PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Tia and Mark El have been trying to open a booth at Reading Terminal Market since 2018. Last year, they were offered a temporary gig.
"We started off in October as a day stall on Fridays and Saturdays, and we’ve been asked a number of times from customers when will we be here more days," said Tia.
This month, they finally get that opportunity. They’re opening Sweet T’s Bakery & Snack Shop in the former Metropolitan Bakery location — and they’re making Reading Terminal history.
“This is the first Black-owned bakery inside of Reading Terminal Market in 129 years,” said Mark.
The couple specializes in sweet potato offerings — pies, pound cakes, cheesecakes.
“We also have our four signature drinks that were specially designed by Tia,” Mark added.
Tia learned to make sweet potato pie from her grandmother. It reminds her of the holiday season, but “we give people the opportunity to eat sweet potato pie all year long.”
She said food is an important part of her family history.
“Because a lot of times the best conversations is usually around dinnertime, eating, talking, so it’s very important to culture,” she said.
The couple said opening their own store also gives them an opportunity to give back to their community.
“And to hire young bakers that are looking to be like us,” said Mark.
For more on the Sweet T’s Bakery, listen to the KYW Newsradio original podcast What’s Cooking on the Audacy app.