Federal Donuts Is Coming to South Street

One of the most storied streets in Philadelphia is about to get a major boost when Philly’s favorite fried chicken and doughnut shop opens this fall. Federal Donuts is setting up at 540 South Street, right on the corner of 6th and South. Look for it to open its doors in late September.

As everyone obsessed with Federal Donuts’ twice-fried, za’atar-dusted fried chicken and sugar-covered doughnuts knows, the local chain is owned by star chef Mike Solomonov and Steve Cook — who also have Zahav, Dizengoff, Goldie, and Abe Fisher — along with Felicia D’Ambrosio, Bob Logue, and managing partner Tom Henneman. (Solomonov and Cook’s newly rebranded The Rooster uses Federal Donuts’ leftover chicken bones for its soup.) It debuted in Pennsport in 2011 and has since spawned five other Philly locations.

The South Street shop will be the seventh, and an eighth Federal Donuts is opening at the new East Market development next year. An outpost in Miami only lasted six months.

Michael Persico

The South Street address is a two-story building from 1900 that most recently housed a cell phone store — but like many properties on this once-hot stretch, it’s been vacant for a while. The building, along with several others in the area, is owned by Midwood Investment & Development.

“For generations, South Street has played a part in so many Philadelphia stories,” Federal Donuts’ Cook said in a press release. “Immigrants, artists, activists and students have all found a home along this unique stretch of the city. Federal Donuts is honored to become a part of this story for the next generation.”

Michael Persico

Michael Persico

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