Positively Philadelphia: Our Small-Business Arts Mecca

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - It's always interesting to find out why a small business owner decides to set up shop in Philadelphia.

"I fell in love with Philadelphia because I went to grad school here --  I went to Penn," says Kate Egan (at left above), "and I just loved the energy here.  I've lived in New York,  I've lived in Rome, I've lived in Los Angeles."

So, when Egan and her husband, Cort Day (above right), decided to open the jewelry boutique "Egan Day," she picked 260 South 16th Street in center city.

"What I loved about Philadelphia is that it has a small-town vibe, but I also find that it has things that I love, like great restaurants, great coffee.  These are important things!  And great people."

Egan has has designers from around the world and also local designers in her shop.

"Jonathan Wahl is originally from Ambler, Pennsylvania.  In fact, his father is the mayor of Ambler," she notes.

One of the out-of-town jewelry designers that Egan features is David Rees, co-owner with Ron Anderson of Ten Thousand Things.

"We're artisan jewelers," Rees says.  "We make it in our studio and retail space in Manhattan, and we came to Philadelphia with our new enamel collection."

Why here?

"Philadelphia's a beautiful city.  It's a very elegant city, for one thing, and the taste level is so high, and there's such a history of embracing the arts.  It's a very creative community," Rees told KYW Newsradio.

Rees says he's not here that often, but...

"There's so many years in between times, I forget what a great city it is.  And so every time I come, I'm like, 'Why don't I come here more often?  It's so great!' "

And that's "Positively Philadelphia!"

Reported by Lauren Lipton, KYW Newsradio 1060