The Seconds, Please Edition: It’s November’s Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus On The Future
Nine businesses opened in November, led by Uchi’s highly anticipated arrival, while 26 more concepts are slated to come—proof that Rittenhouse’s abundance isn’t just seasonal, it’s the new normal.
November didn’t just deliver—it served.
And what a spread it was. Nine new businesses opened their doors, and the lineup reads like Rittenhouse’s version of a perfectly curated Thanksgiving table: sophisticated without being stuffy, diverse without trying too hard, and offering something for literally everyone at the feast. From elevated Japanese cuisine to lymphatic sculpting, the neighborhood’s bounty this month proved that good things really do come to those who wait (and walk these streets obsessively).
Only one business departed—our beloved seasonal friend Spirit Halloween, which vanished back to wherever it hibernates for 10 months out of the year. We’re grateful for the spooky memories.
The pipeline? Overflowing. About seven new concepts are officially in the works, and the diversity is something to be genuinely thankful for: three coffee shops that couldn’t be more different from each other if they tried, a nightclub-disguised-as-cardio-class, hand-sliced smoked fish from South Philly royalty, a sushi fusion project that’s been teasing us for over a year, elevated bar food with the most emotionally resonant backstory, laser hair removal for the perpetually groomed, and wellness concepts that promise to make healthy living actually accessible.
Let’s break down the feast:
- Who We’ll Miss (& Toast): Spirit Halloween made like a bat out of hell and departed 24 hours after Halloween. See you next year, you beautiful tradition!
- What Landed On Our Table: WineDive brought elevated wine bar energy while Mighty Bread Co. proved that carbs deserve a seat at every table. The Tox arrived with lymphatic sculpting that promises to undo every bread basket decision, and Underoutfit delivered comfy foundations for people. Holy Guacamoly added fast-casual Mexican to the rotation, All Aboard Candy brought sweet treats to the Comcast Center, CityCoHo opened for co-working professionals seeking community, Fashionphile brought luxury resale to the fashion-forward crowd, and Uchi—yes, that Uchi—landed with high-end Japanese cuisine that contributes to the neighborhood’s high culinary ceiling.
- What’s In The Oven: Two famous and highly anticipated Yemeni cafes (MOTW and Jabal), Palm Vintage doing the whole cafe-by-day/cocktails-and-sushi-by-night thing, 305 Fitness transforming the former Physique57 space into DJ-powered dance cardio that feels more nightclub than workout, O’Morrey’s bringing elevated bar food to 1720 Sansom in the most emotionally resonant full-circle moment, Teddy Sourias’ Japanese concept at 1515 Market actually showing construction progress after we’d nearly given up (thanks fellow Rambler Tiffany for the photo evidence!), Biederman’s bringing hand-sliced smoked fish and bagels to the former Audrey Claire space at 276 S. 20th, and Sev Laser plus Vita Sana rounding out the wellness offerings.
Let’s dig into the details and, as always, let’s explore what’s happening in the neighborhood together—just email rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com. We are genuinely so thankful to our fellow Ramblers who keep us in the loop!
Fond Farewells:
Spirit Halloween | 📍1628-36 Chestnut St
And just like that—poof—Spirit Halloween has vanished back into the retail ether where it hibernates for 11 months before magically reappearing like seasonal clockwork. The pop-up that transformed the former Rite Aid into Halloween HQ for two years running has packed up its inflatable Grim Reapers, animatronic witches, and that one sexy version of literally everything (seriously, who approved ‘Sexy Corn’?). See you next October, you beautiful, bizarre tradition.
Friendly Hellos:
All Aboard Candy Pop-Up | 📍1701 JFK Blvd
And if you’ve ever wondered why Rittenhouse doesn’t have enough candy stores, wonder no more—All Aboard Candy just pulled into the station! This pint-sized pop-up debuted at the Comcast building and is slated to stick around until post-Valentine’s Day, which means you’ve got months to work your way through their inventory.
The second stop on this candy caboose has parked itself in the long-vacant Starbucks spot, and the transformation—as the photos show—is something to see. Walk in and you’re hit with floor-to-ceiling shelves packed with everything from nostalgic classics to trendy imports, the kind of selection that requires multiple visits just to process it all. Beyond the expected sugar rush, they’ve stocked ornaments, candles, and even gifts for your four-legged friends (because of COURSE dogs deserve candy-adjacent presents too).
The space looks better than it has in years, and honestly? We’re just thrilled to see it occupied again. Sometimes the best holiday gift is simply not walking past another empty storefront.
City CoHo |📍2401 Walnut St
What used to serve Wharton grad students has been transformed into City CoHo, a co-working space that actually makes you want to work. And you can see in the conference room photo above, this isn’t your standard WeWork knockoff: We’re talking floor-to-ceiling windows with panoramic views (hello, productivity guilt when you’re scrolling Instagram), thoughtfully designed conference rooms that don’t feel like prison cells, and enough stylish nooks to make you feel like you’re in a WeWork commercial—but without the WeWork baggage. Check out our full deep dive for the complete tour.
Fashionphile |📍 1616 Walnut St
Fashionphile, the destination for authenticated luxury resale that’s basically Carrie Bradshaw’s dream consignment situation—has landed in the former CKO Kickboxing studio. The new location shares the building’s ground level with Core Yoga, creating an accidentally perfect pairing: work out upstairs, reward yourself with a pre-owned Chanel downstairs (we’re not saying that’s the intended flow, but we’re not not saying it either).
The space gives them significantly more room to breathe than their previous JFK Boulevard location, and you can actually browse without doing that awkward sideways shuffle past other shoppers. Walk in and you’ll find curated rows of designer bags, wallets, and accessories displayed more like a boutique than a consignment shop—gleaming glass cases, organized by brand, everything tagged and ready to go.
The Fashionphile model cuts through the usual secondhand anxiety: every piece is authenticated, priced, and photographed with the kind of attention usually reserved for new merchandise. No haggling, no uncertainty about whether that Hermès is real, just straightforward luxury shopping without the luxury price tag (!). It’s the kind of place where browsing feels as intentional as the merchandise, and walking out empty-handed somehow still counts as an experience.
Holy Guacamoly |📍1722 Sansom St
Well, that was (thankfully) fast – 1722 Sansom traded spits for dips as Holy Guacamoly glided into the former Villakebabs & Platters space. The eatery for Mediterranean and traditional Afghan food (and platters, of course) closed up shop in August with a mention of new owners, who did a complete reno and brought us a fast-casual Mexican grill. The space now glows with warm lighting bouncing off terra-cotta accents, with enough breathing room between tables that you can actually hear your conversation over the sizzle of the grill.
Mighty Bread Company | 📍1644 Pine St
The Rittenhouse outpost of South Philly’s beloved Mighty Bread Company has successfully risen (bread pun absolutely intended) in the former J’aime bakery location, and Pine Street is better for it.
The charming townhome space now fills with the aroma of small-batch sourdough and naturally leavened loaves—the kind of smell that makes it physically impossible to walk past without stopping. Beyond the obvious (yes, incredible bread), they’re turning out tomato pies that’ll make you rethink your relationship with pizza, morning buns that sell out by 10 a.m. if you’re not careful, and sandwiches built on bread that actually matters.
For those of us who’ve been schlepping to South Philly for our bread fix, having a second location a few blocks from Rittenhouse Square feels like a small miracle (and our weekends just got a lot more flexible).
The Tox | 📍1921 Walnut St
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 and, before that, ice cream rolls-centric Sweet Charlie’s, is NYC’s The Tox.
Step inside and you’ll find clean lines, minimalist aesthetic, and that particular brand of upscale-spa-meets-science-lab vibe that makes you feel like you’re doing something important for your body. Think less massage table, more mission control for your lymphatic system. And it’s fitting that it’s in the former Equinox space, because as Eagle fans know, this season is a marathon, and not a sprint, so detoxing isn’t the worst idea.
Uchi | 📍 1620 Sansom St
The award-winning, Austin-based restaurant Uchi has (finally!) arrived at The Josephine. Designed by the same team behind Schulson’s stunning restaurants—yes, that design team—Uchi looks exactly as fabulous as you’d hope, with 117 seats, an 8-seat bar, and 13 precious spots at the sushi bar where the real magic happens. And in a departure from other Japanese restaurants in town, Uchi offers a 10-course traditional omakase that’s available at the sushi bar AND tables.
Our deep dive is in progress – expect it soon!
Underoutfit |📍1611 Walnut Street
From DTC to IRL: Popular comfort bra and underwear brand Underoutfit has arrived at 1611 Walnut in their very first brick-and-mortar debut! Sliding into the former Thirdlove shop – another women’s underwear brand that departed this September – Underoutfit was able to utilize what already existed. See all the details here.
WineDive | 📍1534 Sansom St
It took a while, but all good things come to those who wait: WineDive finally opened up in the former, long-closed Nails by Anna D. As you can see from the photos, WineDive hasn’t lost the quirkiness that made the original special—the intimate space practically demands you make friends with whoever’s sitting next to you, which is kind of the point.
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 (yeah, not ideal, but progress is progress.)
ETA is likely 2027 (keeping our fingers crossed!)
305 Fitness | 📍1625 Walnut St
Remember when working out sometimes means work? 305 Fitness is the antithesis of that nightmare. Picture this: you walk into the former Physique57 space, and instead of fluorescent lights and mirrors, you get darkness, a live DJ spinning actual good music (we’re talking hip-hop and Top 40), strobe lights, and choreographed moves that feel very much like Saturday night. Their cult following in NYC isn’t marketing hyperbole—this is legitimately the most fun you’ll have while technically exercising.
The signage is already up (check the photo!) and we heard the ETA is early December!
Ayat |📍2021-23 Sansom St
The New York to Philly (and vice versa) love continues with the eventual 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 haven’t seen any progress made. ETA is still TBD.
Banshee |📍1600 South St
Beloved Tio Flores may be gone, but its prime location was snapped up by the team behind shuttered favorites Cheu Fishtown and Bing Bing Dim Sum. Their vision? Banshee, a bistro featuring clean Scandinavian design and an eclectic menu that defies easy categorization. ETA is December for sure, this time the team told us and we believe them.
Biederman’s | 📍276 S 20th St
Expanding on the caviar kiosk outside The Four Seaons, Lauren Biederman is bringing her hand-sliced smoked fish empire to Rittenhouse early next year, claiming the iconic corner that once housed Audrey Claire, and then Charley Dove. Expect smoked salmon, sable, gravlax, caviar, bagels, and lox – basically everything your bubbe would approve of, now a five-minute walk from Rittenhouse Square instead of a schlep to South Philly.
ETA is Spring 2026!
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 2026.
Cake & Joe |📍1735 Market St
Cake & Joe is slated to come to Market Street, offering a dessert option for a street that’s beginning to blossom once again. Known for their gorgeous mousse desserts and drinks, this will be an intimate Cake & Joe store. Construction is moving so thinking 2026 may be in the cards.
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 —as the photos show— but an infusion of investment capital recently completed and we’re seeing signs of life (i.e, construction equipment moving in) at the long-dormant location (shocking, we know!)
Jabal Coffee House | 📍1524 Chestnut St
Philly is beginning to see an influx of Yemeni coffee shops, and fortunately Rittenhouse will be getting 2, one of them being Jabal Coffee House. Jabal specializes in premium Yemeni-grown coffee blends sourced directly from Yemen’s high-altitude mountains—the name translates to “mountain” in Arabic—and the cafes are distinctive.
Yemeni cafes are distinctive for their beautiful designs, late hours, spiced coffee drinks, and desserts ranging from kunafa cheesecake to chocolate-dipped cakes. So expect a luxurious coffee experience that’s designed as a destination and community space. ETA is 2026.
Liquorette |📍1534 Sansom St
Sometimes when you open a quirky wine bar (aka WineDive) downstairs, you go full Jekyll and Hyde and open a high-end cocktail bar upstairs. One tthat’s a “high-end, technique-driven cocktail bar inspired by luxury European cocktail bars.” ETA to be in love is early 2026!
Lululemon Expansion | 📍1718 Walnut St
It’s official – Lululemon is expanding into the space previously occupied by its next-door neighbor Indochino! Given that construction is notoriously disruptive we hear from fellow Rambler Josh that there are plans to move Lululemon temporarily to 1515 Walnut while they build out a new flagship for us. ETA is 2026 (fingers AND toes are crossed!)
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, ever been occupied. ETA is December!
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. ETA is soon!
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 construction has not 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. This much larger, bi-level space will give them plenty of room to give us even more of want we want – more Birds & Phillies merch!! ETA is Spring 2026.
MOTW Coffee & Pastries | 📍2101 Market St
The 2nd of the Yemini coffee shops coming is MOTW Coffee. Born from an Instagram initiative called “Muslims of the World” during the owner’s college days at Butler University, the project became a platform for sharing stories of resilience and faith across the global Muslim community – and somehow evolved into a coffee shop that Yelp ranked among the top 100 in the country. The menu leans into specialty lattes, iced refreshers, traditional chai, and Arabic pastries, blending premium coffee culture with cultural authenticity.
ETA is 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.
O’Morreys | 📍1720 Sansom St
Chef Kenjiro Omori and partner Biff Gottehrer – who first worked together as sous chefs at Dandelion about a decade ago – are reuniting to launch O’Morrey’s, and the backstory is the kind of full-circle moment. The building once housed Genji, a Japanese restaurant Omori’s parents ran for nearly 30 years, where he worked as a dishwasher, and most recently was home to General Tsao’s House. Now he’s taking over the family space with a name that’s part homage, part inside joke – just throw an apostrophe in “Omori” and shuffle the spelling. The concept is elevated bar food paired with a curated cocktail program.
ETA is Spring 2026!
Palm Vintage | 📍 1414 S Penn Sq
The area around City Hall is transforming into an unexpected hotspot, and Palm Vintage might be one of the best additions yet. Opening in the former Waterfront Gourmet Deli space, this dual-concept spot comes from the same team behind the new Fushimi sushi counter at Two Liberty Place.
From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., it’s a straightforward cafe serving pastries, breakfast sandwiches, salads, and coffee. Then at 4 p.m., it pulls a Clark Kent-to-Superman move and transforms into an island-inspired cocktail and sushi lounge, complete with caviar, oysters, and light bites until 10 p.m. The tropical motif promises a relaxed escape – which is bold for a spot literally across from City Hall.
ETA is early December!
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!
Sev Laser | 📍1525 Chestnut ST
Moving into the space right next to the Five Guys Burger and Fries that may have been on Chestnut since the prior decade is or was Sev. A boutique med-spa with locations throughout the country and the closest one to here in Fishtown, it’s moving into the Pomerantz building that has been vacant for over 18 years (!!). One of our fave RE people JackPhillyRE noted that SEV may be canceled, but we saw that it’s still slated as coming in CCD’s recent Retail Report. We’re going to leave it here until we know more, however, it’s worth noting that their name is not visible on the building anymore 🙁
Starr’s 3rd Restaurant on the Square | 📍225 S. 18th St
As Borromini enjoys its day in the sun, Stephen Starr is turning his attention (fingers crossed!) 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.
ETA is 2026 for both it’s (hopeful) arrival and cuisine confirmation!
Teddy Sourias Japanese Project | 📍1525 Market St
We had given up on anything happening at 1515 Market—which was originally slated to be a Japanese concept—but based on this recent photo from fellow Rambler Tiffany, we have regained hope!
Teddt Sourias, the mastermind behind the Craft Concepts Group empire initially hoped to open the space in mid-2024: a high-energy fusion of Tokyo bar culture and TAO New York vibes that promised equal parts nightlife spectacle and serious Japanese-inspired cuisine. The building itself, a former HSBC Bank branch with pink terrazzo floors, soaring ceilings, and a mezzanine level, was always destined for something dramatic.
If Tiffany’s construction photo is any indication, Sourias might finally be ready to bring his elder millennial dinner-turns-into-drinks concept to life – just fashionably late, as all good nightlife projects should be.
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 was 2025 but haven’t seen anything announced just yet.
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 is TBD and we’re 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 originally 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 a 16,000-square-foot ground-floor retail space (!!) There’s no current ETA but they were planning to break ground this year. So very TBD.
Vita Sana | 📍2319 Walnut St
Vita Sana PHL, a healthy fast-casual restaurant, is opening right next door in the space formerly occupied by Good Karma Cafe, next to CityCoHo. Think açaí bowls, fresh salads, wraps, and coffee; basically everything you need to fuel those long work sessions without having to venture far from your desk.
Spotted something we missed? Have construction intel on any of these projects? We’re always hunting for the next Rittenhouse scoop—hit us at rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com so we can obsess over it together. Until next month, fellow Ramblers!
