Now that 2014 is well underway, we are looking forward to all of the amazing new businesses that will be popping up in the Philadelphia area! From retail and restaurants, to venues and outdoor developments, there is plenty of progress happening throughout the city. Here are just a few of our favorites that you should have on your radar!
Shopping
The hot Japanese casual retailer, Uniqlo, is breaking ground on not one but two Philly locations! The first, coming to the King of Prussia Mall, is set for early May; the second, on the 4th floor of the Art Institute at 1608 Chestnut Street, is rumored to open around Memorial Day.
Big retail changes are happening on 17th and Walnut. Burberry’s vacant store front at 1705 Walnut Street will be occupied by Michael Kors, assumed to open sometime in the spring. Meanwhile, a J.Crew Men’s will take over what previously used to be Juicy Couture on the corner a few shops down.
Fooderies
Kensington Quarters is a butcher shop, bar, GMO-free restaurant, and a classroom all rolled into one hot spot at Frankford Ave and Thompson Street. The love child created by butcher and Brooklynite Bryan Mayer and Michael Pasquarello (Bufad, Prohibition Taproom) is still in the construction phase, but the duo have already held a successful fried chicken pop-up event earlier this month in anticipation.
If Philly has room to house a TGI Fridays and Ruby Tuesday downtown, there is no excuse for us to go any longer without the mecca of all chain restaurants, The Cheesecake Factory, in Center City. Fortunate for us, the wait for cheesecakes is over! Just as soon as construction starts, that is.
Vegans and pseudo vegan, New Year’s resolutionists rejoice! HipCityVeg owner Nicole Marquis is creating a bar, Charlie Was a Sinner, in the heart of 13th Street that goes all out. They’ll have vegan cocktails and a menu that is 100% vegan and vegetarian-friendly.
Our favorite whiskey and go-go bar, The Trestle Inn, is seeking a variance to build a roof deck which will service a new restaurant called No Go-Go with no tricks or entertainment, besides for maybe a slam poetry reading. The restaurant will service the second and fourth floors while the usual antics continue downstairs.
Entertainment
1500 Sansom Street will become the 12th location of Nashville-native music venue chain, Tin Roof. Each outlet has a different appearance, so we aren’t sure what to expect design-wise. We do know that the venue will be 3-floors tall with a mezzanine, a kitchen under the direction of Will Zuchman (Alma de Cuba), and that the club won’t be opening until April at the very earliest.
The Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Festival has rebranded as FringeArts and moved into its new headquarters on the Delaware Riverfront in October. However, while it’s already housed a number of eclectic fringe shows since its debt, we’re anxious to check out the space next September, during the festival’s annual run. Better still, the venue’s restaurant, headed by Peter Woolsey (Bistrot La Minette) is slated to open sometime in spring.
2014 will also be a year filled with new unveils and development plans. What do Drexel and Amtrak have in store for the railyard at 30th Street? Will the Divine Lorraine rumors ever come into fruition? Which ideas out of the millions that have been floating around for Girard Square and The Gallery are going into development, and when? Only time will tell!
