The Bracket-Busting Edition: March’s Fond Farewells, Friendly Hellos & Focus on the Future

We lost a 32-year neighborhood icon, gained some sparkle, and the incoming business list just made the Final Four look small.

You know that feeling when your entire bracket goes up in flames, like Duke? That’s March in Rittenhouse — except it’s a beloved bakery getting bounced and 32 businesses playing Cinderella.

The biggest gut punch: Metropolitan Bakery — THE Metropolitan Bakery, the 32-year Chestnut Street neighborhood staple that fueled all of our carb dreams — closed its doors. If you’re not at least a little sad about this one, then you probably never had a chance to try some of their delicious goods. Their breads will live on at the Farmers’ Market (thank goodness), but the storefront/bakery void sucks. SixtySixty also quietly bowed out after about a year — still unsure if it’s SixtySixty or 6060, and now we may never know.

On the arrivals front, VRAI brought lab-grown diamond energy to 17th Street, giving that revolving-door 2nd floor space above Farina some much-needed staying power.

But the real Cinderella story this month? Our Focus on the Future list, which has officially gone from to “are you serious right now.” We added five new businesses to the pipeline since last month’s edition: Jezabel’s is making her long-awaited return to the neighborhood, Russian manicure specialists LadyLavka are setting up shop on Chestnut, NYC smash burger fave 7th Street Burger is bringing zero-pretense patties to the former Amma’s space, Tidal Force VR is adding to our growing holodeck district, and Wally is proving that even dental care can get the NYC-export treatment. Oh, and one BIG update: Stephen Starr’s fourth restaurant on the Square finally has a name AND a concept — say hello to The Pelican Club, a Greek-rooted Mediterranean spot inspired by jet-set Mykonos of the Onassis era.

That brings our total to 32 businesses in the pipeline. Thirty-two!

Here’s the March Cheat Sheet:

• Fond Farewells: Two businesses closed, including the neighborhood’s longest-running bakery. Grab the tissues.

• Friendly Hellos: One new business opened — and it sparkles (literally, it’s diamonds).

• Focus on the Future: Five new businesses were added to the Focus on the Future list, plus one major name reveal.

In total, we’re now tracking 32 incoming businesses spanning restaurants, bars, coffee, retail, wellness, experiences, and more.

So read on for the full bracket breakdown, and as always, send us your tips, typo catches, and hot takes at rittenhouseramblings@gmail.com. We appreciate you!

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Fond Farewells:

Metropolitan Bakery | 📍1807 Chestnut St

News that hit every Rittenhouse regular right to the core: the oldest bakery in the neighborhood, Metropolitan Bakery, closed after 32 years. BUT — and this is a big but — their breads (and maybe the some of that coconut cake? The croissants? Those chocolate chip salted cookies?!) will live on at the weekly Farmers’ Market and other wholesale locations.

Sending all the love to the wonderful owners — words can’t express how much you’ll be missed in the neighborhood.

SixtySixty | 📍1924 Chestnut St

The eyeglass place that popped up in the long SixtySixty or 6060 (still SO confused over how they want to be referred to) The Rittenhouse location for the eye exam + glasses chain opened last August in the space that was briefly Jonesey’s and California Closets for years before that.

Friendly Hellos:

VRAI | 📍132 S 17th St

The 2nd floor shop at 132 S 17th St above Farina Pasta Bar has had more costume changes than a Broadway understudy BUT that’s all in the past. High-end jewelry brand Vrai, the global and celebrity-loved brand that’s known for its lab-grown diamonds has moved in; see all the deets here.

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Focus on the Future:

7th Street Burger |📍1518 Chestnut St

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

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

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…maybe.

Sending them all the good vibes for smooth sailing for whenever they arrive!

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 from what we heard on the construction front, it looks like they’ll hit it!

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 hopefully April as the awning and menu is up!

Friday Saturday Sunday Expansion | 📍 261 S 21st St

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

ETA is Summer!

Haraz Coffee Shop |📍1822 Chestnut St

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

The ETA was summer so we”ll keep you posted!

Jabal Coffee House | 📍1524 Chestnut St

Our 3rd Yemeni and/or Yemeni influenced (e.g. MOTW) will be Jabal Coffee House. Jabal specializes in premium Yemeni-grown coffee blends sourced directly from Yemen’s high-altitude mountains—the name translates to “mountain” in Arabic—and the cafes are distinctive. The Rittenhouse location’s renderings look equally gorgeous, as you can see here.

ETA is this Fall – we’ll keep you posted!

Jezabel’s |📍617 S. 24th St

She’s baaack (in Rittenhouse-adjacent Fitler Square, that is!): Chef Jezabel Careaga, who started her beloved Argentine bakery and restaurant at 26th & Pine before moving to 45th Street, is returning to the neighborhood in a new location at the base of new construction (fun fact: back in the day All That Jazz was one of the stores that existed there. Jezabel’s will feature grab-and-go up front, full-service dining inside, and a garden seating area in the back — with empanadas, naturally, front and center.

ETA is early summer!

LadyLavka |📍1804 Chestnut St

If Love Story made you rethink your entire nail game, you’re going to want to hear this: Ladylavka, a Russian manicure specialist, is opening up on Chestnut Street in the former Blo/Out space (RIP), right above Playa Bowls. Russian manis use a technique that involves e-file and builder gel — essentially, longer-lasting results with a cleaner, more precise finish that would (hopefully) make Carolyn Bessette proud.

ETA is April!

Liquorette |📍1534 Sansom St

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

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

Lululemon Expansion | 📍1718 Walnut St

Remember when we told you about Lululemon’s expansion plans? Well, phase one is officially underway as they’ve moved into the former North Face space a few blocks down on Walnut Street while construction begins on their mega-store. You can find full details here, and know the 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 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 May so better get moving on making more room in your closet, stat!

Mr. Edison |📍 200 S Broad St

The Bellevue‘s return to being the Grand Dame includes a brand new restaurant, Mr. Edison from famous restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow. It’s sliding into the former Polo store on Walnut and keep Flight Club Darts, which is across the street, company. Construction is moving, as you can see here, and the ETA is April!

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!

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 hereand the ETA is April!

Poke Bowl | 📍1900 Market St

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

ETA is early May!

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 for The Juice Pod is April!

The Pelican Club | 📍225 S 18th St

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

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

The Ruxton | 📍210 W Rittenhouse Square

If you appreciate a good steakhouse with enough vintage glamour to make Gatsby jealous, this one’s for you. Per the Business Journal, The Ruxton – a Jazz Age-inspired steakhouse from the team behind Loch Bar – is slated to arrive at The Rittenhouse in Spring 2027, with construction kicking off in Fall 2026. Think velvet upholstery, walnut millwork, custom Murano glass chandeliers, and those iconic Rittenhouse Square views that turn dinner into an event. And who doesn’t love dinner and a show?!

Tidal Force VR | 📍1510 Chestnut St

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

ETA is this Fall!

Unnamed 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, long, and even longer 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 … eventually!

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).

Vita Sana | 📍2319 Walnut St

Vita Sana PHL, a healthy fast-casual restaurant, is opening right next door in the space formerly occupied by Good Karma Cafe, next to CityCoHo. Think açaí bowls, fresh salads, wraps, and coffee; basically everything you need to fuel those long work sessions without having to venture far from your desk. ETA is any day now!

Wally | 📍1900 Market St

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

ETA and the exact space at 1900 Market is TBD.

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