South Philadelphia is getting Philip Korshak back this spring, but this time he is trading long bagel lines for a compact corner hangout. Korshak Picnic Provisions is set to open at the southeast corner of 13th and Reed, right across from Columbus Square Park, with a tight menu built around grilled hot dogs, sourdough biscuits and a curated lineup of picnic-friendly goods. Korshak is aiming for a May opening and says the new spot is intentionally small and neighborhood-focused, not another destination that demands hours of waiting and heavy production.
From a cult bagel to a low-key comeback
Korshak first drew national attention with Korshak Bagels, which opened in May 2021 at 10th and Morris and quickly became a media darling, earning praise from outlets like the New York Times and Bon Appétit. That run ended in September 2023, when he closed the shop. His new Picnic Provisions concept will take over a former animal hospital at 13th and Reed and operate as a park-facing counter offering quick snacks and small groceries rather than a full-on bakery. As reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer, Korshak cited financial and personal strain in his decision to close the bagel shop and said he resisted automation and large-scale expansion that he felt would compromise the bakery’s character.
What’s on the menu
The new shop’s menu will center on four styles of grilled hot dogs: a standard beef or vegan dog, a Coney-style dog with chili and cheese, a Chicago dog and a Pacific Northwest dog topped with cream cheese and cabbage. There will also be house-made sourdough biscuits and a cinnamon roll that is spiked with sourdough, a nod to Korshak’s baking roots. According to PhillyVoice, he expects to bring in buns from nearby Mighty Bread Co. and keep the shelves largely local, with products from vendors such as Second Daughter Artisanal Bakery and Okie Dokie Donuts. The idea is a straightforward, park-ready menu instead of the high-volume baking operation that defined his previous shop.
Neighborhood scale, not headline chasing
“The goal is durability rather than buzz,” Korshak told The Philadelphia Inquirer. To that end, he plans to keep the operation lean, with roughly three employees, so the business stays manageable. Beyond food, the corner store will stock non-edible picnic gear like kites, blankets and quilts, reinforcing its role as a grab-and-go stop before or after time in Columbus Square Park. For Korshak, now back in the neighborhood after time away, the project functions as a practical reset in both scale and purpose.
Why this matters for South Philly
South Philly turned Korshak Bagels into a local institution, and this pivot to a smaller, steadier model mirrors a broader shift among independent operators who are rethinking size in order to preserve margins, wages and quality of life. Secret Philadelphia notes that the corner’s close proximity to Columbus Square Park makes a bodega-style, park-focused setup an obvious fit for the block. If Korshak Picnic Provisions opens in May as planned, it will serve as a useful test of whether a low-key, community-minded concept can draw consistent neighborhood business without the pressure cooker of viral fame.
