It’s The Great Pumpkin Spice (But Limited!) Edition Of Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus On The Future
The neighborhood may be down 4 Starbucks but we’re far from out as 7 new businesses launch, and 3 more prepare to arrive in Rittenhouse.
Sure, a corporation can take our community Starbucks away. A terrible move, in our admittedly biased opinion because Rittenhouse is doing great, and closing stores within tight-knit community isn’t a way to win fans.
Admittedly, no one would ever say Starbucks showed ANY creative vision—unless you count spelling names wrong on cups as a business strategy. But while the Seattle giant was busy pulling out of our neighborhood faster than someone who just remembered they left the oven on, the 7 new businesses who did choose to open up in the neighborhood—some unexpectedly, like Tria’s events space—showed vision and a desire to provide a thriving area of the city options– the ones that go beyond “tall, grande, or venti.”
We also have 3 new businesses arriving, so our plate continues to be full! And we can’t forget that we still have some HUGE debuts still pending, such as World of Flight and Uchi, not to mention highly anticipated local faves WineDive and Banshee, among others.
Long story short: There’s still plenty of action happening (total of 27 excluding real estate and expansions), and more in the works that will be announced, hopefully shortly, because we love new news!
But first…
- Who left us? Besides the 4 Starbucks on Market, Spruce, and Chestnut Streets, we also saw the closure of the small Iranian + Afghan BYOB Villakebabs, and Thirdlove departed for the ‘burbs—just like that couple you know who had their first kid. We get it: more space, a backyard, better parking. We’ll miss having them around, but like Ross and Rachel, maybe they’ll come back someday (we’re manifesting).
- Who arrived? Quite a few businesses, actually! The highly anticipated restaurant from Royal Izakaya’s team, Dancerobot, has officially arrived (and yes, the name alone makes us think of Daft Punk meets Iron Chef). Rhythm & Spirits arrived from down the Shore, Tacodelphia opened their 2nd location, Tria opened up a dedicated events space, and the good-looking medspa + cafe The J Spot arrived in Rittenhouse-adjacent Fitler Square. Also, Joan Shepp completed her move, not 1 but 2 tobacco/smoke shops opened up, and Spirit Halloween did its annual “just popping in since the Rite Aid is still empty” act. (At this point, Spirit Halloween is basically the Airbnb of retail spaces—showing up every October like clockwork.)
- Who’s coming? What we know publicly is Chinatown’s adorable Matcha Panda is expanding to bring us delicious matcha drinks and crepe desserts (finally, a reason to feel healthy-ish while eating dessert). NYC’s The Tox Technique is bringing us its unique body sculpting method, while The Hive is going to give us another beautiful yoga option. And, as you know, we LOVE having options!
Check out the full list below and, as always, if we missed anything or you heard something, please let us know via email rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com or DM us on social! We may not be speedy but we WILL get back to you, promise!
Fond Farewells:
Starbucks | 📍1500 Market St
Starbucks | 📍1709 Chestnut St
Starbucks | 📍1900 Market St
Starbucks | 📍1801 Spruce St
The new Starbucks CEO woke up and chose violence recently as he abruptly shut down 4 – 4! – stores in our neighborhood (6 overall). The Chestnut Street one was a small but loved for the staff pick-up only location, the Spruce store was truly a part of the community for a long time, while the other two were on Market: so packed during the week and a bit quiet on the weekends.
Baristas at these Starbucks were truly wonderful and we’re beyond sad to see the stores empty. Sending them all the best vibes, and hope they end up back in our neighborhood.
Thirdlove | 📍1611 Walnut St
Sadness – one of the few underwear-only retail stores, Thirdlove, departed the Rittenhouse neighborhood for the ‘burbs (namely, KoP). The store had replaced a long, gone Untuckit, which in turn replaced American Apparel. We will miss Thirdlove and their lovely, always helpful team.
Villekebabs |📍1722 Sansom St
Villekebabs, an Iranian and Afghan-centric restaurant quietly closed after about 2 years (remember its predecessor Sugar by Foo?) but we’re going to keep an eye out for its next act by its new owners!
Friendly Hellos:
Dancerobot | 📍1710 Sansom St
The highly, highly anticipated Japanese restaurant from the esteemed Royal Izakaya team, Dancerobot glides into the former Foodery (RIP) space. Besides offering a STELLAR website experience (our compliments to the designer) Dancerobot’s menu is very much comfort food-focused, which is a great addition to Rittenhouse’s Japanese food scene.
Joan Shepp |📍1905 Walnut St
Do NOT call it a comeback but high-end fashion boutique Joan Shepp has sashayed her way back to Walnut St, after having done a pretty long stint at 1811 Chestnut. The new store is beautiful – so, basically, on brand!
Prime Tobacco Zone |📍124 S 16th St
Prime Tobacco Zone, a chain offering something for every kind of smoking vice, has opened up into the long empty spot next to Joe’s Pizza. For a hot moment that space was home to an artisan luxury goods collective called The Narrative after long-time tenant Sun Myst Tanning Spa left.
Puff Shop |📍114 S 15th St
We didn’t get one but 2 – 2! – options to fulfill all smoking vices because Puff Shop opened up in that long-empty spot in the garage on Sansom St. It’s a bit smaller than Prime Tobacco but should suffice!
Rhythm & Spirits |📍1617 JFK Blvd
Atlantic City’s Italian American restaurant Rhythm & Spirits has made its way over to our neighborhood, offering a nice array of options in addition to dinner, like brunch, lunch, and even late-night options (maybe something to hit up after or before The Concourse? Just sayin’).
Spirit Halloween | 📍1628-36 Chestnut St
Spirit Halloween, aka the ghost of all retail pasts, opened up early this month to fulfill all of our Halloween plans! The yearly pop-up popped up in the former Riteaid (RIP) for the 2nd year in a row, and is once again filled with pretty much everything you need for Halloween except for the candy.
Tacodelphia |📍2051 Walnut St
Taco ’bout something delicious – the 2nd Tacodelphia (and first in our neighborhood) opened up. Sliding smoooothly into what used to be a Chase ATM location, the Rittenhouse location of the one that’s still at 427 S Broad St is bright, cheerful, and full of deliciousness. Click here to see more pics and the menu!
The J Spot | 📍501 S 22nd St
The J Spot, a medispa plus cafe, has arrived in Fitler Square, giving the long-vacant 7/11 space a MAJOR glowup. Long in the making, as the building had to be rezoned, the front of the medispa is likely the best waiting room you’ll see as it’s a cafe that carries small-batch coffee, juices, pastries and more. More deets to come but do drop by and say hi to the team!
Tria Events | 📍 1726 Sansom St
Quietly opening up in the closed boutique Pretty on You is none other than an events space from Tria Wine bar! Offering wine tastings and classes, along with a space to do private events, it holds up to about 50 people. So be sure to follow them on Instagram if you’re interested!
Focus on the Future:
2204 Walnut | 📍2204 Walnut St
It looks like, after a long period of hiatus, the new residential project at 2204 Walnut is FINALLY moving! Naked Philly, who has been long tracking its progress, shared “that the developers pulled a by-right zoning permit, which offers some indication of forward momentum after a couple years of radio silence.” and that it was pared down to 19, instead of the original 29, residential units.
ETA is likely 2027 (keeping our fingers crossed!)
Amma’s |📍1500 Walnut St
Popular South Indian restaurant Amma’s on Chestnut Street has been planning to move into the old Max Brenner space on 15th street for quite some time/ We’re anticipating that the combination of the larger space and liquor license will likely make it an even more popular, and we can’t wait to see it! ETA has been pushed to October.
Ayat |📍2021-23 Sansom St
The New York to Philly (and vice versa) love continues with the impending arrival of Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant, replacing the long-vacant Roxy Theater space. This will be their seventh location and first for PA. Construction has hit MANY snags, and we’re hearing that activity has been quiet for some time now.
Banshee |📍1600 South St
Beloved Tio Flores may be gone, but its prime location didn’t stay empty for long. The Philly Inquirer announced that the team behind shuttered favorites Cheu Fishtown and Bing Bing Dim Sum has secured the lease. Their vision? Banshee, a bistro featuring clean Scandinavian design and an eclectic menu that defies easy categorization. ETA has moved to October – sending good vibes out to the team!
Botld Expansion |📍119 S. 18th St
Botld opening up in 2023 was pretty unique if you know how lovely PA’s liquor laws are. Botld has done pretty well and now they’re taking it to the next level with a planned cocktail bar in the back space. ETA is now 2026!
Cake & Joe |📍1735 Market St
Cake & Joe is slated to come to Market Street, offering a dessert option for a street that’s been hurting since the pandemic, because, WFH. Known for their gorgeous mousse desserts and drinks, this will be an intimate Cake & Joe store. Construction, however, hasn’t begun but we’re holding on to hope – with the loss of 2 local Starbucks we KNOW there will be demand!
Fashionphile | 📍 1616 Walnut St
A long, long time ago (2023, to be exact) the water damage resulting from putting out a car fire in the garage on Chancellor St, forced the CKO Kickboxing at 1616 Walnut St to close. However, that’s ancient history as Fashionphile, the “high-end consignment boutique for secondhand luxury handbags & accessories in a stylish interior” will be moving in from their previous location of 1617 JFK Blvd.
Friday Saturday Sunday Expansion | 📍 261 S 21st St
In super exciting news for everyone wants to but can’t easily get into Friday Saturday Sunday, news from The Inquirer announced that they’re buying the home behind them on Rittenhouse Square. Per the article, that’ll allow them to accommodate about 40-50 more people at what they’re saying will be a “higher-end chefs table.” ETA is next summer!
Harper 2.0 |📍113-119 S. 19th St
The OG Cavanaugh’s and other businesses on Sansom by 19th Street are long gone to make way for Pearl Properties‘ Harper 2.0. Completion is a LONG way off: at the current rate of construction, which is nil for the moment.
Hive Yoga & Pilates | 📍1632 South St
Coming to the former location of Revel Ride is another fitness studio – Hive Yoga and Pilates! This studio will also offer infrared heat, so as to make your hot Yoga feel even more intense, in the best possible way. ETA is October and be sure to follow them on social for specials!
Jordan Brand’s World of Flight |📍1617 Walnut St
It feels like FOREVER since Nike announced that the first US “World of Flight” experiential retail store was coming to this gorgeous townhome. Based on what we’ve been tracking and the fact that Jalen Hurts was seen filming a commercial in the building, we’re getting super hyped that 2025 is SO happening!
Liquorette |📍1534 Sansom St
Sometimes, when you plan to launch a “quirky wine bar” aka the lovely Wine Dive on the first floor, you may also plan to launch a bar bar on the second floor that’s a “high-end, technique-driven cocktail bar that’s inspired by luxury European cocktail bars.” ETA is late 2025, even possibly 2026 as the owners are focused on launching Wine Dive and reopening Sonny’s Cocktail Joint.
Lululemon Expansion | 📍1718 Walnut St
Not only are new businesses arriving, and some shifting into larger spaces, we’re now also seeing the beginning of what may be a new trend: expansion! And setting the way is none other than Lululemon whose landlord, according to the Business Journal, is actively engaged in helping us get some extra Lululemon love by allowing next-door neighbor Indochino to exit their lease early AND helped find them their new digs at 1519 Walnut St aka the former home to Bonobos. ETA is 2026 should this be the plan.
Madis Coffee Roasters | 📍1441 Chestnut St
Madis Coffee Roasters announced last year that they were expanding to this side of the Schuylkill with 2 locations: one of them is planned for the corner of 15th and Chestnut, at the base of The Element Hotel, which has never been occupied. ETA is still 2025 per last we heard!
Matcha Panda |📍2033 Chestnut St
In great news for matcha lovers, Matcha Panda is lumbering into the former Black Market CBD and Kraton store. So it’s a different kind of chill! And this off-shoot of the Chinatown OG will not only have matcha, it also offers cream puffs, crepe cakes, and more to tempt any diet plans you may have.
McDonald’s |📍1604 Chestnut St
In a highly anticipated comeback story, McDonald‘s is returning to the neighborhood. Only this time, it’ll be on Chestnut Street, replacing the old Portabella that moved into bigger, nicer digs just the next block over. Permits and zoning notices are up on the building but we’re thinking we won’t have some McNuggets to nibble on until late 2026, maybe even later as no work has begun.
Mitchell & Ness | 📍1513 Walnut St
In yet another example of one business taking over the lease of another, one of our favorite sports stores, Mitchell & Ness, is moving into the former Brooks Brothers (RIP). This is a much larger, bi-level space which gives them plenty of room to give us even more of want we want – more Birds & Phillies merch! ETA is likely 2026.
Mr. Edison |📍 200 S Broad St
The Bellevue‘s return to being the Grand Dame includes a brand new restaurant, Mr. Edison from famous restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow. It’s sliding into the former Polo store on Walnut and keep Flight Club Darts, which is across the street, company. ETA is 2026.
Pine Street Grill |📍2227 Pine St
We have a name! Pine Street Grill is on its way from Her Place Supper Club and My Loup’s owners Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp aka Libbie Loup Hospitality that will be launching in the former Italian Cotoletta space. ETA is late 2025 so we’ll keep an eye out!
Stephen Starr’s 3rd Restaurant on the Square | 📍225 S. 18th St
As Borromini preps for its day in the sun, Stephen Starr is turning his attention (and stellar crew, we’re sure) to the former Devon Seafood space. And if you ever had the chance to go to Devon, you probably remember the beautiful arches, the ceiling print, the tiles, and the expansive space in the back, down the steps – it was a story and vibe in itself. No name, no concept but rumors are now split between American, Japanese, and seafood. So Starr has the opportunity to do the funniest thing…anyway, ETA is 2026!
Teddy Sourias Project | 📍 1515 Market St
Teddy Sourias, the founder of Craft Concepts Group, who has many restaurants you’d recognize in Center City, including Uptown Beer Garden, was planning a Japanese-inspired restaurant at 1515 Market that included a 4,000-square-foot patio. It’s been quiet for some time so thinking we’ll remove this from the list next month.
The Tox Technique
As Zillow Gone Wild would say, you never know what’s going on behind a facade. Because behind the doors of the former Equinox showroom, you can see NYC’s The Tox Technique, a body sculpting and wellness brand is setting up shop. We’ve reached out for an ETA but based on the fact that their booking page is live and the interior is looking very sharp, we’re thinking it’s soon!
Time Mission | 📍 1534 Chestnut St
Time Mission, a social gaming experience where teams travel “through time to save the future,” is joining Sandbox VR to give us two experiential options in the neighborhood! It’s been a while coming BUT construction is ramping up and advertising has begun. So time to get planning that holiday company outing! ETA is this fall!
Uchi | 📍 1620 Sansom St
The award-winning, Austin-based restaurant Uchi is coming to the Josephine, and construction is moving! Their Miami and other locations look stunning, and they’ve hired the same designers whose creativity can be seen at Schulson’s restaurants. ETA is late 2025, and we’re OBSESSIVELY tracking the construction!
Unnamed Diner | 📍1526 Sansom St
Upon Glu Hospitality’s closing of Bagel & Co and Chika Ramen, No Name Hospitality snapped up the leases. With Bagel & Co now Shay’s Steaks and More, we’re now just waiting to see who moves into the ex-Chika Ramen restaurant that’ll apparently be an “old-school” diner open until 3am on the weekends, joining a growing number of desired late late-night/early morning options in the neighborhood. ETA is this year!
Unnamed Italian Bakery @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St
Good news: Every commercial space within The Josephine is taken! And next to the incredible-sounding Uchi will be a Philly-based Italian bakery, which will continue to make Sansom between 16th and 17th pretty awesome. ETA was this year so hoping we hear (or see) something soon!
Unnamed Sports Bar @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St
LET’S GO SPORTS BAR! Apparently, the entire 2nd floor of The Josephine will be a known-brand name sports bar. ETA was this year although we haven’t heard anything about it recently so keeping our fingers crossed for something super exciting!
Unnamed Residential Project | 📍26 S. 21st St
The recent project added to the residential construction projects in (slow) progress: A 200-luxury apartment building is being planned for a current parking lot, and:
The project would be outfitted with underground parking, a second-story restaurant with an outdoor patio, and a 16,000-square-foot ground-floor retail space, which they anticipate attracting a national retailer. There’s no current ETA but they were planning to break ground in 2025.
WineDive | 📍1534 Sansom St
It’d been a while since we had any new updates on the quirky wine bar that was coming to the former Nails by Anna D space, so we were getting a tiny bit worried. But thanks to Wooder Ice we’re not worried anymore because Wine Dive itself is moving from South St. And, as you can see from their recent story, it’s looking like the kind of dive you’d love to drink wine at. ETA is September!
Wonder | 📍1600 Chestnut St
Finally, something more valuable than a bank is opening in a former bank space! Wonder, a unique and buzzy food delivery, takeout + dine-in brand, is coming to town. ETA is September and we’re tracking its progress here.
Know of anything else coming or in the works? Shoot us an email at rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com so we can watch their progress together!
