The Spring Cleaning Edition: April’s Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus on the Future

Two goodbyes that stung, two arrivals that delivered, and a pipeline that’s done collecting dust.

April in Rittenhouse was basically the neighborhood equivalent of cleaning out your closet. Some stuff had to go, some new things moved in, and, somehow, we ended the month with more than we started with.

The hard part first. Black Turtle Coffee closed unexpectedly after just a year and a half — rough, especially for a spot that had settled into the former Le Bus space on 18th Street. And Pizzeria Vetri called last orders on Chancellor Street after nearly 11 years, which honestly deserves a moment of silence and at least one spritz in their honor.

On the good news front: April delivered a couple of openings (up from 1 last month, woo hoo!) Lady Lavka opened on Chestnut Street with a space so gorgeous it barely feels real (blue-grey walls, cherry blossom trees, gold accents. And The Juice Pod completely redid the former Joe’s Coffee corner into a tropical wellness situation and a window seat with a front-row view of Rittenhouse Square that is, frankly, unfair (location, location, location!)

On the pipeline: Some long-running mysteries are finally getting answers. Bar Cicci, an all-day Italian café that flips into an aperitivo bar at night, eyeing May/June. The diner that was supposedly coming to the old Chika Ramen space? Yeah, that’s not a diner anymore BUT we’re getting Frame! BOTLD swapped their cocktail bar plans for a collab with NYC’s Tipsy Scoop, and now we’re getting Philly’s first “barlour”. And then we were incredibly excited to learn Call Your Mother is officially taking over the Metropolitan Bakery space (location, location, location!)

But then there’s Market Street, which is quietly having A Moment. MOTW already opened their Yemeni-inspired coffee shop in February, Poke Bowl and Wally Dental are on their way, and this month we added two more to the mix: Chase is claiming the corner of 22nd and Market in a building that was literally already a bank once (coming home, basically), and Pvolve — yes, the Jennifer Aniston fitness one — is heading there in late 2026. Is it the most glamorous stretch of the neighborhood? No, but something is clearly happening over there, and we’re watching (not sure if you picked up on this yet, but we’re quite nosey)

Here’s the April Cheat Sheet:

• Fond Farewells: Two closings — one that came out of nowhere, one after nearly 11 years of really good pizza and happy hour spritzes.

• Friendly Hellos: Two openings — one for your nails, one for your green smoothie era.

• Focus on the Future: Three big updates (a name reveal, a concept swap, and a barlour), plus new additions: Call Your Mother, Chase, and Pvolve- so we’re up to 32 incoming businesses spanning restaurants, bars, coffee, retail, wellness, experiences, and more on the incoming list.

Read on for the full rundown — and as always, tips, intel, and typo catches go to rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com. We appreciate you!

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Fond Farewells:

Black Turtle | 📍129 S 18th St

After more than a year and a half, Black Turtle Coffee has unexpectedly closed. The sibling to the OG Black Turtle on 21st & Chestnut debuted in the Fall of 2024, filling the long-vacant void left by Le Bus Bakery’s closing. We don’t expect this spot to stay dark for long. (Unlike that water main construction, which somehow keeps… growing? Sir, we need our streets open.)

Sending our best to the staff — and hoping we still get to see familiar faces around the neighborhood.

Pizzeria Vetri | 📍1615 Chancellor St

A little more change on Chancellor: Pizzeria Vetri shared they’re closing their Rittenhouse location on April 25th, after nearly 11 years in the neighborhood.

The Rittenhouse spot was their 2nd location after Callowhill, and was carved out of what had once been a parking-garage entrance at The Icon — which came with some quirks. The historic building forced them to vent the pizza oven through a second-floor window which, per Philly Mag, prompted a 911 call on opening day when a passerby mistook the smoke for a fire.

To the staff, the pies, and more happy hour spritzes than we’d care to admit: you are the best.

Friendly Hellos:

Lady Lavka | 📍1804 Chestnut St

Remember when we told you about Lady Lavka coming to Chestnut Street? Well, she’s HERE and the space is even prettier in person. We’re talking soft blue-grey walls, cherry blossom trees, gold accents, and a full floor of manicure stations that honestly feels most like a spa. Add in the Russian manicure technique (e-file, builder gel) – you get the whole vibe. Bookings can be made here.

The Juice Pod | 📍1845 Walnut St

The Juice Pod has ARRIVED. The former Joe’s Coffee space on Walnut that was Venditori for a hot minute, has been completely redone with rattan pendant lights, tropical plants, a whole row of pineapples lined up on the counter like they own the place, and a window seat with a front-row view of Rittenhouse Square (people watching, anyone?).

The cold-pressed juices, smoothie bowls, wellness shots, healthy food options and more are exactly the grab-and-go health fix this side of the Square has been missing. Plus there’s outdoor seating with those fringe umbrella tables if you want to make a whole thing of it. So go get something pink and swirly and sit in the sun in the park — you know you deserve it!

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Focus on the Future:

7th Street Burger |📍1518 Chestnut St

The New York to Philly pipeline shows no signs of slowing down. 7th Street Burger, an NYC smash burger joint that’s built a cult following on no-frills patties and big flavor, is heading to the former Amma’s space on Chestnut Street. Amma’s, of course, moved to the much larger (and swankier) ex-Max Brenner’s space on 15th — so dosas out, doubles in.

7th Street Burger is known for keeping things simple: smash patties, melty cheese, soft buns, and not much else. Think of it as the anti-$22-burger — which, honestly, feels like a welcome addition to a neighborhood that doesn’t lack for upscale dining but could always use another solid, no-nonsense option. ETA is TBD — we’ll keep you posted!

Ayat |📍2021-23 Sansom St

The New York to Philly (and vice versa) love continues with the long, long, long in the making arrival of Ayat, a Palestinian restaurant with many locations in the even longer-vacant Roxy Theater space. Construction has hit MANY snags, however, they are still focused on Philly and it’s definitely happening in 2026, as you can see from our most recent peek into the window.

Once again, we’re sending them all the positive vibes!

Bar Caviar | 📍256 S. 16th St

File this in news that would have thrilled Robin Leach if he was still with us – Per The Inquirer, Rittenhouse is getting its own champagne wishes and caviar dreams fulfilled as boutique hotel The Dwight D will be debuting Bar Caviar. An intimate hotel set in an 1840s row home, they’ll have a wide array of champagne bottles and by the glass, varieties of caviar, oysters and crudo, plus small plates.

ETA is now June!

Bar Cicci | 📍1620 Sansom St

Well, well, well — the Rittenhouse game of Clue is getting clearer! When we last checked in, Ellen Yin was returning to the neighborhood with an Italian concept at The Josephine, but details were scarce. Now we have a name and a vibe: meet Bar Cicci, an all-day cafe! Days will bring Italian-inspired pastries, focaccia sandwiches, and espresso drinks; evenings flip the script into an aperitivo bar with wine, cocktails, cicchetti, and snacks. Basically, it’s the kind of place you can pop into at 9am for a cornetto AND at 7pm for a spritz, which honestly sounds like a perfect day.

ETA is May/June!

Bathhouse | 📍1414 Walnut St

Walnut by Broad had been empty for some time before Flight Club Darts opened last year, joined later by 7th Avenue. And now the scaffolding around The Bellevue is down, construction for Mr. Edison continues, and in other great news, New York wellness cult favorite Bathhouse is coming to town! Moving into the beautiful and over-5-years-empty PRIOR Tiffany’s location, Bathhouse isn’t your average cucumber-water-and-whisper spa. Full details on what to expect here.

ETA is this summer!

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 this spring, claiming the iconic corner that once housed Audrey Claire, and then Charley Dove. Expect smoked salmon, sable, gravlax, caviar, bagels, and lox – all the good things in life, basically!

ETA was April but, between construction and inspections, delays happen. So, basically, any day now!

BOTLD + Tipsy Scoop |📍119 S. 18th St

BOTLD, or as we know it in the neighborhood as one of the best spots to grab Bird Gang spirts, had originally announced plans to add a bar ala their Midtown location. But they’ve since swapped those plans for something in the same vein with a literal icy twist: a collab with NYC-based Tipsy Scoop to create Philly’s FIRST “barlour” – see all the deets here.

Call Your Mother | 📍 262 S. 19th St

Okay, so we already poured one out for Metropolitan Bakery closing its doors after 32 years — but the good news is, the space didn’t sit empty for long. Call Your Mother, a popular Washington D.C.-based “Jew-ish” bagel deli (emphasis theirs), is moving in and bringing ALL the energy with it. Think bagel sandwiches, latkes, coffee, and a signature West Palm Beach color scheme: hot pinks and seafoam blues for miles! Metropolitan Bakery’s own cofounder personally handed over the keys — so this feels less like a goodbye and more like a really good handoff.

ETA is August!

Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese | 📍 2015 Walnut St

After a decade of serving tacos that somehow made sense with Peking duck and Korean BBQ (the food truck era was wild, you guys), the Philly Inquirer shared that owner Carolyn Nguyen was closing Revolution Taco to open something she’s been wanting: Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese. The concept is Cajun Vietnamese food from her Louisiana (!!) childhood —think seafood boils, slow-cooked grits, curry duck with handmade gnocchi.

ETA is hopefully April as the awning and menu is up!

Chase | 2200-2202 Market St

Big banking energy is coming to Market St. as Chase moves into what was a 7-Eleven that closed around 2019. The building itself was originally constructed for Girard Bank, so Chase is really just keeping the banking vibes alive. Not exactly a hot new restaurant (sorry guys!) but…having a branch right there is pretty damn convenient for anyone commuting through Market West.

ETA is this Fall!

Frame | 📍 1526 Sansom St

The old Chika Ramen space is finally and literally coming into frame, as Frame is expanding to Rittenhouse. After Chika Ramen shuttered in March 2025, No Name Hospitality grabbed the lease and teased a diner for the space — but Philly Insider confirmed that what’s actually coming is Frame Midtown (RIP, the diner that never was). Hours are shaping up to be dinner daily, with brunch and dinner Friday through Sunday — and the lower level’s moody underground vibe is basically already built in.

ETA is mid-June!

Friday Saturday Sunday Expansion | 📍 261 S 21st St

Last year Friday Saturday Sunday bought the home behind them, adding space for about 40-50 more diners in what they’re calling a “higher-end chef’s table” experience. Think of it as the VIP lounge of an already-VIP situation.

ETA is Summer!

Haraz Coffee Shop |📍1822 Chestnut St

Michigan-based Haraz Coffee House is opening their third Philly location in the Elon Dunbar House, bringing specialty Yemeni coffee to our caffeine-obsessed heart. The space has been empty since ToBox closed in 2019—so we’re trading dress shoes for coffee beans, and honestly? We’re not mad about it. They specialize in the traditional Yemeni coffee roasting with light roasts, plus spiced coffee drinks and date-sweetened options.

The ETA is summer and construction is moving!

Jabal Coffee House | 📍1524 Chestnut St

Our 3rd Yemeni and/or Yemeni influenced (e.g. MOTW) will be 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. The Rittenhouse location’s renderings look equally gorgeous, as you can see here.

ETA is this Fall!

Liquorette |📍1534 Sansom St

Sometimes when you open a WineDive downstairs, you go full Jekyll and Hyde and open a high-end cocktail bar upstairs—because why not? Liquorette is positioning itself as a “technique-driven cocktail bar inspired by luxury European cocktail bars, and it’s the perfect contrast: downstairs you’re vibing with natural wine and bagel bites, and upstairs you’re sipping clarified citrus cocktails that require three types of bitters.

They were aiming for early 2026 so we’ll keep you posted on any new news!

Lululemon Expansion | 📍1718 Walnut St

Remember when we told you about Lululemon’s expansion plans? Well, phase one is officially underway as they’ve moved into the former North Face space a few blocks down on Walnut Street while construction begins on their mega-store. You can find full details here, and the team said the tentative ETA is June!

McDonald’s |📍1604 Chestnut St

In the comeback story absolutely nobody saw coming—except maybe Ray Kroc‘s ghost—McDonald’s is staging its Rittenhouse return, swooping into the former Portabella space, as the menswear spot had upgraded to bigger, fancier digs just one block over. It’s like watching your ex move back to the neighborhood, except this time we’re actually kind of excited about it because, let’s be honest, sometimes you just need those McNuggets at 11 PM on a Tuesday.

Permits and zoning notices are plastered on the building but construction hasn’t even broken ground, which means it looks like 2027 before we can McFlurry our way through life.

Mitchell & Ness | 📍1513 Walnut St

The wait is almost over as Mitchell & Ness is putting the final touches on their new flagship home in the former Brooks Brothers space. This bi-level beast gives them roughly triple the room to do what they do best: drowning us in Birds green, Phillies red, and every other piece of Philly sports merch our hearts desire.

ETA is May, so be sure to sign up for emails JUST for the flagship store here!

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. Construction is moving, as you can see here.

ETA looks like summer sooooo … soon!

O’Morreys | 📍1720 Sansom St

This was one of the neatest stories from The Inquirer: 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. The building once housed Genji, a Japanese restaurant Omori’s parents ran for nearly 30 years and most recently was home to General Tsao’s House. The concept is elevated bar food paired with a curated cocktail program.

ETA is 2026 but details beyond that are still scarce.

Palm Vintage | 📍 1414 S Penn Sq

The area around City Hall is having a moment, and Palm Vintage might be its most intriguing addition yet. Opening in the former Waterfront Gourmet Deli space, this spot will be pulling double duty: cafe by day, tropical cocktail lounge by night. From 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., expect pastries, breakfast sandwiches, salads, and coffee. Then at 4 p.m., it goes full Jekyll and Hyde—transforming into an island-inspired cocktail and sushi lounge with caviar, oysters, and light bites until 10 p.m.

Things are moving, the menus are up here, and the ETA is any day now!

Poke Bowl | 📍1900 Market St

Popular NYC-based brand, Poke Bowl, is about to join Gojo Poke in the area to vie for our poke love! The Hawaiian-style bowl brand is diving into the former Crisp Kitchen eatery that closed back in 2020, and which had a massive footprint. Luckily, the landlord (who also has an empty Starbucks space, by the way) is divvying up the space. Since slicing it cleanly in half Looney Tunes style wasn’t an option, it will need some additional construction TLC.

ETA is early May!

Pvolve | 📍1735 Market St

Market is about to move, literally as fitness brand Pvolve is flexing its way over. The concept, which Jennifer Aniston has been repping since 2023, focuses on longevity, with class formats ranging from sculpt to cardio to heavy weight training. Basically, a workout that’s designed to build you up for the long haul without wrecking your joints in the process. So, the anti-HIIT!

ETA is late 2026.

Somedays Bakery | 📍1601 Walnut St

The paper’s up at the former Republic Bank which in Philly real estate speak is basically the Bat-Signal for “something delicious is coming”—and according to The Inquirer, that something is Somedays Bakery, a NYC-based croissant wonderland that’s about to make your carb-loving heart very, very happy.

See our deep dive here – ETA for our first artisanal croissants bakery is this Summer!

The Pelican Club | 📍225 S 18th St

It’s official: Stephen Starr’s fourth restaurant on the Square now has a name AND a vibe! The Pelican Club is taking over the former Devon Seafood & Grill space with a Greek-rooted, Mediterranean concept inspired by the jet-set Mykonos of the Onassis era. This will be his ninth restaurant in the neighborhood — the man collects Rittenhouse storefronts the way some people collect vinyls.

ETA is October, and we’ve got the full story here.

The Ruxton | 📍210 W Rittenhouse Square

If you appreciate a good steakhouse with enough vintage glamour to make Gatsby jealous, this one’s for you. Per the Business Journal, The Ruxton – a Jazz Age-inspired steakhouse from the team behind Loch Bar – is slated to arrive at The Rittenhouse in Spring 2027, with construction kicking off in Fall 2026.

Think velvet upholstery, walnut millwork, custom Murano glass chandeliers, and those iconic Rittenhouse Square views that turn dinner into an event. And who doesn’t love dinner and a show?!

Tidal Force VR | 📍1510 Chestnut St

Luckily for us, the NYC-to-Philly pipeline is also delivering experiences: Tidal Force VR is taking over the former Kids Foot Locker space with a multiplayer free-roam VR experience where groups of up to 6 battle through custom-built game worlds, per the Business Journal. Think escape rooms meets laser tag, but make it sci-fi. Between Tidal Force, Sandbox VR, and Time Mission, the neighborhood is quietly building out what might be Philly’s unofficial holodeck district — and we’re very much here for it.

ETA is this Fall!

Unnamed Sports Bar @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St

We’ve been keeping an eye on the rumored second-floor sports bar at The Josephine, and the status remains… murky. The concept — craft cocktails, premium bar bites, wall-to-wall screens for your Eagles-obsessed soul — hasn’t exactly been confirmed, but it hasn’t been killed off either. With Bar Cicci now locked in downstairs, the big question is what’s going on with that substantial second floor. Is the sports bar still in play? Did it morph into something else entirely? Is the space getting split?

We’re watching this space like a hawk and will keep you updated!

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.

ETA is any day now!

Wally | 📍1900 Market St

Yet another NYC export heading our way: Wally is coming to Market! If you’ve never heard of them, think of it as the dental equivalent of a gym: for $249 a year, you get unlimited cleanings, whitening, exams, and x-rays. They use Swiss-made Airflow technology (no scraping!) and they call their spaces “studios” which should tell you something about the vibe. Philly will be one of their first expansions outside the NYC/NJ area, with 2 locations.

ETA and the exact space at 1900 Market is TBD.

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Spotted something we missed? Have intel on any of these projects, or new ones coming into the neighborhood? Hit us at rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com so we can track its progress together!