Cheesecake Factory in Center City?
CCRA hears plans for 15th and Walnut.
Cheesecake Factory in Center City?
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Center City could be a step closer to getting a Cheesecake Factory.
That decision is now in the hands of the Center City Residents' Association's zoning committee, which Tuesday night heard a redevelopment plan for the southeast corner of 15th and Walnut Streets.
The plan calls for the demolition of the strip of retail businesses along the east side of 15th Street from Walnut Street to Chancellor Street - previously a bank, hair salon, coffee shop, and restaurant - as well as two adjacent properties on Walnut Street. A new building, to have a green roof, would house the popular restaurant as well as retail.
Cheesecake's n
ame came up in testimony, the first time its plans have been aired in public. It's been rumored for nearly a year.
The zoning committee's decision, due shortly, carries great impact with the city's Zoning Hearing Board, which would have to approve the plan before the wrecking ball arrives.
I would never buy a cheesecake from a "factory". I always get my cheesecake at a top of the line machine shop.— pic man- Great news for the fattest city in the country to have the fattest portions with the most calories, sodium, cholesterol and fat. Just what the cardiologist ordered.— Keith S.
- We Philadelphians may be negative from your point of view, but it's our city, and we like it that way. So please take your utterly bland ideas like a Center City Cheesecake Factory (high end, indeed!) back to wherever you came from. I'm sure they'll be received enthusiastically.— Filadee
- even though Philadelphia is a very big city there definitely should be no restaurants allowed that I don't like!!!— Hunter S. T
- Well guys, I guess we'll all have to put up with the McTourists from the midwest if we want Philly to become a more notable destination. The rubes will populate the chains, the veritable travelers will find the real restaurants, so no worries.— suporma
- BTW, what half-wit wrote the question?
"Prove" Philly is a tourist destination? That may be the most ridiculously and stupidly nonsensical notion EVER! I NEVER visit cities for the chain restaurants. I want the local restaurants and so fifth!
GOOD GRIEF!— BEMiller - I prefer Olive Garden. It's much much better.— tndmrtr
- Olive Garden is MUCH, MUCH worse in terms of food quality, it's terribly unhealthy, and the service generally is mediocre! — sbmedlg
- I would prefer to eat the Cheesecake Factory meal you just threw up over eating anything at Olive Garden. And I'm not much of a Cheesecake Factory fan.— mkk9772
- Stupid choices for the poll. Could the restaurant be good for the city even if it isn't a tourist attraction? Newsflash - Cheesecake Factory is not a big tourist attraction.— corpo
- This is all good. Cities need all types of people. This is a sign that suburbanites are coming to Center City to shop -- and Walnut/Rittenhouse in particular. Ma and Pa Stoltzfus from Lancaster County will feel safer coming to the Kimmel Center when they see a Cheesecake Factory in the neighborhood. And some of these folks, on their second or third visit, will be adventurous and maybe try Stephen Starr or Jose Garces. And after 10 or 15 visits, maybe they'll be ready to buy an empty-nester condo near Rittenhouse Square....— tomB
- I work on Walnut street and anything is better then seeing the space empty!— jaxxi
- Will Penny be working there?
- I would love to have an independent, locally owned restaurant in this space. That said, the corner in question has been vacant for some time now and I'd rather have a CF there than nothing at all. Hopefully a few decent jobs will be created.— PRphillyphan17
- The negative comments are typical of some metro Philadelphia area residents. A restaurant like the Cheesecake Factory does yield a lot of foot traffic, offers employment opportunities for area college students and city residents and provides alternative weekend late night dining options at a moderate price point. It also enriches the tax base in Philadelphia. It may not be your restaurant of choice but there are many other options in Philadelphia from which to choose. If you don't like cheesecake, don't worry, there are plenty of other items on their exhaustive menu.— ddantz
