Back in November of 2011, we told you about an overhaul coming to a prominent Old City corner. And now the project appears to be headed toward completion. After standing vacant for close to 30 years, the BAR arrow signage has been preserved, and the Franklin Trust Company building will be soon ready for a new establishment. Just a few steps away from the popular Franklin Fountain, Shane Confectionery, and a slowly burgeoning group of business on the 100 block of Market, the corner building’s storefront and entryway appear to be the last details in need of attention. Back in 2011, Hidden City did a detailed profile of 100 Market Street, describing the site of the London Coffee House and the property’s rich commercial history over the years.

The corner

A couple of years ago, Scoot2You opened at 747 S. 4th St., offering a combination gallery space and scooter rental store to Fabric Row. Not only was the opening of the business noteworthy in the sense that they were introducing a cool concept, but also because they were opening in a space that have been vacant for at least the previous five years.

In 2011

Regrettably, Scoot2you couldn’t make it work at this location, moving to a new location in Old City in less than a year’s time. And so this space again sat vacant, though it seems as though it won’t be empty for long.

New sign in the window

According to the sign we spotted in the window the other day, 4 Shore Swimwear Boutique will be taking over this…

We’ve always had a bit of a crush on 2212 Walnut St., sometimes known as the WPEN building. The building was constructed in 1928, and designed by Ralph Bencker, the architect for 1901 Walnut St. and the guy who did storefront work for several Horn & Hardart locations during that era. From the 1950s through the late 1970s, WPEN made its home here, before moving to Bala Cynwyd. In more recent years, the building was home to Springboard Media, which sold Mac products way before it was cool.

The building

Up top

The building is a wonderful example of Art Deco design. The granite facade combined with the copper spandrels make for one of the most unique looking buildings in Center City. As you would…

A new Lebanese café is slated to open at 708 N. 2nd St. sometime this spring or summer. Members of the Northern Liberties Neighborhood Association (NLNA) zoning committee tentatively approved the café at their Feb. 25 meeting.

The space

The owners already operate two cafes, including Café Cleopatra in University City, a hookah bar that also sells coffee, tea and smoothies. That location has existed for a few years.

The opening will bring a new business to a vacant storefront on North 2nd Street in Northern Liberties. Already located on this block are established places like 700 Club, Blind Pig, and Trophy Bikes. Across the street, you can find stalwart Liberties Restaurant, Chez Bow Wow, and a recently opened and rather successful Green Eggs location. The…

For the past couple of years, 2223 Grays Ferry Ave. has been a vacant storefront, available for rent. It seemed curious to us that this commercial space was empty for so long, considering the dynamic growth of South Street West during that time. And with the constant flow of people to South Square Market across the street and the long-term success of Grace Tavern a few doors down, it seemed even stranger that some business had not yet taken this space off the market.

View of the space last fall. Image from Grays Ferry Triangles Facebook page.

A couple of weeks ago, however, a new business finally made its way to this space, adding a new amenity to South Street West. We stuck our heads inside The Igloo last week, and came away with the impression that this place…

A down home sandwich-serving neighborhood lunch place is slated to open sometime in the next few months on the southern edge of Queen Village. The commercial space at 525 Washington Ave. has been a vanilla shell since the building was constructed over a year ago.

On the right

It will mean the introduction of a different kind of eatery to this street, which mostly features ethnic establishments representing various corners of the globe. That it is a new kind of restaurant contributed to the support for a needed variance to operate at the location. Members of the Queen Village Neighbors Association (QVNA) supported the project, despite what zoning chair Mike Hauptman described as serious concerns from neighbors. The concerns, it seems, have been addressed.

Closer look at the space

Neighbors voiced concerns about trash, and staffers

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