London Coffee House, commonly referred to as the Old London Coffee House, was a coffee house in Philadelphia in the colonial-era Province of Pennsylvania, located on the southwest corner of Market (formerly High Street) and Front Streets. It was the scene of political and commercial activity, and also served as a place to inspect black slaves recently arrived from Africa and to bid for their purchase at public auction.[1][2]

History

An 1845 engraving of the London Coffee House
Old corner tavern
The Old London Coffee House building in 1854
The Old London Coffee House building in 1854
A 1908 illustration of the London Coffee House in its 18th century heyday

Opened by William Bradford in 1754, the London Coffee House was built with funds provided by more than 200 Philadelphia merchants, and it soon became their meeting place.

At the London Coffee Shop, merchants, ship masters, and others talked business and made deals that they often sealed with nothing more than a simple handshake. The governor of Pennsylvania and other colonial officials also frequented the coffee house, where they held court in their own private booths.[1]

It was named the London coffee house, the second house in Philadelphia to bear that title. The building had stood since 1702, when Charles Reed, later mayor of Philadelphia, put it up on land which he bought from Letitia Penn, daughter of William Penn. Bradford was the first to use the structure for coffee house purposes.[3] Many real estate lots were offered over pots of coffee.[4]

Shuttered in the aftermath of the British occupation of Philadelphia in 1777 and 1778, the London Coffee House reopened in 1783. But the 1780s were a difficult time in which to establish or revive a business in the city.

In 1791, unable to weather the economic hardship, the London Coffee House was converted into a residence and general store.[1]

In 1883, the building was demolished.[5]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "London Coffee House Historical Marker". ExplorePAHistory. WITF, Inc. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  2. ↑ Ron (2012-08-28). "Philadelphia Slave Stories: The London Coffee House". usslave.blogspot.com. usslave.blogspot.com. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  3. ↑ Ukers, William H. "The Second London Coffee House". All About Coffee. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Philadelphia Merchant's Exchange". ushistory.org. Independence Hall Association. Retrieved 25 April 2014.
  5. ↑ Lippincott, Horace Mather; Oakley, Thornton (1926). Philadelphia. Philadelphia: MaCrae Smith Company. p. 47.
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