The Hocus Pocus Edition: October’s Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus on the Future

Somebody lit the Black Flame Candle: Ten spots flickered to life in October, and the spellbook now holds 38 more.

And now that Hocus Pocus 3 is officially happening, it’s clear the Sandersons never really stay gone, and neither do our storefronts.

This month, a lot of them lit the candle. The ovens are back on at the old Metropolitan Bakery corner, the former Republic Bank smells like butter, and the Taylor Chip space is now whisking matcha. Even the spaces we’d stopped noticing are flickering. Swarovski’s windows have been dark since 2022, the H&R Block on Chestnut since 2016, and the Starbucks at 1900 Market for over a year, and all three now have tenants lined up. Amok, amok, amok indeed.

So here’s what’s in the cauldron:

• Gone at Sunrise: Three spots closed. 21st & Walnut took a double hit as Tacodelphia and Tea House Cafe both closed, leaving empty storefronts on both sides of the street (for now!) Over at The Rittenhouse, the Library Bar pours its last drinks on Halloween, and the Mary Cassatt Tea Room follows on November 15th. And Black Sheep is still on the mend, with February as the unofficial ETA.

• The Black Flame Candle: Ten Friendly Hellos, woo hoo! Seven made it from the pipeline to open: Somedays, Rothy’s, Call Your Mother, KYN, Gregg’s of Philadelphia, City Heat, and Philadelphia Golf Club. Three more snuck in without much warning: No Name Social started pouring after hours in the old Chika Ramen space, Ember Convenient & Tobacco opened on Walnut, and Bond Vet went independent as Rittenhouse Animal Hospital.

• The Spellbook: The pipeline grew from 34 to 38 as seven names graduated and eleven new ones signed in. Garage is headed to Walnut, EyeBuyDirect to the old Swarovski, and Luxe Redux Bridal is moving in next to Alpha Fit Club at 23rd & Chestnut. Magnolia Bakery is taking over at 17th & Walnut, Tim Hortons is opening not one but TWO locations, and Fishtown’s Vestige is bringing The Vestige Salon to the Yarnall House for the holidays (but one can hope for something more permanent!)
  
  On the food front, Animal is taking the old Human Robot corner at 24th & Walnut, Aidomi is headed to the former Flowers & Company, the Her Place team signed on for the former Barclay Pharmacy, and Dealer’s Choice Donuts and a new bookshop on Chestnut are on the way. Oh, and the Mix makeover has a name: Bar Nostra.

Now, looking at the numbers: September brought 12 openings and 5 farewells. October was a little calmer with 10 and 3, but the pipeline kept growing. Six of the eleven newcomers are moving into spaces that have sat empty for years, including the old Swarovski, the Chestnut Street H&R Block, Barclay Pharmacy, Flowers & Company, Colney Deli, and the former Indique on South Street.

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Fond Farewells That Are Temporary:

Black Sheep | 📍247 S 17th St

A beloved Rittenhouse pub 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. It was a terrible fire, and while they were hoping to open in July, it’s NOT ready.

The unofficial ETA we’re hearing is still February, but to stay on top of any new developments be sure to follow their Insta here.

Fond Farewells:

Library Bar & Mary Cassatt Tea Room | 📍210 W Rittenhouse Square

Two storied rooms at The Rittenhouse are taking their final bow as the hotel kicks off a months-long makeover. The Library Bar, with its rare spirits and tucked-away live music, pours its last drinks on Halloween night. The Mary Cassatt Tea Room, named for the Pennsylvania-born Impressionist (whose family’s mansion once stood on this very land), serves its final afternoon tea on November 15th. Finger sandwiches, scones, and pinkies-up for one more month.

The silver lining is a big one. Per the Business Journal, the overhaul brings a new cocktail bar, redesigned lounge and courtyard spaces, and The Ruxton, Atlas Restaurant Group’s 220-seat Jazz Age steakhouse taking over the old Scarpetta. The hotel stays open the whole time, and Lacroix keeps serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The first new spaces are due in late spring 2027.

Thank you for all the birthdays, bridal showers, and very civilized nightcaps!

Tacodelphia | 📍2051 Walnut St

Taco ’bout a double whammy. The Broad Street staple Tacodelphia opened its second location, and first in Rittenhouse, at 2051 Walnut last September after a LONG build-out in the old Chase space. Just over a year later, it has closed.

The good news is the OG Tacodelphia is still going strong at 427 S Broad, so tacos are only a short walk away. Thank you to Power Rambler @brittpkline for the tip, and we hope the whole team has landed somewhere great!

Tea House Cafe | 📍2102 Walnut St

Right across the street, Tea House Cafe has also closed. It took over the former Mr. Wish spot in August 2025 with its own bubble and fruit tea menu, which saved the day for every boba fan who panicked when Mr. Wish shut its doors after six-ish years. Per our friends at The Coloroom, though, it was rarely open, and now the space is officially up for grabs.

That makes two empty storefronts facing each other at 21st & Walnut, so we’re officially on watch for what’s next at this corner. Thanks for the boba while it lasted!

Friendly Hellos:

Call Your Mother | 📍262 S 19th St

The ovens are back on at the old Metropolitan Bakery corner! After Metropolitan’s 32-plus years here, Call Your Mother, the Washington D.C.-based “Jew-ish” bagel deli (emphasis theirs), opened its doors, just in time to carb-load before the Sixers home opener.

Walking in feels like stepping into a very fun (and very pink) grandma’s house, with framed photos of Philly legends holding bagels. Yes, that’s Iverson palming a sesame bagel. It joins a bagel-first lineup that already includes Kismet, Schmear It, Spread, and Manhattan Bagel, with PopUp Bagels on the way.

The staff is SO friendly, so drop by and say hi!

City Heat | 📍1650 Arch St

The sweat-it-out crowd has a new home base in Rittenhouse-adjacent Logan Square, because City Heat, a South Philly hot yoga and fitness studio, has brought its Hot Room to 1650 Arch! They’re known for Bikram-inspired and Vinyasa hot yoga alongside music-driven fitness classes, plus a “Healing Room” recovery offering for whenever you overdo it.

Doors are officially open, so grab a mat (and a towel, trust us)!

Ember Convenient & Tobacco | 📍2008 Walnut St

Need a snack run on Walnut? Ember Convenient & Tobacco has opened in the beloved former Silver Legends space at 2008 Walnut, and it’s sleek inside. They have imported treats like Loacker wafers, Ferrero Rocher, Kinder eggs, and plenty of Italian cookies, plus a whole rack of Sahale nut mixes. In the back, there are coolers of fresh food and cold drinks.

So whether it’s a 3PM sugar emergency or a last-minute hostess gift, you’re covered!

Gregg’s of Philadelphia | 📍401 S 16th St

If you miss the cool clothes your mom threw out when you left for college, they might be back in rotation at Gregg’s of Philadelphia, the vintage streetwear and secondhand shop now open on 16th Street. This address just keeps getting fun shops: first Avanda’s Flowers (now at 1614 Spruce), then Hayden (now at 20th & Walnut), and now Gregg’s.

The racks are full of curated tees, jackets, shorts, and pants, plus accessories and even vintage matchbooks. They buy and trade too, so you can finally bring in that closet cleanout (or whatever survived Mom’s purge). And the name has a sweet story behind it, since the shop is named after the owner’s late grandfather, Gregg, who taught him to appreciate quality pieces and the stories they carry.

Hours are Wednesday through Sunday, 12PM to 6PM, and they’re always sharing new finds on Instagram here.

KYN | 📍1807 Chestnut St

KYN is done playing coy! The Korean coffee and matcha café from the team behind Mari Mari opened in the former Taylor Chip spot on October 22nd, and it’s the team’s very first café. Warm wood meets brushed metal up front, and the back room is their take on what a café of the future could look (and smell!) like. That candle on the credenza is hinoki, and it smells divine.

The matcha is ceremonial-grade from Uji, Kyoto, with 4.5g in every cup, hand-whisked to order. There’s also a custom house coffee blend, mugwort lattes (earthy, a little sweet, and caffeine-free), and an Einspänner topped with a thick cap of sweet cream that you sip through rather than stir in. Add matcha and hojicha cream tops and a case of pastries, and you’re set.

Doors open at 7am, so be sure to stop by and say hi!

No Name Social | 📍1526 Sansom St

Who said the party has to end at 2AM? It’s been a long, long, long time since we’ve seen movement in the former Chika Ramen space, which slurped its last bowl in March 2025. Now No Name Social, a members-only after-hours spot, has opened with cocktails and house music from 11PM to 3:30AM (!!).

The trick? The after-party arrived before the party did, since there’s still no update on Frame Midtown, the dining side of the space. The treat? Two spots in one space, and we’re digging a subterranean cocktails + DJ spot on this stretch of Sansom.

Just remember you’ll need a membership to get in to say hi!

Philadelphia Golf Club | 📍111 S. 15th St

One flight up from 15th and Chestnut, tucked away in the Packard Grande, is a turquoise-ceilinged hall with carved stone columns and lion heads for door handles (yes, really!). And now it has a VERY modern short game. Philadelphia Golf Club, from the team behind Brooklyn’s Gowanus Golf Club, is officially open in the 1924 mezzanine, which had been empty for a few years since its last corporate tenant moved out.

Inside, there are three TrackMan simulator bays, a PuttView putting green, and 24/7 fob entry, with membership capped at 100. It’s built for golfers who want to practice on their own schedule, and with no staff on site, members (and their guests!) can come and go whenever they like. Take the full tour of this gorgeous raw space here.

Founding members got their keys on September 25th, and now the whole club is up and swinging!

Rittenhouse Animal Hospital | 📍2101 Walnut St

Same vets, new name! The Rittenhouse Bond Vet is now Rittenhouse Animal Hospital, an independent, locally owned practice. Dr. Alex Ehrenman, who has helped care for and grow the hospital, had the chance to buy the practice, and she’s leading it into its next chapter.

Per their note to clients, the people you know and trust are staying put, so your pup’s favorite vet tech isn’t going anywhere. The blue awning still promises primary and urgent care for pets, and the new banner overhead proudly reads “Locally owned.” They still have the treats by the door, so stop by with your furry friend to say hi!

Rothy’s | 📍1613 Walnut St

The space went dark this spring after a decade as Pandora, and Rothy’s snapped up the lease and moved in fast (lucky for us, less so for our wallets). The San Francisco-born brand, known for knitting flats, loafers, and sneakers out of thread spun from recycled plastic bottles, officially opened on October 13th with GWPs and cookies.

They’ve packed in what seems to be their ENTIRE lineup for women, men, kids, and babies, plus a nice array of handbags. Comfortable, machine-washable shoes on streets built for rambling? We love everything about it.

Somedays Bakery | 📍1601 Walnut St

Someday is today! The cult NYC croissant shop Somedays Bakery opened at the former Republic Bank corner on October 2nd, and Rittenhouse is officially in its flaky era. It’s their first spot outside NY and NJ, and it’s a franchise with a hometown twist, since the owner lives right here in Philly.

Inside, it smells like pure baked deliciousness, and a glass-walled kitchen lets you watch the bakers laminate all 127 layers (you can see it from the sidewalk, too). See our deep dive here, and be sure to stop by and say hi to Dino and his team!

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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 as 7th Street Burger, an NYC smash burger joint that’s built a cult following on its smash patties, is heading to the former Amma’s space on Chestnut Street. Amma’s, of course, moved over to the ex-Max Brenner’s space on 15th, so it’s dosas out, doubles in!

7th Street Burger keeps the menu focused: smash patties, melty cheese, and soft buns. Joining Five Guys and Wendy’s nearby, this stretch of Chestnut is officially a burger block!

ETA is November!

Aidomi | 📍267 S 19th St

Something new is sprouting where the bouquets used to be: Aidomi, an all-day Chinese-inspired spot from Linna Li, owner of Mama Wong in Exton, is taking root at the old Flowers & Company (RIP).

The space has had a few lives: it was once the bar Crow & the Pitcher, then a restaurant – Baril – from 2014 to 2017, until Flowers & Company moved in and then closed after a burst pipe. It’s been sitting empty since 2023.

Li is envisioning counter service for breakfast and lunch and sit-down dinner, with everyday dishes that work in Chinese flavors and techniques (think a bacon, egg and cheese wrapped in a scallion pancake). The name blends the Chinese word for love (Ài) with the Latin word for home (domus).

ETA is summer 2027, pending zoning approval!

Alpha Fit Club Philadelphia | 📍2300 Chestnut St

Alpha Fit Club, the Jersey-born group fitness brand that’s basically taken over the Garden State (20+ locations and counting!), is making its way to the corner of 23rd & Chestnut. It started in Westfield, NJ back in 2019, and Philly will be one of its first spots outside of Jersey. And it’s getting a very convenient neighbor in Luxe Redux Bridal.

Their workouts are a coach-led, 60-minute circuit where you rotate through six stations of strength and conditioning work. Classes cap at 36 people, and everything follows a 13-week training cycle, so there IS a plan behind every burpee (but beginners are welcome!).

ETA is late 2026. In the meantime, they’re running a sign-up to win a free year of classes, so why not throw your name in?

Animal | 📍2401 Walnut St

The corner at 24th & Walnut is getting its third act in just a few years. Animal is a bar-restaurant headed for the former Human Robot bar, which before that was Spread Bagelry. The plan is a casual public-house menu with a 70-seat dining room, a 36-seat oval bar, and an outdoor terrace. Plus they’re planning a separate 40-seat fine-dining restaurant.

ETA is late fall, starting with dinner Wednesday through Sunday, with the fine-dining room to follow!

Ayat | 📍2021-23 Sansom St

Construction is officially wrapped at the former Roxy Theater! More than two years after we first started tracking it, Ayat is down to the finishing touches, with its blade sign hanging over Sansom and the “Always With Purpose” plaque out front. We can finally say it: this one is ready.

If the name is new to you, Ayat is a Palestinian restaurant that got its start in Brooklyn and has since grown to several locations around New York, all built on generous, family-style home cooking. Look for classics like maqluba (a six-layer upside-down chicken and rice dish that gets flipped onto the plate), m’sakhan (sumac chicken on taboon bread), and mezze like hummus and stuffed grape leaves. And if the greenery we spotted climbing toward the back of the dining room is any hint, it’ll be a pretty spot to linger, too.

ETA is November, and this time we’re VERY confident (so is The Inquirer’s fall roundup)!

Bar Caviar | 📍256 S. 16th St

After a spring ETA came and went, Bar Caviar is finally pouring at The Dwight D, the 11-room boutique hotel tucked into an 1840s rowhouse on 16th Street, a few doors down from Monk’s. The couple behind the hotel modeled it on the counter-style champagne bars of London and Paris, with 50 champagnes on the list, 15 by the glass, and nonvintage pours starting at $15. Five caviars, oysters, crudo, and small plates round out the menu.

For now, it’s in a soft opening, weekdays from 4 to 7PM through November 6th, with just the bar, cocktails, and light bites from the kitchen. It’s invite-only for hotel guests and invited neighbors and friends, so no walk-ins just yet. Champagne, caviar, and the full menu arrive with the public opening, and it’s VERY close!

Bar Nostra | 📍2101 Chestnut St

The corner of 21st & Chestnut has a name! The Bar 1010 team’s takeover of the former Mix Bar & Grill space is officially Bar Nostra (yes, that translates to “our bar”), which is a pretty fitting name for a neighborhood hangout.

They told us to expect a light cosmetic touch-up, and the menu will have pizza (commercial-grade pizza ovens are a PAIN to move, so it tracks!), pasta, cocktails, and wine. Earlier word from The Philly Insider was that key kitchen staff would stay on, though that’s not confirmed yet. So the patio stays, and pizza’s on the menu!

ETA is November, and thank you, Super Ramblers @wronglebowski and @brittbuu for the tip!

Bookshop | 📍2047 Chestnut St

It looks like 2047 Chestnut is going from six-packs to paperbacks as Colney Beer Specialty & Deli who held this spot for 30-some (!!) years before closing in 2023/2024 is possibly becoming a bookshop! And one that has “NEW, Used and Rare.” Very analog!

There’s no name, no handle and no permit we can turn up yet, which puts us firmly in detective mode. But what we do know is that books are having a real moment around here. Barnes & Noble is just down Chestnut, and romance-only Page Burners Bookstore just opened around the corner at Mad Cat Brewtique on Sansom. Rittenhouse is going to be very well-read.

ETA is TBD!

Cartolina | 📍1900 Arch St

Nantucket’s easy-breezy energy is officially coming to Rittenhouse-adjacent Logan Square: Cartolina, a Nantucket-born brand known for travel-inspired women’s clothing, is setting up shop at the base of 1900 Arch apartments.

It’s a big deal, too, because 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 refresh.

ETA is TBD!

Chase | 📍2200-2202 Market St

Big banking energy (see what we did there?!) 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. Having a branch right there will be handy for anyone commuting through Market West, and the build-out is coming along nicely!

ETA is any day now, judging by the construction progress!

Dealer’s Choice Donuts | 📍1607 South St

Your sweet tooth just got dealt a winning hand. Dealer’s Choice Donuts is moving into where hair extension boutique Indique held court from 2014 until it closed around Covid. The space has been waiting a while for its next act, and donuts that are “hand dipped, no bluff” and “dealt hot ‘n fresh” feel like a pretty good one. We’ll take that bet!

Between this, Magnolia, and two Tim Hortons, the neighborhood is holding a full house of sweet treats, so follow along on their Insta for updates.

ETA is winter 2027!

Devon & Blakely | 📍1701 Market St

Salad-and-sandwich people of the Market Street lunch shift, you’re going to have to adjust your walking route just a teeny tiny bit as Devon & Blakely is heading one block east!

The NYC export landed at Ten Penn Center back in 2013, taking over the old Pikkles Plus space, and has likely been settling your daily “salad or sandwich?” debate ever since. Now they’re moving into a new spot at 17 Market West, aka the former Morgan Lewis building, which is now all apartments. Their current landlord has converted the top ten floors of Ten Penn Center into apartments too, so Devon & Blakely is basically trading one office-to-residential conversion for another.

The new space is under construction now (they hit some construction hiccups) so move-in timing is TBD!

EyeBuyDirect | 📍1421 Walnut St

Some storefronts sit empty so long you stop seeing them. Swarovski sparkled at the location for about a decade until it closed around 2022, and the windows have been dark ever since. Now EyeBuyDirect is moving in, and the space is about to be a sight for sore eyes.

If the name doesn’t ring a bell, it’s from the same parent company as LensCrafters. You pick your frames at the store, hand over your prescription, and your new specs show up in the mail. The only other store we could find is a kiosk in California, so a full Walnut Street shop with eye exams is likely a real spectacle for them. As for the “vibes” promised on the window, their site treats glasses as a style statement, so we’re expecting a fun shop. Either way, we’re down two eyeglass shops this year, so the timing works.

ETA is TBD, but construction has already begun!

Frame Midtown | 📍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, while Shay’s Steaks will convert into a ghost kitchen.

ETA was mid-June, then it slipped past that with no word. BUT as you saw above, the after-party beat the party here, as No Name Social opened. We’ll continue to keep eyes on it!

Friday Saturday Sunday Expansion | 📍261 S 21st St

Rittenhouse’s James Beard and Michelin Star-winning tasting-menu spot is about to have a lot more room to play!

Friday Saturday Sunday landed $1.5 million in state funding for its expansion into the building next door at 2048 Rittenhouse Square PLUS adjacent 2046, because, obviously, one rowhouse isn’t enough for the demand, and the plans keep growing. Now they’re sharing it’s going to be a full multi-level dining experience. Groups of up to 18 guests will move floor to floor for different courses of the tasting menu, an open kitchen, and a dedicated sweets room that Chad and Hanna Williams say doesn’t exist anywhere else on the East Coast. Dessert is getting its own zip code.

ETA is TBD.

Garage | 📍1521 Walnut St

Pull up and park it: Montreal-born Garage is plotting a store at 1521 Walnut. If this address feels like it’s had a few lives, you’re right. It was the Govberg flagship for a stretch, then Express Edit took over in fall 2022 before Express’s bankruptcy closed it in June 2024. These days it’s home to the lovely K-Pop Nara pop-up, which runs through the end of the year.

ETA is TBD, but you KNOW we’ll be watching for that pink glow!

HiLo House | 📍26 S 20th St

Get psyched as Delco’s HiLo House, named Best Fitness Studio, is headed to Rittenhouse in the former Unite Fitness studio, and we’re already feeling the burn just thinking about it.

HiLo House built its reputation pairing the Lagree Megaformer (think: slow, controlled, muscle-shaking reps) with the VersaClimber (full-body cardio, but vertical, so brace yourself). They just opened a second location in Media and now they’re eyeing a third right here in the neighborhood. They’re going up in the world, quite literally, given the VersaClimber situation.

If you’ve never done either machine, just know that HiLo doesn’t do easy. But based on reviews, that’s exactly the appeal, plus a tight-knit class community that keeps people coming back for more.

ETA is late 2026 / early 2027!

Jabal Coffee House | 📍1524 Chestnut St

Our third Yemeni (or Yemeni-influenced, like MOTW) coffee shop will be Jabal Coffee House. Jabal specializes in Yemeni-grown coffee blends sourced directly from Yemen’s high-altitude mountains (the name translates to “mountain” in Arabic), and each café has its own look. The renderings for the Rittenhouse location are gorgeous, as you can see here.

ETA had originally been this year, but we haven’t seen (or heard!) any signs of construction. We’ve reached out to the team and will keep you all posted once we know more.

Liquorette | 📍1534 Sansom St

Sometimes when you open a WineDive downstairs, you go full Jekyll and Hyde and open a cocktail bar upstairs, because why not? Liquorette is positioning itself as a “technique-driven cocktail bar inspired by luxury European cocktail bars,” so the building gets two very different moods: downstairs you’re vibing with natural wine and bagel bites, and upstairs you’d be sipping clarified citrus cocktails that require three types of bitters.

They were originally aiming for 2026 but it’s been quiet ever since. We’re working on our manifestation skills and keeping our fingers crossed for WineDive’s new neighbor!

Luxe Redux Bridal | 📍2300 Chestnut St

You’ll soon be able to say yes to the dress and then sweat it out next door, because Alpha Fit Club is getting a neighbor at the Philadelphia Design Building. What was a showroom for home tile company Daltile is becoming Luxe Redux, a designer sample boutique where every gown is off the rack, so you take your dress home the same day. Philly will be their 16th location (and BTW, they’re hiring!).

And it looks like there’s at least one more space in the building up for grabs, so we’re very curious who rounds out the block.

ETA is winter 2027, with appointment booking starting mid-November!

Magnolia Bakery | 📍204 S 17th St

The cookies crumbled, and now the cupcakes (and banana pudding!) are coming with Magnolia Bakery, the NYC brand known for exactly those two things, sliding into a 17th St storefront just off Walnut. The space was most recently Chip City, which opened in 2024 and closed in June, and before that it was home to Miel Patisserie (RIP).

ETA is spring 2027, and you can get the scoop here.

McDonald’s | 📍1604 Chestnut St

Talk about a comeback story: McDonald’s is plotting its return to Rittenhouse in the old Portabella space. (The menswear shop didn’t close; it just moved to a new spot a block over, so no drama there.) And after months of the construction stop-and-stare, the crews are BACK! Peeking in, there’s warm wood paneling up along the walls, a glass vestibule framing the entrance, and plenty of ladders, carts, and blue tape all over the place.

ETA is still TBD, but this is the most movement we’ve seen in a long time. With 7th Street Burger on the way too, Chestnut is turning into burger central!

Neighborhood Bar | 📍222 S 15th St

Okay, so THIS popped up out of nowhere! Big thanks to Ramblers Bill Conallen and Peggy Bakker for the heads up. Giant glowing “NEIGHBORHOOD BAR” letters are now hanging over the former Shiroi Hana, right next to Good Dog. Shiroi Hana served its last sushi back in January after 41 (!!) years, so it’s nice to see the lights back on.

As for who’s behind it, The Inquirer reported back in March that the owner of Giovani’s Bar & Grill around the corner bought the building, and now we know who’s launching the bar: Simon and Sara from the Giovani’s team. The plan is a neighborhood bar with good food, which is exactly what the sign promises.

ETA is November, just in time for Birds watch parties!

O’Morrey’s | 📍1720 Sansom St

The Inquirer had such a sweet story on this one: 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 bar food paired with a curated cocktail program.

ETA was originally this year, but details and signs of construction are scarce.

PopUp Bagels | 📍1709 Chestnut St

PopUp Bagels is popping up in the former Starbucks space because Chestnut Street’s 2026 hot streak obviously needed a carb infusion.

The Connecticut-born chain is known for its straight-from-the-oven, unsliced bagels that customers grip, rip, and dip into schmears. So if you’ve been treating bagels as a mere cream cheese delivery vehicle, or just love having full control over your bagel-to-schmear ratio, this could be a very welcome addition to your breakfast rotation.

ETA is TBD, but we’ll keep a very close eye on this one!

Pvolve | 📍1735 Market St

Market Street 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. The whole idea is building strength for the long haul while staying kind to your joints.

ETA is late 2026!

The Caddie Room | 📍1617 JFK Blvd

The long-dark corner at 16th & JFK is getting a tenant, and it’s bringing the green indoors! The Caddie Room is taking the former BB&T space at One Penn Center, and the pitch is a “private living room in the middle of Center City.”

They’ll have two fully enclosed TrackMan simulators, a putting green, lounge seating between them, and entrance via a pin code. Founding memberships start at $200/month off-peak and $350/month for full access, and they said they’re limiting memberships to around 120.

ETA is early 2027!

The Pelican Club | 📍225 S 18th St

Stephen Starr’s fourth restaurant on the Square, 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. By the way, this will be his ninth restaurant in the neighborhood. The man collects Rittenhouse storefronts the way some people collect vinyl (sorry, not sorry)!

The name comes from Petros the Pelican, the beloved mascot of Mykonos, who Starr introduced us to earlier in 2026. Now his latest sneak peek is a gorgeous tiled floor, and it has us daydreaming about the Cyclades (or at least a January reservation).

ETA is winter 2027 and we’ve got the full story on all our lovely Mediterranean options 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.

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?! We also know now that The Ruxton will seat 220 people with two bars, three private dining rooms, and a seasonal patio overlooking the Square. It’s part of a hotel-wide renovation that’s also closing the Library Bar and Mary Cassatt Tea Room.

ETA is summer 2027!

Tidal Force VR | 📍1510 Chestnut St

Luckily for us, the NYC-to-Philly pipeline has been delivering some fun 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. Think escape room meets laser tag, but make it sci-fi. Between this, Sandbox VR, and Time Mission, the neighborhood is quietly building out what might be Philly’s unofficial holodeck district.

ETA is November!

Tim Hortons | 📍1517 Chestnut St + 1900 Market St

Start practicing your double-double order, because two Tim Hortons locations are headed to the neighborhood! The Canadian coffee and doughnut chain signed leases for two spots, and they’ll be its very first in Philly. Until now, the closest you could get Timbits (aka doughnut holes) in PA was Allentown.

The first is landing at 1517 Chestnut, the former H&R Block that’s been sitting empty since 2016 (H&R Block moved to 1927 Walnut), right between Wendy’s and Foot Locker. Per the article, they’re hoping to include a sit-down area. The second is taking over the former Starbucks at 1900 Market, which has been empty for over a year. That Starbucks was renovated before it left, so hopefully this one can get up and running quickly.

ETA is TBD, but you know we love our caffeine + sweet treat options around here, so we’ll keep you posted!

Together Athletics | 📍320 S Broad St

Old City reformer-and-mat studio Together Athletics is coming for Rittenhouse. It was founded by Kate, a former D1 field hockey player, and her husband, and they’ve built a serious following on reformer Pilates, mat sculpt, cardio dance, and power work, all under one very bold claim: Pilates is a sport. We’d like to put in a formal request for in-person research on that as it sounds super fun.

Their grand opening is November 7th per their Instagram post here.

Unnamed Concept @The Former Barclay Pharmacy | 📍1736 Spruce St

The Her Place empire keeps growing within a 15-minute walk of home. Per The Inquirer and the Business Journal, Michelin-starred Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp signed a lease on the southeast corner of 18th & Spruce, the longtime home of Barclay Pharmacy. It’ll be restaurant number four after Her Place, My Loup, and Pine Street Grill.

The pharmacy was a true time capsule: it opened in 1939, moved across the street into this mid-19th-century Italianate townhouse in 1959, and was run largely as a one-man shop (plus Tico the Labrador!) until it closed in 2023. Its mural of 48 medicinal plants was a neighborhood favorite, so we’re very curious what survives the conversion. They’re still figuring out the concept.

ETA is 2027!

Unnamed Concept @The Former Franklin Investment | 📍112 S 18th St

Bar Noir is back!

JK, not really BUT the mystery is solved! Like LeBron taking his talents to South Beach, the Almanac team is taking its talents to the west side of Center City, as The Philly Insider confirmed in his newsletter.

Almanac is the tiny 23-seat, Japanese-influenced cocktail bar above omakase restaurant Ogawa that landed a James Beard semifinalist nod for Best New Bar this year and made Bon Appétit’s list of America’s best new bars. Back in June, a liquor license quietly transferred into the former home of The Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co., the speakeasy that helped put Philly on the craft cocktail map back in 2009.

The current plan is two floors with two different personalities, and each floor gets its own name. Downstairs will be dark, calm, and intimate, with a cocktail menu built around one theme that could stick around for a year or more. Upstairs will be brighter and livelier, with draft, frozen, nitro, and shaved-ice cocktails that are mostly prepped ahead, so drinks come out fast and bartenders have more time to actually hang with you.

The space has been dark since Franklin moved behind the 1715 Rittenhouse Hotel in 2021, so there’s a lot of work ahead. No name or opening date yet, but we’re stalking the progress!

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

After four 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.

The liquor serving permit is up, so: progress! 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, and 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?

So far, we haven’t seen any action or heard any news, so still in a holding pattern!

Unnamed Teddy Sourias Asian Restaurant | 📍1515 Market St

It was more than two years ago that Craft Concept’s Teddy Sourias looked at a Penn Center courtyard and thought “yeah, I can work with this.” That became Uptown Beer Garden, and now he’s going bigger with a Japanese-inspired restaurant at 1515 Market that’ll have a massive 4,000-square-foot patio right next door to Uptown. Expect a nightlife spot with a full restaurant menu.

The space looks complete, but it’s been quiet for a bit, so we’ll keep an eye out for ANY news!

Vestige Salon | 📍235 S 17th St

Fishtown’s own Vestige is popping up in Rittenhouse for the holidays as The Vestige Salon, but don’t let the name fool you, it’s a shop, not a hair salon! The Frankford Ave boutique, which calls itself a gathering space as much as a store, is setting up at the historic Yarnall House, which housed the Mitchell & Ness corporate team (who relocated to 3 Logan Square) for November and December.

Expect a curated mix of clothing, from new designer pieces like Bode, to vintage finds like B Sides jeans made from hand-picked Levi’s, plus jewelry, ceramics, candles, apothecary, books, and gifts. Holiday gift lists, consider yourselves handled!

ETA is early November!

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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!