PHILADELPHIA | Lowrise/General Developments Thread II

[skyhigh07]

Id be surprised if they’re closing for good considering furniture/home goods stores seem to be doing well lately as far as retail goes in CC (Brooklinen, Saavta, Joybird etc) - it’s the one bright spot in addition to newer formerly online brands. And I doubt it has anything to do with theft - hard to imagine people walking out of there with lamp shades and nick nacks.

They were always kind of an isand unto themselves over there. It’d actually be nice if they took over the former Gap space on Walnut. However, nothing seems official yet so we’ll see…

[Redddog]

Originally Posted by cardeza

it certainly doesnt help that east chestnut st is on life support- nothing but vacancy and beat up storefronts.

To be fair, that stretch of Chestnut has always been a disaster.

[skyhigh07]

Originally Posted by ColdJay64

No idea. To be clear, I saw this shared: https://www.metrocommercial.com/wp-c...hestnut-St.pdf

I am assuming this means they are leaving but haven't seen official announcement, sorry for not clarifying before.

Yeah, I’d take those listings with a grain of salt. I learned that after my “Louis Vuitton is coming to Walnut” debacle.

[cardeza]

Originally Posted by Redddog

To be fair, that stretch of Chestnut has always been a disaster.

its worse, the bar is lower now. There is almost no commercial activity between Broad and 11th now.

[ok-ez]

Originally Posted by Justin7

More units are good, but this is a huge downgrade at street level. Guess it goes well with the parking lots.

yes eliminating the sidewalk is a bummer

[skyhigh07]

I just stopped by West Elm - everything seemed as it’s its always been and I didn’t see any indications that they’re closing soon. I overheard one of the staff talking with a customer about setting an appointment and working with an in-house decorator long term - seems like that’d be unlikely if they were planning on leaving the area all together anytime soon.

I also walked by the proposed Aritizia space. It looked there was finally a little bit of activity going on inside.

[Dan1]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

I just stopped by West Elm - everything seemed as it’s its always been and I didn’t see any indications that they’re closing soon. I overheard one of the staff talking with a customer about setting an appointment and working with an in-house decorator long term - seems like that’d be unlikely if they were planning on leaving the area all together anytime soon.

I also walked by the proposed Aritizia space. It looked there was finally a little bit of activity going on inside.

Leasing marketing has a Q4 2024 date for the Aritizia, no clue how accurate that is. It's also not uncommon for properties to be listed as available and the existing tenant ends up renewing.

[TK2001]

Spark by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

West Philadelphia rising by Philly SkyGuy, on Flickr

I was truly stunned to see Spark and 3151 Market rising from here. Not long from now we will also see 3201 Cuthbert rising to the right of Avira

[Londonee]

Originally Posted by cardeza

its worse, the bar is lower now. There is almost no commercial activity between Broad and 11th now.

The arena is going to make a lot of this stretch become very valuable bar/entertainment spaces... in a few years tho.

I wish Starr or someone would take a shot on some of those larger footprint stores and get some energy going again.

Originally Posted by Redddog

To be fair, that stretch of Chestnut has always been a disaster.

Not really?

[ColdJay64]

Looks like a gym will be moving into the old Sweat on that block: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...oad-lease.html

Insomnia Cookies, the gym, and Barcade is some nice momentum. I think the owner of Tradesman/Bru is working on a Mediterranean restaurant too? It's been awhile since I've heard about that but I read it last year.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by skyhigh07

Id be surprised if they’re closing for good considering furniture/home goods stores seem to be doing well lately as far as retail goes in CC (Brooklinen, Saavta, Joybird etc) - it’s the one bright spot in addition to newer formerly online brands. And I doubt it has anything to do with theft - hard to imagine people walking out of there with lamp shades and nick nacks.

They were always kind of an isand unto themselves over there. It’d actually be nice if they took over the former Gap space on Walnut. However, nothing seems official yet so we’ll see…

I would hope, since West Elm has been in CC for almost 20 years. But Williams Sonoma closed a year ago (for the Hyatt renovations), and no signs of a new store anywhere. I like home stores, and always nice/convenient for residents.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by ColdJay64

Looks like a gym will be moving into the old Sweat on that block: https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...oad-lease.html

Insomnia Cookies, the gym, and Barcade is some nice momentum. I think the owner of Tradesman/Bru is working on a Mediterranean restaurant too? It's been awhile since I've heard about that but I read it last year.

Loch Bar also opened this week in Arthaus, a boost for S. Broad.

[PHLJD13]

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...s-midtown.html

A Dunkin' franchisee is "aggressively" expanding on Chestnut Street, with two planned openings in 1204 Chestnut St (the former adult boutique across from the 7/11) and in 1001 Chestnut St (the shuttered Starbucks).

[BroadandMarket]

With the seven-year transformation project nearing its completion, Laws said, Comcast Spectator will soon be turning its attention to other projects within the stadium district in South Philadelphia.
"There is a need for a smaller arena for smaller acts, something in the 5,000- to 6,000-seat range," he said.

It's good to know they're still planning something for the space where the Fusion Arena was going to be.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...MjHD4ct9Tup6wo

[bonfire]

Originally Posted by BroadandMarket

With the seven-year transformation project nearing its completion, Laws said, Comcast Spectator will soon be turning its attention to other projects within the stadium district in South Philadelphia.
"There is a need for a smaller arena for smaller acts, something in the 5,000- to 6,000-seat range," he said.

It's good to know they're still planning something for the space where the Fusion Arena was going to be.

https://www.bizjournals.com/philadel...MjHD4ct9Tup6wo

They just need to replicate a version of the battery in Atlanta. Was down there a year ago and it was fantastic. They do not need to reinvent the wheel in the lots in South Philly!

https://www.hgor.com/our-work/battery-atl

[DeltaNerd]

Originally Posted by bonfire

They just need to replicate a version of the battery in Atlanta. Was down there a year ago and it was fantastic. They do not need to reinvent the wheel in the lots in South Philly!

https://www.hgor.com/our-work/battery-atl

Comcast or whoever owns the lots have been promising a lifestyle center for years now. I understand the Fusion Center didn't go as planned so far. I would love to see another Arena built and maybe more hotels, labs, offices and bars. I have my doubts it will happen but the opportunity exist for the amount of parking existing.

[ColdJay64]

Has anyone been near 37th and Chestnut lately? Someone on Reddit said it looks like the new Target was stalled/postponed.

[3rd&Brown]

We need better gyms in Center City and its environs.

City Fitness isn't cutting it.

I'd love a Lifetime Fitness. Also, the Riverwards (NoLibs, Fishtown, South Kensington, Port Richmond) are a different submarket and we need a least one of everything that's downtown.

[PHLtoNYC]

Originally Posted by 3rd&Brown

We need better gyms in Center City and its environs.

City Fitness isn't cutting it.

I'd love a Lifetime Fitness. Also, the Riverwards (NoLibs, Fishtown, South Kensington, Port Richmond) are a different submarket and we need a least one of everything that's downtown.

Equinox is still coming to Rittenhouse, although moving extremely slow.
Lifetime is awesome.

[3rd&Brown]

Originally Posted by PHLtoNYC

Equinox is still coming to Rittenhouse, although moving extremely slow.
Lifetime is awesome.

Understood. But I live in Fishtown and I'm not going to 19th & Walnut to work out. I'm hoping Sprouts will be a big draw in the new Festival Pier development to attract a few other big name tenants like a gym, etc.