend time with my grandma."
Family is important to Papadopoulos and is one of the main reasons why she will be leaving the cart to join her husband in retirement. They have lived in the Philadelphia area for many years now but they are originally from Macedonia, a small village in Greece. As a proud grandmother of three, she has pictures of her grandchildren up on her cart for her customers to see. After her grandson was born, she promised her son that she would help him take care of the child.
"This is my dream," Papadopoulos said. "To be able to care for my family."
There is not a set last day for Pete's Lunch Cart yet. Papadopoulos is still waiting for someone to show interest in buying the cart.
"It could be days, weeks, or months," said Papadopoulos. "I'm not sure."
With the possibility of not much time left, one thing is for sure: students are going to miss the cart that has become the favorite of many.
"It's such a shame they're not going to be around anymore," said Anthony Ambriz, a junior majoring in computer engineering. "I've hit them up since freshman year for a quick bite whenever I'm at the library."
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