Eataly on the way to Philly? Not exactly
It's a similar concept, but not the celeb joint.
Eataly on the way to Philly? Not exactly
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Filed Under: TableTalk
Post amended
Sorry, folks, but my source has backtracked on his assertion that Eataly, the Mario Batali-backed Italian food hyper-emporium, is fixing to come to Philadelphia.
I'm now told an Italian concept similar to Eataly - restaurants and retail, run by a big-name restaurateur - is being pushed for the first floor of the former Strawbridge & Clothier building at Eighth and Market Streets. A second source with direct knowledge of the talks confirms as much.
Eataly is now actively seeking a location in D.C.
Comments (15)
It could be a real boon to Philly and a bust for Italian wannabes!— remundogerardo- Wow. This is big news. Finally somebody realizes that being between the convention center and the tourist district makes sense. Now put a HardRock Hotel or W Hotel in the Disney Hole and switch out K-Mart for Target.— knicks84
- switching out the Kmart for Target is nowhere near enough. the Gallery needs to be closed and demolished, along with the junk ghetto stores on the other side of Market Street before any revitalization can take place at Market East. No one will go to this restaurant with the garbage spewing from the Gallery and across the street— s1360m
- So Burger King, Ross Dress for Less, Kmart and Eataly. Interesting line up!— Joe Diner
- No one will go to this restaurant with the garbage spewing from the Gallery and across the street
— s1360m
Yes they will. They'll go- obviously they won't buy sneakers or a wig along the way, but they'll go.— billpa - the gallery could be rehabbed if the surrounding area could be improved. More important would be getting retail on the disneyhole. I'd say build part of it as a good movie theatre, with an iconic entrance that could be used for Philly based premieres. Then add in some retail like target or hhgregg. But mostly, do something about all the low rent places that drag down the area. Though incidentally, when you go to new york, what do you see just around the corner from macy's? The same type of low rent electronics stores.— Pelti
- Pelti, the Gallery is the cancer to the area that needs to be cut out. Opening a movie theater near an existing Gallery would be the biggest disaster in the history of Center City. Who in their right mind would go and pay to see a movie in a theater when you know the Gallery crowd will also be in there. Who wants to see a movie when you can't hear the movie over the audience. Sorry, I prefer to watch movies without having to hear "Girl, dont go there" every two minutes from the rows behind me.. Trust me, no revitalization of any kind can take place until you eliminate the Gallery— s1360m
- strollers and old people friendly - that is the target demographic. If its not safe enough for them it will not work - Get on This Now !!!!!
- Youse guys ever think that if Eataly comes in, does well, shows that it can draw a decent demographic, rents on the surrounding properties (including the "schlock" stores on the S side of Market) will rise, and drive out some of the less desirable stores for higher scale.
Now if this could spread to the Gallery and get some upscale tenants, the rabble would need to find another venue.— phillychuck - The low-rent stores on the south side of the 1100 block have already been forced onto month-to-month leases in anticipation of the Target project.— BarryG
- The Gallery needs a philanthropist or organization (Kimmel, Pew, etc.) to throw in millions to raze it. Make a mother of an underground parking garage and then mixed-use on street level with tons of residents. Once I make my $50 million next year I will get it started.— Han Solo
Comment removed.- This is better. A locally owned concept (Garces, Vetri, DiBruno's megastore) could be worth visiting on its own merits. Any city could have a branch of an NYC chain.— BarryG
- While the Gallery is still in existence, there is no way Target would ever get started on any Market East project. They are a successful business and successful businesses have people high up who understand that going to Market East as it currently is would include insurance rates so high, profit would be difficult to obtain. What do you think the insurance costs would be when you have a "mall" attracting thousands of would be robbers and flash mobbers on a daily basis?— s1360m
- - The family court building is being moved
- The gallery could be rehabbed to work better with the streetscape
- The gallery was built to support 2 large towers
- The Market Street billboard bill recently passed
- The city has to figure out how to help it's main tourist area sooner or later
- Chestnut Street East is already showing signs of life
I think in 20 years (not a long time in a life of a city) Market East may be a a lot nicer place.— Hunter S. T
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About this blog
Michael Klein, the editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the local restaurant scene in his Inquirer column "Table Talk." Have a question? Email it! See his Inquirer work here.
Reach Michael at mklein@philly.com.
Michael Klein
Philly.com
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