UPDATE: Fresh Grocer will be closing the store at 40th and Walnut Streets in early March, according to Jennifer Rizzi, Director of Communications at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn has signed a lease with Acme Markets for this location. Acme is currently working on an anticipated timeframe for renovations to the existing facility and anticipated opening.
Fresh Grocer will leave its 40th and Walnut Street location this spring after four years of legal battle with the landlord – The University of Pennsylvania. According to a joint statement from Penn and Fresh Grocer, the store will close in March 2020, after almost 20 years in operation.
Penn terminated the Fresh Grocer’s lease in April 2016, claiming that the store had failed to renew it on time. Fresh Grocer countered with a lawsuit against Penn and refused to vacate the space until this spring.
“The University acknowledges and respects Fresh Grocer’s willingness to open a supermarket in University City in 2001 at a time when many other operators were unwilling to take that risk. The Fresh Grocer similarly acknowledges and appreciates the University’s willingness to offer it the opportunity to operate an urban supermarket at the 40th and Walnut location,” reads the statement.
February 19th, 2020 at 11:42 pm
So UPenn is chasing out a good grocer in pursuit of an overpriced retailer that will be less welcoming to many in the community? Sounds about white.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:51 am
Who knows what deals were made a few years ago? Fresh Grocer hasn’t been perfect, but they do have decent prices, more consistently than Acme. We’ll see… (Acme left West Phila. in the late 60’s)
February 20th, 2020 at 7:58 am
About time. This place has been terrible since day one. I was very excited when it went it originally, only to be completely disgusted by it within weeks.
Awful layout. Rude employees. 100’s of items without prices until you get to the checkout and discover those carrots cost $3 more than you thought they did.
Go to the one of Grays Ferry. It just proves that Fresh Grocer can pull this off, but they looked at the 40th St store as a cash cow with all the Penn kids.
February 20th, 2020 at 9:54 am
Been going there for years, and I never got used to the way it was laid out.
February 20th, 2020 at 1:09 pm
Now that Janney Blackwell is no longer a city Councilperson protecting me from the elitist health department, I have no other choice, but to now CHEAT my suckers/shoppers at 56th & chestnut. I have a mansion in Radnor/Bryn Mawr…HaHaHa
February 24th, 2020 at 5:01 pm
Ok so let me get this straight, Fresh Grocer is closing in March and being replaced by Acme? Hahahaha. I have no feelings on this whatsoever. You’ve heard it hear first, Moylan is mum. One of Moylan and Vinegar, two gab shock jocks who can never seem to agree on anything.
March 4th, 2020 at 1:37 pm
YES! ACME is great. They have great protein powder so I can starting doing my knee pushups. Yes, I do knee pushups to stay fit.
That space was horrible for a grocery store, I hope they change the layout.