The Christmas In July Edition: This Month’s Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus on the Future

From LeBron to lululemon, July delivered Christmas early, with 8 new openings, a lighter round of farewells, and 6 new names added to the incoming pipeline.

Forget the calendar — Philly got its big gift a few months early this year!

When LeBron James announced he was taking his talents to Philadelphia, the whole city short-circuited just a little (JK, the city collectively lost it), and Rittenhouse was abs no exception. And fortunately, it turns out the neighborhood had its own presents to unwrap this month too: eight new storefronts came to life, the pipeline swelled to 34 with six brand-new additions, and even the goodbyes were lighter than usual. If June was about showing up for opening day, July was about actually delivering.

So here’s the gifts rundown: what’s under the tree, what’s getting returned, and what’s still on the list.

• The stocking stuffers we said goodbye to: July’s goodbyes were mercifully light — Crazy Sushi and Federal Donuts closed for good, while Sephora ducked out for a quick refresh. Eye Candy and Sherman Brothers Shoes both gave us fair warning they’re leaving soon, and Black Sheep and Time Mission remain on the mend. Three out, two more packing up — a quieter month than June, and we’re so not complaining.

• The gifts that actually showed up: Eight — EIGHT — new spots opened this month, nearly double June’s haul. Bombas moved fast into its now-familiar Walnut Street spot, Sandpiper Cafe and Moment Gelato & Coffee graduated from “coming soon” to “come on in,” and Mad Cat Brewtique and lululemon both leveled up their real estate. Round it out with Juan Pistolas, KPop Nara, and Sweet Mousse, and July quietly became one of our busiest opening months yet!

• The wish list keeps growing: The pipeline ticked up to 35, with six new names on the list: beauty meets fashion as Artur Kirsh Salon opens inside Boyds, Rothy’s steps into Pandora’s old spot, Gather Athletic Club and City Heat are both bringing the sweat, and Cartolina and Zac’s Halal round things out with retail and, yes, more food. Four other projects graduated off this list entirely by opening their doors — proof the pipeline isn’t just growing, it’s actually moving.

One block to watch. Chestnut Street just won’t quiet down. Between Boyds welcoming its new fourth-floor salon, KYN mid-construction, Haraz gearing up for September, and McDonald’s still (verrrrrrry slowly) rebuilding plus more, that stretch is shaping up to be Rittenhouse’s most-watched corridor two months running.

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 That Are Temporary:

Black Sheep | 📍247 S 17th St

One of Rittenhouse’s most beloved pubs had a rough night back in May. Actually, make that two rough nights. Per 6ABC, crews were first called to The Black Sheep around 9PM that Monday. Then at 2AM — because apparently the universe wasn’t done — the fire briefly rekindled, forcing crews to return. Basically…it was a terrible fire and while they were hoping to open in July it’s NOT ready.

The neighborhood rallied around their GoFundMe, launched by the Philly Manchester United Supporters Club; its raised over $56K (!!) of its $60K goal to help get the doors back open. So no ETA for now, but you can stay on top of any new developments via their Insta here.

Sephora | 📍1530 Chestnut St

Rittenhouse’s own Sephora just booked itself a makeover appointment! The store is closed for the next few weeks to get freshened up a bit. We don’t have details yet on what the remodel entails but it’s part of a bigger initiative announced last year to update each and every store across the U.S. Per Retail Dive:

“To speed up the check-out process, the company plans a greater shift to mobile, with retail staff checking people out from devices. Beauty studios, where customers can get their hair and makeup done, will be off to the side, away from windows. There will also be more lighting.”

ETA for Sephora Philly’s Return is August 31st!

Time Mission | 📍1530 Chestnut St

So the water damage that had taken out both JD Sports AND Time Mission is still keeping Time Mission’s doors closed. We will continue to ramble on by periodically to keep everyone updated but hoping they’ll be back soon!

Fond Farewells to Those Leaving Soon:

Eye Candy |📍218 S 20th St

Every neighborhood has a storefront that just feels like a fixture. For us, it’s the yellow glasses hanging outside Eye Candy Vision. That’s why it stings to share they’ll be closing at the end of August. Owner Tim Sagges has been outfitting the neighborhood with frames since around 2005. He’s the sweetest, most patient eye specialist you’ll find — the kind of guy who remembers your name, your prescription, and, more importantly, your furry friend.

Sending our very best to Sugar Bar Salon, who are just as genuinely sad as we are, to lose such a fabulous neighbor. And be sure to stop by before August 29th to wish Tim well!

Sherman Brothers Shoes |📍1520 Sansom St

73 years is a long, long, long time to fit anyone for a shoe — long enough that some of our neighbors got fitted for their bar mitzvah shoes here, and came back years later to do the same for their own kids. That’s Sherman Brothers for you. And next month, after 59 (!!) of those years on Sansom Street, they’re taking that legacy to the ‘burbs.

The store’s been a fixture at 1520 Sansom since 1967, when the Sherman brothers (yes, they’re actual brothers) moved over from Mole Street. Walk by today and you’ll still catch that green storefront and the walls of Alden boots and loafers through the window. But next month, they’ll be trading Center City for the Main Line, where, fun fact, Sherman Brothers actually had a store decades ago before it closed.

The family’s keeping the building (a restaurant called Silver Shaker is expected to move in), so this isn’t goodbye to the block but more so a goodbye to a storefront that’s very much a familiar part of Sansom Street, and to a staff who’ve spent decades getting to know their customers’ feet, and their families, one generation at a time.

Wishing the Sherman family bon voyage as they embark on their new adventure!

Fond Farewells:

Crazy Sushi |📍1837 Chestnut St

If Crazy Sushi was in your takeout rotation, it’s time to roll with the changes; the BYOB spot closed its doors on Saturday after 14 years at its Chestnut Street location, following the building’s sale.

Crazy Sushi opened back in September 2012 and became a go-to for quick takeout and delivery sushi. Next-door neighbor Mandarin Palace — another takeout fave that’s been holding down its Chestnut Street spot forever — isn’t affected by any of this, as far as we know. The good news: we’ve heard via the Rittenhouse Facebook Group that Crazy Sushi’s owner is already on the hunt for a new spot.

Fingers crossed it’s still somewhere in Rittenhouse, but rooting for them to land wherever works best for them and hopefully soon!

Federal Donuts | 📍1909 Sansom St & 1776 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy

If you walked past the Federal Donuts on Sansom earlier this month, and noticed the lights off, you weren’t imagining things — they closed quietly and the Logan Square shop followed suit a few weeks later.

1909 Sansom was actually a purpose-built spot for Federal, and they’ve only been there since 2022. Before that, they bounced around — from 1632 Sansom St, to a temporary basement spot at 1526 Sansom, before finally landing at 1909. Per Philly Insider (gift link to the article is here) the closure was due to a decline in weekday lunch traffic since the pandemic.

Sending all our love to the staff, and hoping they were able to stay in the neighborhood, albeit at other places.

Friendly Hellos:

Bombas | 📍1611 Walnut St

Well, that was fast — Bombas is officially open, less than a month after those windows started teasing the move!

The space that carried us through Untuckit, ThirdLove and most recently Underoutfit — all via retail-as-a-service platform Leap — has once again reimagined itself. ThirdLove and Underoutfit’s layouts were nearly identical, but Bombas went with soft wood tones, more openness, and a wider assortment beyond the classic ankle sock: slides, clogs, and slippers now share the floor, along with some VERY soft t-shirts in the back.

Andrea, who Ramblers may remember from the previous two concepts, is back, joined by some new, equally friendly faces. So drop by and say hi, and we’re hopeful that this time the concept sticks, especially with Rothy’s moving in right next door this fall!

Juan Pistolas | 📍1802 Chestnut St

It’s round two for Juan Pistolas, this time on Chestnut St! We first checked out their tasting room and bottle shop in The Shops at Liberty Place back in January of 2025, not long after the PA-based tequila brand (known for their resealable double-shot six-packs) set up shop. Now, Juan Pistolas moved to the former Central Nails space that’s been vacant since fall of 2024 (Central Nails moved to 264 S 20th St a while ago)

The store is doing what it does best: staying true to being a tasting boom and bottle shop, with a wide array of premium tequilas and mezcal, imported and domestic wines, and hand-crafted bourbon, vodka, rum, and gin (whew!) available.

Kpop Nara | 📍1521 Walnut St

The K-pop girlies, boy-group girlies, and everyone in between have a new obsession to obsess over as Kpop Nara has arrived!

Popping LITERALLY into the former Express Edit until the end of the year (please stay!), Kpop Nara has brought a VAST array of everything that will make your k-pop heart super happy to its Pop House. See all the deets here.

lululemon (Extended) | 📍1718-1720 Walnut St

We now have double the space AND double the reasons to linger since lululemon’s expanded presence on Walnut has arrived!

1718 and 1720 Walnut are now one address, with the old Indochino completely reimagined as the new men’s side (For the record, they landed on their feet over at 1519 Walnut). And with double the space, lululemon skipped the easy move — more product, same footprint — and built somewhere we genuinely want to linger. Plus they’re doubling-down on the community aspect: the dressing room has a “What’s Happening, Philly” board with info on local run clubs that gather at lulu.

See all the pics and more details about the move and plans here!

Mad Cat Brewtique |📍2036 Sansom St

Cafe and retail boutique Mad Cat Brewtique has traded Graduate Hospital for Sansom Street, purring its way into the long-vacant Community Reading Club space. Existing fans, of which there are many, will be happy to know that the new Mad Cat is still the Mad Cat they know and love, with an additional bonus on the way: Page Burners who operated previously as a pop-up within the shop, will now have its own cozy spot downstairs.

See our deep dive here and be sure to drop by and say hi!

Moment Gelato & Coffee |📍129 S 18th St

S. 18th Street’s dessert lineup just got a whole lot sweeter with the arrival of Moment Gelato and Coffee, a cafe that’s distinctly Asian-inspired, and one that slid smoothly into the former Black Turtle Coffee which closed in April.

The gelato options rotate weekly, while on the coffee side, expect lattes and specialty drinks alongside pastries. They’ve got plenty of seating, both up front and at little wood cafe tables tucked in the back. And don’t worry if your phone is running low — there are plenty of outlets, so you can recharge in more ways than one while you visit.

The team is lovely and excited to be up and running, so swing by and say hi!

Sandpiper Cafe |📍1640 South St

Fresh off last month’s tip from Rambler Drew, Sandpiper Cafe, a new breakfast, lunch, and coffee spot, moved into the former Viet Bistro location on South Street, whose closing we somehow missed (sorry guys!). It’s officially slinging breakfast and lunch from 7AM to 5PM daily, and interestingly, it’s from the team behind Indo Spice, putting an expanded spin on the menu from their Old City spot, Cafe Olivier.

South Street’s breakfast game just leveled up, and we’re so excited for it.

Sweet Mousse | 📍1622 South St

We have a new name to add to our 2026 Cafe Era playlist: Sweet Mousse Philly opened in the former A La Mousse shop that had been there for 6 years (our thanks to Rambler Kyle for wanting everyone to know!)

They have everything you’d hope to find in a sweets cafe: personally sized mousse cakes, an extensive drink menu that covers boba, teas, and coffee, and more. Oh, and waffles, waffles with ice cream, crepes, crepes with ice cream, sundaes, and yes, ice cream too AND they offer a full custom cake program if you’re planning ahead for a celebration. Plus they have cozy seating arrangements, so you can linger and enjoy.

They mentioned that they plan to rotate the offerings in the display case which you know what that means —more reasons to drop by!

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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, but hey, the neighborhood loves classics, and burgers are always a great option for lunch and dinner. The team said their ETA is October!

Artur Kirsh Salon at Boyds |📍1818 Chestnut St

Fashion and beauty will be officially sharing an address as stylist to the stars Artur Kirsh is joining forces with Boyds to open up his own salon. Artur Kirsh Salon will slide into the fourth floor of Boyds, turning the OG flagship into a one-stop shop for the full head-to-toe glow-up. The space will be very gallery-chic: so, oversized styling mirrors, sisal rugs, gallery-white walls, and enough natural light to make your blowout look extra good on the way out.

ETA is THIS September!

Ayat |📍2021-23 Sansom St

Nearly two years after we first started tracking it, Ayat is slowly showing real signs of life in the long-vacant Roxy Theater space. The Brooklyn-born Palestinian restaurant is known for classics like maqluba (a six-layer upside-down chicken and rice dish), m’sakhan (sumac chicken on taboon bread), and mezze like hummus and stuffed grape leaves.

Peeking in, we can see the bones coming together for the Philly location, albeit slowly. Ayat JUST did a soft open for their DC location, so, as long as the Construction Gods cooperate, we should be next in line.

Bar Caviar | 📍256 S. 16th St

We took a peek inside The Dwight D‘s soon-to-open Bar Caviar — the intimate boutique hotel tucked into an 1840s row home on 16th Street — and it looks intriguing. Champagne by the bottle and by the glass, varieties of caviar, oysters, crudo, and small plates in a setting that feels genuinely special, and definitely unique to Rittenhouse. Deep dive is in the works, and the new ETA is late summer as they massage every detail.

Bar Cicci | 📍1620 Sansom St

Ellen Yin‘s Italian concept at The Josephine has a name, a vibe, and the story behind it: Bar Cicci is an ode to the classic Italian bar — cozy, intimate, and filled with coffee, wine, and cicchetti (small plates). Days will bring espresso, pastries, and panini; evenings flip the script into an aperitivo bar with wine, 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 was June but got pushed out to July, Now, if the Restaurant Gods cooperate, it will hopefully be August!

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, Mr. Edison has opend and 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 now Fall, and we’ll keep you posted!

Blank Street | 📍1801 Spruce St

Blank Street — the NYC matcha-and-espresso chain known for its sage storefronts and seriously photogenic drinks — is arriving in Rittenhouse as one of two Philly locations (the other one is in University City.)

We’re providing construction updates here, so grab your other coffee as you check it out, and the team confirmed that they’re looking to open September!

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 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!

ETA was August BUT, having peeked in recently, it may be this Fall. We’ll keep you posted!

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.

Their recent Instagram posts hinted that they’re opening soon!

Cartolina | 📍 1900-20 Arch St

Consider this our official welcome postcard. Cartolina, a Nantucket-born brand known for easy, breezy travel-inspired women’s clothing, is setting up shop at the base of 1900 Arch apartments. It’s a big deal, too —this will be only their third-ever physical store, following flagships on Nantucket and Madison Avenue. And, per their site, 10% of every purchase supports women’s healthcare and education, so it’s easy to feel good about the closet upgrade.

ETA is TBD with more details to come!

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, hey, having a branch right there is pretty damn convenient for anyone commuting through Market West.

ETA is Fall 2026!

City Heat | 📍 1650 Arch St

The sweat-it-out crowd is getting a new home base in Rittenhouse-adjacent Logan Square because City Heat, the South Philly hot yoga and fitness studio that picked up a Best of Philly nod in 2025, is bringing its Hot Room to 1650 Arch! Expect the brand’s signature mix: Bikram-inspired and vinyasa hot yoga alongside music-driven fitness classes, plus their “Healing Room” recovery offerings for whenever you overdo it.

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 was mid-June but that’s clearly come and gone, so we’ll keep you posted!

Friday Saturday Sunday Expansion | 📍 261 S 21st St

Your favorite James Beard and Michelin Star winning restaurant is about to get even harder to get into but in the best way. Friday Saturday Sunday is expanding into the rowhouse next door at 2048 Rittenhouse Square, adding an 18-seat chef’s counter with a brand-new, higher-end tasting menu. Think of it as the VIP room of an already-VIP situation. The current dining room and Lovers Bar stay put; this is purely additive.

ETA was this summer so we’ll keep an eye out for any new developments!

Gather Athletic |📍1900 Market St (Entrance on 20th)

Third time’s the charm for this Market Street fitness space as Gather Athletic Club moves into the address that first housed EverybodyFights and, more recently, 10 Hands. So, if you’ve been missing a good boxing-adjacent sweat on this stretch, this is likely GREAT news! Gather’s 3-in-1 model bundles strength & conditioning, treadmill training, and boxing under one roof, plus an in-house cafe for the post-workout refuel. Founding memberships are already up for grabs if you’re the type to lock in the lowest rate before doors even open.

ETA is August, and you can check out their open house — deets are on their Insta here!

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 traditional Yemeni coffee roasting with light roasts, plus spiced coffee drinks and date-sweetened options.

The ETA is now September for our 2nd Yemeni-style coffee house!

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 was Fall 2026 but we haven’t seen construction, so updates are TBD!

KYN |📍1807 Chestnut St

Construction is actively underway at the former Taylor Chip space, which closed earlier this year — and per the sign in the window, the next tenant now has a confirmed name: KYN, a Korean-centric specialty coffee shop headed to the heart of Rittenhouse. The concept draws from modern Asian cafe culture; so think warm hospitality, thoughtful service, and design that’s clearly getting just as much attention as the coffee itself. Basically, this is shaping up to be more than a caffeine pit stop.

ETA is soon as they’re already hiring baristas!

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 originally aiming for 2026 so we’ll keep you posted on any new new news (thinking we keep adding a “new” for every month that goes by without an update.)

McDonald’s |📍1604 Chestnut St

In the comeback story absolutely nobody saw coming, 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.

Construction began, then stopped, so we’re a bit concerned that the triumphant return of our Rittenhouse McDonald’s is going to take longer than getting a McFlurry machine fixed.

Mystery @the Former Joan Shepp Space |📍 1811 Chestnut St

Nothing sends the neighborhood into speculation mode like an orange permit on a vacant storefront, and the former Joan Shepp space is giving us that major mystery energy. Per the Philly Insider’s detective work, the permit traces back to the team behind some of the neighborhood’s most reliably packed venues — Lucy’s, Walnut Garden, Concourse Dance Bar, and Harper’s Garden, among others. No details yet, but if it’s one thing we know, this crew doesn’t do boring.

ETA (and concept!) is TBD, and we noticed on one of our ramblings that the orange permit has quietly vanished soooo…the mystery continues!

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.

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!

Rothy’s | 📍1613 Walnut St

The space went dark this spring after a decade as Pandora‘s go-to for every gift-giving occasion on the calendar. Stepping into the void: Rothy’s, the San Francisco-born brand known for knitting flats, loafers, and sneakers out of thread spun from recycled plastic bottles. Comfortable, fashionable, and machine washable on streets built for rambling? We love everything about it.

ETA is TBD — we’ll keep you posted!

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 and the new ETA for our first artisanal croissant bakery is late September!

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.

Construction is MOVING as their current 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 Concept @The Former Franklin Investment | 📍113 S 18th St

The former home of The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. — the speakeasy cocktail bar that helped put Philly on the craft cocktail map back in 2009 that moved to a new location post-Covid — is showing signs of life again. A liquor license just transferred from Midtown Village’s Wicked Wolf to a hospitality team with some very recognizable Philly credentials (think: people behind places you already know and love).

The initial thought is two distinct concepts, one on each floor, but details are still TBD. Given the space has been dark since Franklin Mortgage relocated back in 2021, we’re assuming it needs some serious work before anything opens. But a group with this kind of résumé breathing life back into one of Rittenhouse’s most iconic addresses on a street that’s seeing serious activity? Consider our interest officially piqued.

ETA is 2027!

Unnamed Concept @The Irish Pub Space | 📍2007-11 Walnut St

After 4 decades of last calls, St. Patrick’s Days, and at least one Rocky cameo, the former Irish Pub finally has a new owner. Dan Tsao — the operator behind Chinatown’s acclaimed EMei — closed on the property in May, drawn here by something very 2026: delivery data showing Rittenhouse was already one of his strongest customer bases. The concept is pending, so in the meantime, take a walk down memory lane to celebrate the next chapter of The Irish Pub here.

Current ETA is 2027!

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 STILL watching this space like a hawk and will keep you updated!

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.

Zac’s Halal | 📍104 S. 18th St

Big moves, finally, at the former Mac Mart storefront! The cheese crew downsized to a “Mini Mac Mart” a few blocks away, and stepping in is Zac’s Halal from the folks behind Zac’s Hamburgers, the Delco brand better known for burgers, wings, and everything in between. Basically, think Bed Bath & Beyond, but make it Burgers, Chicken & Beyond.

ETA is TBD, and you know we’ll be keeping tabs on the construction!

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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!