East of Broad Renaissance (formerly PB thread known as Chestnut East Revitalization)

**kidphilly** · 06-14-2012, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Dead. And likely to be dead for a long time given that its possible for a small number of people (who apparently think a roof deck is more objectionable than blight and homeless urinating on the street) can kill a project that someone is willing to invest a boatload of money in.

Is a shame, that looked like a great space if it is the one am thinking of. And think would have been on the same corner as the new boutique hotel proposal.

Philly could use some better lounges on the whole and compared to many other cities we lack on the rooftop front. Will be interested to see how the rooftop lounge turns out for the Monaco and whether and if the W gets built would it include one (seems the trend with their recent properties W DT by the WTC isnt bad, though to me we would be getting a W well after their peek en vogue time; personally I like places like the Palomar and Monaco better)

**Spicoli** · 06-14-2012, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by kidphilly

Is a shame, that looked like a great space if it is the one am thinking of. And think would have been on the same corner as the new boutique hotel proposal.

Philly could use some better lounges on the whole and compared to many other cities we lack on the rooftop front. Will be interested to see how the rooftop lounge turns out for the Monaco and whether and if the W gets built would it include one (seems the trend with their recent properties W DT by the WTC isnt bad, though to me we would be getting a W well after their peek en vogue time; personally I like places like the Palomar and Monaco better)

I'm told by the folks at Holt's that they are going to have a rooftop lounge on their redesigned cigar bar which was once Mahogany's. Though it won't be as high as W or Monaco. Their concept for the place sounds really, really cool! They're anticipating having it completed in the fall and have obtained all the necessary permits.

I don't have any online links about it, but if you stop in the cigar shop, they'll happily talk to you about it. The place sounds awesome.

**DCnPhilly** · 06-18-2012, 09:58 AM

Originally Posted by Spicoli

Dead. And likely to be dead for a long time given that its possible for a small number of people (who apparently think a roof deck is more objectionable than blight and homeless urinating on the street) can kill a project that someone is willing to invest a boatload of money in.

It wasn't even a small group, it was one resident who happens to work for a rival developer. Classy. Chestnut is inching eastward though. The pool hall is dead, but soon enough there will be too much demand for him to keep business out of that building. Those tactics wouldn't have worked on 18th and the 12th and Walnut/Chestnut vicinity is becoming very similar to Rittenhouse. Maybe the fact that I just got back from vacation has left me optimistic, but I don't think that building will be empty for long, with or without a roofdeck.

**BarryG** · 06-18-2012, 10:03 AM

Originally Posted by DCnPhilly

It wasn't even a small group, it was one resident who happens to work for a rival developer. Classy. Chestnut is inching eastward though. The pool hall is dead, but soon enough there will be too much demand for him to keep business out of that building. Those tactics wouldn't have worked on 18th and the 12th and Walnut/Chestnut vicinity is becoming very similar to Rittenhouse. Maybe the fact that I just got back from vacation has left me optimistic, but I don't think that building will be empty for long, with or without a roofdeck.

How does it benefit a rival developer to have a vacant building there? Unless that developer plans to use the same property.

**DCnPhilly** · 06-18-2012, 10:16 AM

Originally Posted by BarryG

How does it benefit a rival developer to have a vacant building there? Unless that developer plans to use the same property.

I have no idea. Maybe it was a coincidence and he genuinely prefers the Hooverville across the street. If he wants a monopoly on the vicinity, by all means develop it. Maybe that's part of his larger plan. You know how this city is.

**eldondre** · 06-18-2012, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by BarryG

How does it benefit a rival developer to have a vacant building there? Unless that developer plans to use the same property.

he just didn't like the idea of the project across from his condo, I don't think the developer (goldman) actually had anything to do with it but the nimby in this case worked for him. given his position, he may have been able to have an outsize say, who knows.

**BarryG** · 07-23-2012, 08:53 PM

Beer garden coming to the old Mitchell and Ness store:
A beer garden for Chestnut Street; cupcake shop in Wash West

**y.lama** · 07-24-2012, 11:20 AM

Originally Posted by BarryG

Beer garden coming to the old Mitchell and Ness store:
A beer garden for Chestnut Street; cupcake shop in Wash West

that's cool - is it inside? is there such a think as an inside beer garden?

walking down Chestnut East the other day I had a crazy idea that probably would have been done already if it was a good idea...I thought it would be cool if Macy's moved a department (say Women's shoes, or kitchen ware) to the empty storefronts directly across from their Chestnut Street entrance (the PMC Group building or the old Valu Plus). IMO it seems that city shoppers like small stores, and they could advertise for their big store across the street in the Wanamaker building. It would also give them more room to exand other departments in the Wanamaker building. Finally it would improve the appearance of Chestnut East thereby hopefully drawing more customers to this block.

**jn00** · 07-24-2012, 11:30 AM

Too bad that this is going to turn into another restaurant - would have been a great location on a great block for a national retailer.

**mixiboi** · 07-24-2012, 03:20 PM

Like who? National Retailers aren't exactly running around spending money....

**Naveen** · 07-24-2012, 08:07 PM

Originally Posted by jn00

Too bad that this is going to turn into another restaurant - would have been a great location on a great block for a national retailer.

What's wrong with a restaurant?

**BarryG** · 07-24-2012, 08:37 PM

Originally Posted by mixiboi

Like who? National Retailers aren't exactly running around spending money....

They don't seem to have a problem throwing down on Walnut St

**jn00** · 07-25-2012, 12:56 PM

It's just a nice sized space surrounded on some sides with successful retail so preference would be for a retailer as opposed to another restaurant/bar.

**mixiboi** · 07-25-2012, 09:51 PM

I agree...

**BarryG** · 08-27-2012, 09:26 PM

And another restaurant on the 1300 block of Chestnut

Originally Posted by Michael Klein, philly.com

Brothers Greg and John Whiting, who lost their longtime Italian Bistro lease in May 2011... Monday, they signed a lease for 1339 Chestnut St., which was the Marathon Grill in the Widener Building before it was evicted in December.

Link: Ex-Italian Bistro owners to resurface in Center City

**DCnPhilly** · 09-02-2012, 11:46 AM

Has anyone been to Spice? I thought it was just a little restaurant, but they had the doors open the other night and it looks like a swank little bar. It's across from the Adelphia House.

**MarketStEl** · 09-03-2012, 11:22 AM

Well, since I gave Spice 28 a drive-by - er, walk-by - writeup already, I think I should schedule an actual evaluation visit.

Who's game? DCnPhilly, how 'bout you? Haven't hung out with you at all in quite some time.

**eldondre** · 09-15-2012, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by MarketStEl

Well, since I gave Spice 28 a drive-by - er, walk-by - writeup already, I think I should schedule an actual evaluation visit.

Who's game? DCnPhilly, how 'bout you? Haven't hung out with you at all in quite some time.

my wife ate there and liked it, anyone else actually eaten there?

**MarketStEl** · 09-15-2012, 12:07 PM

do I smell a PS HH in the making?

**eldondre** · 10-10-2012, 09:08 PM

Hiro Ramen House, opening 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11 at 1102 Chestnut St. has been trying to fly under the radar for months...The spot is next door to Milkboy Coffee...They'll be doing many different styles of ramen, including a house version that will change semimonthly. Most ramens will be about 9 bucks. No alcohol.