The Shortest Month, Longest List Edition: February’s Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus On The Future

The groundhog predicted six more weeks of winter. Rittenhouse responded with nine new openings and zero apologies.

February arrived the way it always does — cold, slightly chaotic.

And not sure how, but, somehow, February is both the shortest and most exhausting month on the calendar. Yet, while the rest of us were checking the forecast and questioning our life choices, the neighborhood was moving.

We said farewell to Taylor Chip, whose warm cookies and wonderful team made Chestnut Street a little sweeter for the 15 months they were here. But the number of Friendly Hellos we had to say more than held their own this month: Cake & Joe finally made its debut, Matcha Panda lumbered in and immediately became a problem for our wallets, Gourment (not a typo) Sanga arrived to fulfill our bodega needs, MOTW fired the opening shot in what is shaping up to be Rittenhouse’s Yemeni coffee era, Ocho Supper Club made its residency official, OlfactoryNYC transformed a SEPTA-bus-shaped setback into one of Walnut Street’s most fragrant new experiences, Rally House claimed the Rite Aid space, Sev gave the long-vacant Pomerantz building a glow-up, and WRKSHP proves that Wonderland’s old space had one more great chapter left in it.

On the Future front, the pipeline remains as packed as a Wawa at 8am on a Monday — we added poke bowls to the croissants, steakhouses, smoked fish, cocktail bars, and enough coffee shops to fuel a small army all making their way to the neighborhood. Not everything has a firm ETA (that Stephen Starr/Devon replacement needs to be announced stat), but the momentum is real, and the permits are flying.

Here’s What Went Down:

• Fond Farewells: Taylor Chip‘s warm cookies and wonderful team bid Chestnut Street goodbye, and we’re still not fully over it. However, this month only saw one closure vs. last month’s five, so…not bad (knocking on wood.)

• Friendly Hellos: Nine new arrivals spanning a bodega, desserts, matcha, Yemeni coffee, supper clubs, fragrance labs, sports merch, med spas, and a salon with a very good boy named Rolo. Whew!

• Focus on the Future: 28 projects are in the hopper, with highlights including The Ruxton, Somedays Bakery, Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese, Biederman’s, and a Yemeni coffee situation that is genuinely getting out of hand in the best possible way.

TL;DR: February punched well above its weight. Scroll down for all the details — and as always, if you’ve spotted something we missed or have intel on what’s coming, hit us at rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com. We are always ready to hear it, promise!

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Fond Farewells:

Taylor Chip | 📍1807 Chestnut St

Sad news that hit harder than Punxsutawney Phil’s prediction of many more weeks of winter this month: Taylor Chip closed. The Lancaster cookie & ice cream brand’s Rittenhouse location opened November 2024, after construction delays that dragged on for a while. The team there were absolute gems, and we are hoping they get to stay in the neighborhood, especially with the new coffee and tea shops debuting this year.

Huge shoutout to fellow Rambler @wronglebowski for sharing the intel, and sending our best to Taylor Chip as we will miss their warm, gooey cookies.

Friendly Hellos:

Cake & Joe | 📍1735 Market St

Cake & Joe— Fishtown’s beloved dessert shop known for their stunning Asian mini mousse creations had its long anticipated debut, tucked into the courtyard between the Pyramid Building and the newly converted 17 Market West apartments. Think gorgeous edible art, quality coffee and tea, and outdoor seating that’s going to absolutely slap once warm weather arrives (any day now!) – see it in its glory here.

Gourment Saga |📍2033 Chestnut St

The supply chain for sandwiches and more on 15th Street has officially been restored – “Gourment” Sanga Deli & Juice has sprung up near City Hall where Pret a Manger used to be (RIP), which itself replaced a deli. Talk about full circle! And BTW, fresh juices and deli staples are just the beginning. Gourment Sanga is stacked with Haribo (five options — we counted), chips, ramen, drinks, and enough impulse candy to turn your 3pm slump into a full treat-yourself moment.

Our thanks to Fellow Rambler @wronglebowski for sharing the news! And we’re thrilled to see the void left by Waterfront Deli filled with – nature is healing!

Matcha Panda |📍2033 Chestnut St

The Rittenhouse sibling to the Chinatown cafe that specializes in fresh matcha-forward drinks and desserts, Matcha Panda, has lumbered into the former Black Market CBD and Kraton store. We promise you, they’ve completely overhauled it with warm wood tones, sparkling green paint, and the smell of freshly ground matcha. They have cozy cafe and booth seating, so we can comfortably enjoy a variety of matcha drinks along with their delicate mille crepe cake slices, and cream puffs, and we’re unbearably excited about it!

MOTW |📍2101 Market St

The Yemeni coffee era in the neighborhood has officially begun, and MOTW Coffee & Pastries fired the first shot. The first of three Yemeni-style coffee shops headed to the neighborhood, MOTW just debuted next to Trader Joe’s in the Murano building. True to the Yemeni café tradition of being a genuine third space (not just a grab-and-go, but a stay a while, order another round kind of place), MOTW is open 6am–9pm weekdays and until 11pm on weekends, because good coffee culture doesn’t clock out early. The space is warm, inviting, and absolutely built for the long haul—check it out here.

Ocho Supper Club |📍210 W Rittenhouse Square

Chef RJ Smith‘s Ocho Supper Club — the dinner reservation that was historically been about as easy to land as a front-row seat at Paris Fashion Week — has officially begun its residency at The Rittenhouse! Running every other Sunday through July with just 26 seats per service overlooking the Square, this is an actual, legitimate window to experience one of Philly’s most talked-about dining experiences without having to know a guy who knows a guy. The space — Scarpetta for a decade, and eventually, The Ruxton — couldn’t be a more perfect backdrop. Book here.

OlfactoryNYC |📍1501 Walnut St

OlfactoryNYC opened this month on Walnut, and it’s pretty magical — 45 scents, precision scales, lab coats, a rainbow wall, and a bottle with whatever you want to name it, on it. Think Hermione Granger’s potions class, but…perfumery! The space is a genuine glow-up: former tenant Redwing was there for years before a SEPTA bus took out the storefront in 2024, and what’s risen in its place is a bright, airy fragrance laboratory that makes the whole saga feel like the universe clearing the path for something better, as you see in our article about the experience here.

Rally House |📍1628-36 Chestnut St

The hunt for Eagles jerseys is now shorter as Rally House has officially landed on Chestnut Street, sliding into the former Rite Aid space that always felt like it was destined for something more exciting than pharmacy checkout lines. Floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall licensed gear for every Philly team you love, and with Mitchell & Ness making its way over to this side of Broad, Rittenhouse is quickly becoming the undisputed capital of Philly sports merch — so budget accordingly!

SEV |📍1525 Chestnut St

We told you it was coming, and now it’s here — and honestly? It’s even better than we expected: SEV — the Kardashian-made-famous boutique med-spa — has officially opened in the Pomerantz building, which sat empty for nearly two decades before Sev swooped in. A hotel is coming to the floors above, but for now, the ground floor is doing all the heavy lifting.

Walk in and the outside world immediately feels very far away, with the kind of intentional calm that makes you want to book every service on the menu just to stay longer. It’s the interior equivalent of a deep exhale. SEV is also known for its great 1st time client discounts, by the way!

WRKSHP |📍2037 Walnut St

The space that once housed Wonderland — the beloved counterculture head shop that called Walnut Street home for 47 years before closing in 2022 — has a new life, and it’s a good one! If you ever burned incense purchased there in the ’90s, you may feel some feelings. But we think even the most nostalgic among us can get behind what’s moved in.

Owner Eric Demsko, a stylist with 24 years of experience, has opened WRKSHP: a studio combining classic barbering, contemporary styling, and aesthetics that are as intentional as the training behind it. We’re talking six Vidal Sassoon diplomas and a current role as R+Co Regional Educator — this is not someone who just decided to open a salon one afternoon. (Book here.)

And if it’s your lucky day, you may meet Rolo, his adorable goldendoodle. Consider it a bonus amenity!

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Focus on the Future:

Ayat |📍2021-23 Sansom St

The New York to Philly (and vice versa) love continues with the 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 the new ETA is April! Sending them all the good vibes for smooth sailing from now on.

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. We’re thinking they may transform the living room but either way, we know it’ll be gorgeous, and a GREAT addition to an area that has Monk’s Cafe, Enswell, Super Folie, and Weckerlys in close proximity to each other.

ETA is Spring!

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 is April, and their Caviar kiosk at 19th and Arch is still open!

Botld Expansion |📍119 S. 18th St

Anyone who’s tried to navigate Pennsylvania’s liquor laws knows they make the SEPTA schedule look straightforward by comparison. So when Botld opened in Rittenhouse back in 2022, it was already kind of a flex. Then back in fall of 2024 they announced that they’re transforming about 1,000 square feet of the 1,800-square-foot space into a cocktail bar, similar to their Midtown Village location but with the bottle shop still present. Expected arrival: sometime in 2026 (fingers crossed!)

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 any day now (still, I know!)

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. They’re targeting a summer 2026 opening, so if getting into FSS now feels like cracking the Da Vinci Code, this chef’s table is going to require CIA-level connections, given their recent accolades (cough, Michelin Star, cough.)

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.

Haraz specializes in traditional Yemeni coffee roasting with light roasts, plus spiced coffee drinks and date-sweetened options. Construction is underway for our 3rd Yemeni coffee shop, so we’ll keep you posted!

Jabal Coffee House | 📍1524 Chestnut St

Philly is beginning to see an influx of Yemeni coffee shops, and fortunately Rittenhouse will be getting 2, one of them being Jabal Coffee House. Jabal specializes in premium Yemeni-grown coffee blends sourced directly from Yemen’s high-altitude mountains—the name translates to “mountain” in Arabic—and the cafes are distinctive.

Yemeni cafes are distinctive for their beautiful designs, late hours, spiced coffee drinks, and desserts ranging from kunafa cheesecake to chocolate-dipped cakes. So expect a luxurious coffee experience that’s designed as a destination and community space. ETA is this Fall – we’ll keep you posted!

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 wines and cheese boards, upstairs you’re sipping clarified citrus cocktails that require three types of bitters.

They’re aiming for early 2026, so our New Year’s resolution to become a cocktail connoisseur will finally have a destination.

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 – ETA is this Summer!

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 don’t get too excited just yet—construction hasn’t even broken ground, which means it could be late 2026 or even 2027 before we can McFlurry our way through a post-work slump.

Mitchell & Ness | 📍1513 Walnut St

In the ongoing Rittenhouse real estate game of musical chairs, Mitchell & Ness, the beloved sports gear haven, is moving into the former Brooks Brothers space, and we’re talking a SERIOUS glow-up here. 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.

They’re targeting spring 2026 for the big move, which gives you plenty of time to make room in your closet—or just accept that you’re going to need a bigger one.

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. We heard construction is moving albeit slowly so we’re holding out hope for a launch in 2026. And once you’ve seen the sexy renderings here you’ll be joining us in those prayers, promise!

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. Now he’s taking over the family space with a name that’s part homage, part inside joke – just throw an apostrophe in “Omori” and shuffle the spelling. The concept is elevated bar food paired with a curated cocktail program.

ETA is Spring 2026!

Palm Vintage | 📍 1414 S Penn Sq

The area around City Hall is 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. The tropical vibes promise a much-needed escape from our gray winter reality. Originally slated for December, construction had other plans (shocking, we know). But things are moving, the menus are up here, and the ETA is February!

Poke Bowl | 📍1900 Market St

Your bowl game is about to get exponentially better! 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!

Shout-out to fellow Ramblers @wronglebowski and @gigiboguski for cracking the case before the paint even dried. We appreciate you!

Ruxton Steakhouse | 📍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?!

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 know that the ETA for our first artisanal croissants bakery is this Summer!

The Juice Pod | 📍1845 Walnut St

Wellness is coming to the corner that caffeine built, and the transformation feels perfectly timed. The Juice Pod—already literally crushing it at Comcast Center—is squeezing into the former Joe’s Coffee space. Joe’s held down this Rittenhouse real estate for six years before closing all their Philly locations in 2019, and after that, Venditore ran their coffee and produce stand for a hot minute (but an absolutely gorgeous looking hot minute). Now The Juice Pod is writing the next chapter, bringing cold-pressed juices, smoothie bowls, and wellness shots to a neighborhood that’s been missing a solid grab-and-go health option on this side of the Square.

ETA is March!

Unnamed Diner | 📍1526 Sansom St

Upon Glu Hospitality’s closing of Bagel & Co and Chika Ramen, No Name Hospitality snapped up the leases. We’re still waiting to see who moves into the ex-Chika Ramen restaurant that was supposed to be an “old-school” diner open until 3am on the weekends. ETA was 2025 but haven’t seen any updates in a long, long time.

Unnamed Ellen Yin Restaurant @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St

Well, well, well—looks like The Josephine is becoming the center of Rittenhouse’s most delicious game of Clue! Buried in this list of what’s coming was the tantalizing mention that Ellen Yin was returning to Rittenhouse to bring an Italian restaurant to the building. According to The Inquirer, this Italian venture is eyeing a spring 2026 debut, though anyone who’s watched a construction timeline knows that “spring” is more of a vibe than a hard deadline. The real mystery? Whether Yin’s claiming the ground-floor bakery space or the substantial second-floor sports bar location.

Either way, at least one piece of The Josephine puzzle is about to click into place!

Unnamed Italian Bakery @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St

In the great Josephine building real estate shuffle, there was once talk of a Philly-based Italian bakery joining Uchi on the ground floor—a combo that would’ve made the Sansom Street stretch between 16th and 17th absolutely delicious. But now that Ellen Yin’s Italian restaurant has entered the chat, we’re wondering if the bakery concept got absorbed into her larger vision, ghosted us entirely, or is still lurking somewhere in the wings waiting for its moment. Until we get official word, consider this bakery dream in Schrödinger’s oven—simultaneously rising and deflating until someone confirms what’s actually happening.

Unnamed Sports Bar @The Josephine | 📍1620 Sansom St

And finally, the second-floor sports bar that was possibly happening at The Josephine back when 2025 felt like the future. This upscale sports haven was supposed to give you craft cocktails, premium bar bites, and all the screens your Eagles-obsessed heart could desire. But then Ellen Yin happened, and suddenly this concept went quieter than a library during finals week. Is it still in play? Did it evolve into something else? Are they divvying up the huge space evenly?

We’re keeping our eyes on this space like it’s fourth-and-goal, but for now, it’s all speculation and vibes, like our fitness goals (RIP 2026 resolutions).

Unnamed Starr Restaurant on the Square | 📍225 S. 18th St

As Borromini enjoys its day in the sun, Stephen Starr is HOPEFULLY turning his attention to the former Devon Seafood space. And if you ever had the chance to go to Devon, you probably remember the beautiful arches, the ceiling print, the tiles, and the expansive space in the back, down the steps – it was a story and vibe in itself. ETA is very much in the air.

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. The Fitler Focus has more deets here; ETA is March!

Vrai | 📍132 S 17th St

The 2nd floor shop at 132 S 17th St across from Gomo Nails has had more costume changes than a Broadway understudy but we think it’s finally found it’s perfect tenant with high-end jewelry brand Vrai moving in! This will be the 10th location for the global and celebrity-loved brand that’s known for its lab-grown diamonds.

ETA is Spring 2026 and you can get more deets on them here.

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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!