Frishmuth Bro. & Co. was a prominent tobacco manufacturing firm in Philadelphia, established in 1810 by Jacob Frishmuth. Initially operating near 3rd and Callowhill Streets, the company specialized in premium pipe tobaccos and fine cigars. In 1850, upon Jacob’s retirement, his sons took over the business, renaming it Frishmuth Bros. & Co., and relocated to 151 North 3rd Street. By 1864, they expanded their operations to include adjoining buildings on Quarry Street, employing over 100 workers and producing a variety of high-quality pipe tobaccos and luxury cigars.

The building at 151 North 3rd Street, constructed around 1849, served as the company’s headquarters during this period. It is recognized for its historical significance and is listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.

In 1903, the fourth generation of the Frishmuth family commissioned a new, modern facility at 17th Street and Lehigh Avenue, designed by the architectural firm G.W. & W.D. Hewitt. Completed in 1904, this complex was considered one of the most advanced tobacco production facilities in the country at the time.

As of recent years, the building at 151 North 3rd Street has housed various businesses, including Blokes Barbershop. In August 2024, permits were issued for the construction of a new six-story, multi-family building with 11 residential units and ground-floor parking at this location, indicating ongoing development in the area.

The history of Frishmuth Bro. & Co. and the building at 151 North 3rd Street reflects the industrial growth of Philadelphia in the 19th and early 20th centuries, as well as the city’s ongoing evolution and development.