A long embarrassment for South Street is set to end in the coming months, as we’ve heard from a couple of sources that 7-11 is preparing to open a new location at 600 South St., last home to McDonald’s. This premium South Street corner has somehow been vacant for over five years, which is almost as unbelievable as the thought of a McDonald’s location ever going out of business.

This marks the third new 7-11 location opening in the greater Center City area in the last year or so. Previously, we’ve covered new locations on North Broad St., near the Convention Center, and at Front & Girard, almost under the El. This company seems to be aggressively expanding in Philly, and we can only assume that more are on the way.

By the way, there’s no word yet…

In West Philly, the opinion of one neighborhood organization has trumped the voice of another. The ZBA recently reversed its decision to reject a Subway franchise at 4533 Baltimore Ave.

Yes Subway?

The reversal occurred after the applicants asked the Spruce Hill Community Association to write a letter of reconsideration to the ZBA. Weeks later, the Garden Court Community Association, whose members showed up at the zoning hearing to express their concerns, mainly that the sandwich shop would bring illegal traffic down the alley that abuts its exterior, received a letter informing them about the reversal. Despite their grievances, the Subway would be granted a take-out license.

“We’re very upset with it,” says GCNA past president Mary Allegra. “We’re consulting a lawyer.”

Commercial corridor

Allegra suggests that none of the individuals who attended…

538 N. 4th St., formerly Patterson’s Paradise, a self-proclaimed health food restaurant (mainly because they were vegetarian) which occupied the space since 1994, will soon contain a new restaurant spot. The space, which is definitely not the most noticeable retail space in town, is on 4th St., just north of Spring Garden St., right between CVS and Rite Aid. It’s been vacant since 2004, when Patterson’s burned down.

Looking south

According to the zoning application, the new business will be an eat-in and take-out establishment with no booze. Two apartments are proposed for the space above, though they may not be built out right away, according to this thread on Philadelphia Speaks.

Under construction

The restaurant will be called Philly Cheesesteak Co., and you can probably guess what kind of stuff they’ll be serving up.  Burgers, pizza, sandwiches, salads and,…

The owners of 625-29 Earp St. are planning to expand these buildings, which currently house Apex Plumbing and Heating.

Three addresses

Couple Tim and Maria Depretoro purchased these buildings last spring for $100K. They also own the building next door, 631 Earp St.

Construction abounds. This one appears to be getting an extra story as well.

According to the zoning application, the owners are planning new 2nd and 3rd story additions to the existing buildings, and this construction will include bay windows in the front and decks in the rear. The plumbing company that currently utilizes the existing space will remain, while two apartments are planned for the upper floors. Architects for this project are Boxwood Architects.

On the Boxwood website, renderings of several concepts for this project have been posted.…

A little over a year ago, Mugshots, a Fairmount Ave. stalwart for several years, opened a new location at 2831 Girard Ave., in Brewerytown. It was hailed as an important new addition to the Girard Ave. retail corridor, and another indication that Brewerytown was on the come.

Looks great

Just two doors down from Mugshots, however, is a building that a bunch of our readers have asked us about, and for good reason- it looks terrible.

Just awful

Closer look

The building was purchased in 2007 by Ercole Mirarchi for $450K. At the time, it contained a pizza place with a liquor license, and eight potential apartments that needed renovation. From what we understand, there was a fire in the building at some point, shortly after Mr. Mirarchi purchased…

Months ago, we told you about a stalled project on Bodine St., next to a somewhat monolithic new duplex that floated over a small parking lot. As of a few weeks ago, the project is finally moving forward, as four long-poured foundations are finally getting houses framed above them.

In the past

In August

Yes, that is a change of pace

Four single family homes are planned for this location, 1108-14 N. Bodine St., with easy views of the fabulous One Shot Coffee. The homes, which were originally listed a few years ago, pre-construction, will be offered for around $600K.

These prices seem reasonable, as these homes are the continuation of a project that’s immediately behind them, on the 1100 block of N 3rd St., where the homes sold…