Blank Space, Meet Blank Street: A New Coffee Corner Is Coming to 18th & Spruce
The NYC matcha-and-espresso chain known for its seafoam storefronts and colorful specialty drinks is set to open its 2nd Philly location this summer at the former Starbucks spot.
Rittenhouse doesn’t do new vacancies well. The corner of 18th and Spruce has been quiet since Starbucks closed in September, and the neighborhood has been waiting. Turns out, it was worth it.
Blank Street Coffee — the NYC brand that turned a battery-powered Brooklyn coffee cart into a $500 million chain — is coming to 1801 Spruce Street this summer.
Farewell to a Familiar Corner
That Starbucks at 18th and Spruce was one of those neighborhood anchors you barely noticed until it was gone—the kind of spot where morning routines happened, study sessions stretched out, and post-shopping refueling was quietly taken for granted. The space has excellent visibility from both directions, and we’re thrilled it won’t be sitting empty for long.
But change can be exciting! And if you’re going to replace a coffee institution, Blank Street is bringing something completely different to the table—er, cup.
Hello, Blank Street!
Rittenhouse first caught wind of Blank Street when the chain announced its Philadelphia debut earlier this year. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, Blank Street is opening its first Philly location at 3603 Walnut Street in University City this summer—a 3,500-square-foot space near Penn’s campus, and the 18th and Spruce will be the second.
Founded in New York in 2020 by Vinay Menda, Issam Freiha, and Ignacio Llado, the company began as a single battery-powered coffee cart in Brooklyn before expanding rapidly across major cities. Today, Blank Street operates locations across the United States and the United Kingdom, with American storefronts in New York, Boston, and Washington. Philadelphia is next.
The six-year-old chain is known for its micro-cafe look and automated espresso systems, along with a menu of specialty matcha and iced espresso drinks—the kind that photograph beautifully and have made the brand a fixture on social media feeds in every city they’ve landed. Those instantly recognizable sage-green storefronts don’t hurt, either.
The Blank Street Experience
The six-year-old chain is known for its micro-cafe look and automated espresso systems, along with a menu of specialty matcha and iced espresso drinks—the kind that photograph beautifully and have made the brand a fixture on social media feeds in every city they’ve landed. Those instantly recognizable sage-green storefronts don’t hurt, either.
The brand also focuses on speed and efficiency—they’re designed for the grab-and-go lifestyle but with more personality. Perfect for a neighborhood where people are always on the move between meetings, shopping, and park strolls.
Looking Ahead to Summer
Construction hasn’t begun yet when we peeked in, so fingers crossed the summer timeline mentioned holds! As of mid-2025, Blank Street was valued at approximately $500 million and operating 90 locations across the US and UK, so Philly is getting a brand that’s very much on the move.
The timing feels right, too. As the neighborhood continues to grow and welcome new businesses, Blank Street brings something fresh to the coffee scene without trying to compete directly with beloved local spots. They’re carving out their own niche in the visual-meets-caffeination space.
We’ll be monitoring the corner of 18th and Spruce closely and keeping fellow Ramblers posted as things develop. Summer can’t come soon enough!
In a nutshell: What We Know So Far
- Who: Blank Street Coffee, NYC-based matcha and espresso chain
- Where: 1801 Spruce Street, corner of 18th & Spruce, Rittenhouse
- What’s there now: Former Starbucks, closed September 2025
- Expected opening: Summer 2026
