Starr and Vetri to be neighbors

In a rare display of power-dining synergy, restaurateurs Marc Vetri and Stephen Starr will set up side-by-side restaurants in the former Wilkie Buick/Subaru showroom at 600 N. Broad St., two blocks north of Spring Garden Street.

Also part of the project is caterer Joe Volpe, whose empire includes Cescaphe Ballroom in Northern Liberties, the Curtis Center on Washington Square, and the forthcoming Tendenza, another Northern Liberties venue.

Vetri's place, Birreria 600, will be an Italian bar -- intended to be much more casual than Osteria, which is just a little way up the block at 640 N. Broad St. Vetri will be partnered with Jeff Benjamin and Jeff Michaud, his Osteria team. (This piece of the deal was mentioned Monday at Phillymag.com.)

Starr and his partners are planning a casual New England fish house with a wood grill and picnic-style seating called Route 6. It's named after the slow road traversing Cape Cod.

Birreria 600 will be on the Mount Vernon Street side, midblock. Route 6 will be on the corner of Broad and Mount Vernon. Volpe's unnamed space will be on the south end of the property. All are about a year away.

Developer Eric Blumenfeld owns both 600 and 640 N. Broad.