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“I’m a little biased here, Bustleton is, in my opinion, one of the better sections in Philadelphia,” said Jack O’Hara, who now lives in the house where he grew up.
Located in not just the Northeast, but the Far Northeast part of Philly, Bustleton’s “semi-suburbanish” nature is one of its charms, said O’Hara, who serves as president of the Greater Bustleton Civic League.
“You have a lot of the amenities of the city, but if you want a lawn, there’s plenty of lawns to mow here. There’s a lot of trees and tree lined streets,” he said. “Bustleton Avenue is a big artery that’s pretty busy, but I think, in general, it’s that combination of city and suburbia, you really do get that feel up here.”
Among the neighborhood “gems” is Pennypack Park, which offers 1,600 acres of woods and meadows to explore with paved and unpaved trails for walkers, bikers and even horseback riders.
“The Pennypack Environmental Center, which is right [at the park], is a neat little thing for kids to go to. And seniors, they have all these different programs.”
The neighborhood is bounded by Roosevelt Boulevard to the east and the Montgomery County line to the west. Heading north, the community stretches to Red Lion Road and to Pennypack Park in the south.
Legend has it that the neighborhood traces its name to the Busseltown Tavern, which later became the Bustleton Hotel, which was established before the American Revolution. Because the area was a busy, productive agricultural trading hub, the tavern gave the surrounding community the nickname “Busseltown.” Some believe this name over time evolved into the present-day name. It’s probably more likely that English settlers in the area who hailed from what is now Brislington, England – formerly called Busselton – brought the name of their former home to America with them.
“It’s a very diverse area and getting more diverse,” O’Hara said. “I’m still experimenting with some of the ethnic restaurants here.”
That diversity is evident in the presence of the Russian language on signs along Bustleton Avenue. Inside Eastern European-style supermarkets and restaurants located at strip malls that line the busy, wide roadway, it’s often more common than English.
Bustleton is a haven for people of post-Soviet descent. More than a third of residents in the neighborhood’s zip code are foreign-born, per census data. Many are realizing the American dream of being a homeowner: 60% of houses are owner-occupied, a rate that’s 10 points higher than the city average.
The tavern is far from the neighborhood’s only connection to history. Among churches “in every denomination” as O’Hara points out, Pennepack Baptist Church lays claim to the title of oldest surviving Baptist Church in the state. The church was founded in 1688, just six years after the founding of Pennsylvania.
The Klein Community Center offers a fitness center, indoor swimming pool, athletic programs for all ages, along with programs for adults, particularly those over 60. It also has after-school programs, a community theater, and family-oriented events.
“I grew up here, moved away for a little while, and then came back and purchased a house that I grew up in, believe it or not,” O’Hara said. “At first when I first got here I was like, ‘what did I do?’ But I now love this house, but I always liked the area, the Bustleton area.”
As for dining, O’Hara recommends Kelly’s Seafood: “That’s been around 60-70 years. I worked there…. I was a busboy.”
There’s also Benny the Bum’s at 9991 Bustleton Ave. This neighborhood staple has been operating for more than 25 years. It is known for its fresh, tableside-shucked oysters, hardshell crabs and hearty pasta and chicken specialties.
There’s also the House of Kosher at 9806 Bustleton Ave., a grocery which offers kosher items and kosher prepared foods.
