Old City's next restaurant
The long, long-vacant building at Front and Market Street gets a nod from civic association.
Old City's next restaurant
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Busy corners do wonders for a neighborhood, and a dark corner at Front and Market Streets in Old City this fall will have a restaurant.
Partner Aaron Kavulich, a Scranton native who lived in Pittsburgh and operated restaurants there, won the backing of the Old City Civic Association, which right now is frowning on several projects, including those at 312 Market St. (the former Patou, whose applicant owns bars in West Philly) and 123 Chestnut St. (the former Rococo and World Fusion, whose applicant wants to install a New Orleans-themer). There's an Indian restaurant in early stages of development at 246 Market St., formerly Bluezette and Prive. But I digress.
On Wednesday (Aug. 24), Kavulich got approval from the city Zoning Board to move forward with his planned restaurant at 100 Market St., a former barroom that has been unoccupied for at least 20 years. (For years, the piece was in the real estate portfolio of Paul Rimmeir, who owned a number of decaying parcels in that part of town before his death in 1998.)
Kavulich needed a variance for the four-story building to allow use of the basement and first two floors for operations, with private dining and an office on the third floor and an apartment on the fourth. The building previously was approved for restaurant use on one and two plus apartment space on three and four.
Kavulich and attorney Thomas Witt of Cozen O'Connor told the board that the restaurant would not offer live entertainment and would have a bar only on the first floor. Its hours would be 10 a.m. till late night daily.
Kavulich told me that its style will be new American with a heavy focus on local and sustainable ingredients.
He's shopping for a name that reflects the neighborhood's history. He's aiming to open in November.
keep the sign if it works!— dreinterests- Yes, keep the sign. Make it work! And if you don't wanna keep it, may I come get it, please?— tettemer
- I've heard its haunted. Anyone have a great story to back that up?— MsMar
Comment removed.
IT's about time that this building will be used again. Hope it's successful! And yes, keep the sign if you can.— Ben Fan- I heard William Penn got laid there once.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- i do think that this is finally a good use of this space, and as this article points out the anti business feelings of the Old City Association. good luck!— bingo
- Congratulations on securing the location!!! My girlfriend and I checked out the location last month and we felt that was a sweet building for your new concept and the sign was amazing! I also vote to keep it!— Rick Barbata
