Where Rocky Ran: The Italian Market Filming Location
Few places scream Rocky like the Italian Market in South Philadelphia. If you’re scouting the real streets where the Italian Stallion made his mark, this stretch of 9th Street is a must-see. Featured in Rocky, Rocky II, Rocky V, Rocky Balboa, and Creed, the Italian Market has been part of Rocky’s on-screen training ground for decades.
The “Shot-and-Run” Scene
In the original Rocky, Sylvester Stallone jogs straight through the Italian Market with no roadblocks, no extras, and no permits. Just Stallone, a pair of Chuck Taylors, and a camera crew hustling to capture raw Philly energy.
The scene starts with Rocky running south down 9th Street and passing the bustling corner at Washington Avenue. At the time, Stallone was unknown — which is why nobody batted an eye at a guy in sweats booking it past seafood stalls and produce stands.
And then it happened: a vendor, not realizing a movie was being shot, chucked an orange at him as he ran past. Stallone caught it without missing a beat. It was spontaneous, it was authentic, and it stayed in the final cut — an unplanned moment that became a piece of Rocky history.
Rocky Returns (Again and Again)
This wasn’t a one-and-done filming spot. Rocky hits the Market again in Rocky II. He’s back with Tommy Gunn in Rocky V, and again in Rocky Balboa where he’s seen picking up fresh ingredients for Adrian’s Restaurant.
In Creed (2015), Adonis follows in his mentor’s footsteps, jogging solo through the same iconic thoroughfare. Every Rocky fan who steps foot here is retracing those same moves.
Giordano’s: Stallone’s Pick for Adrian’s Restaurant
At the corner of 9th and Washington — the same corner Rocky runs by in the first movie — you’ll find Giordano Fruit and Produce. This spot became part of Rocky canon in Rocky Balboa when Stallone chose it as one of the real-life food suppliers for Adrian’s Restaurant.
They’ve been in business since 1921, dishing out produce, cheeses, pasta, and all the Italian goods a South Philly kitchen could need. Rocky buys good Italian cheese here and loads it up in his white van.
Every Vendor’s Got a Rocky Story
What makes the Italian Market unique isn’t just its age (it’s billed as “America’s Oldest Outdoor Market”), it’s how deeply embedded it is in the fabric of the Rocky legacy. Vendors here aren’t just extras — they’ve lived the filming, watched the crews, and some even ended up in the final cuts.
Ask around. You’ll hear first-hand stories about “the day Stallone ran by,” or “how they filmed Creed here.”
Visiting the Market Today
If you’re planning a visit, know that the Market is still a live-wire mix of produce stalls, meat shops, spice merchants, and old-school Italian storefronts. Chef-led walking tours are available and often include behind-the-scenes details about the Rocky filming spots. The annual Italian Festival in May is also worth hitting — food samples, live music, and an atmosphere that feels straight out of a movie.
