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.  Continue Reading

Renata’s Kitchen owners Kate and Yasser Aiq at their new location at 40th and Baltimore.

Renata’s Kitchen is ready to welcome customers at their new location at 40th and Baltimore, in the two-story building formerly occupied by Trolley Car Station Diner. The new Renata’s Kitchen & Bar is officially opening to the public on Wednesday, Feb. 5.

Restaurateurs Kate and Yasser Aiq, the masterminds behind Renata’s Kitchen on Baltimore Avenue, are bringing their brunch menu to the space, which is roughly six times larger than the current location. Customers can expect familiar items such as lemon pancakes, an eclectic selection of espresso beverages and an expanded meze (small plates) menu with fan favorites like shakshukas, a Middle Eastern stew with eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers and garlic.  Continue Reading

Renata’s Kitchen is expanding into the two-story restaurant space at 3940 Baltimore Avenue (former Trolley Car Station restaurant location).

The two-story restaurant space at 40th Street Trolley Portal Gardens, formerly occupied by the Trolley Car Station restaurant, is finally getting a new tenant. Well-known West Philly restaurateur couple, Katie and Yasser Aiq, the owners of the popular cafe and brunch spot Renata’s Kitchen on Baltimore Ave., have signed the lease for the space and expect to open this winter (“in the next month or so”), with immediate plans to serve breakfast and lunch seven days a week.

The restaurant, which offers a mixed menu of Mediterranean and American dishes, is not only expanding into a bigger, 125-seat space at 3940 Baltimore Ave., the owners are also planning to eventually launch dinner service, as well as an “inventive drink” menu when they secure the liquor license that comes with the space.  Continue Reading

September 12 Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll map (click to enlarge).

This year’s second and last Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll is happening on Thursday, Sept. 12 and will feature hundreds of $1 items (food, drinks, merchandise, theatre tickets, and more!), as well as live music and entertainment. The event will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. from 43rd to 52nd Streets, and there will also be a special performance at 40th and Baltimore.

Thirty-six Baltimore Avenue businesses and 15 community food and merchandise vendors will participate in the September edition of the Dollar Stroll. Check out this map for more details.  Continue Reading

University City Dining Days, the popular annual dining promotion, will be held from Thursday, July 18 through Sunday, July 28.

This year, over 30 restaurants will offer three-course menus for either $15, $25, or $35, including first-time participants like Mediterranean-influenced restaurant The Common, Argentine empanada shop Jezabel’s Cafe, and upscale sandwich joint KQ Burger. For the first time, many restaurants will also be offering lunch options for 2019 Dining Days.

Make your reservation directly at a restaurant of your choice. The menus and contact info of participating restaurants can be found here.

Mariposa Food Co-op will be closed on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18 for a “store reset” which includes installation of new shelving units and thorough cleaning. The store will also close early (at 7 p.m.) on Tuesday, July 16.

“Along with getting new shelves and the deep cleaning, we’ll also be updating our product selection to bring on lots of new items, revamping pricing, switching up placement and much more!” reads an announcement on the Mariposa website.  Continue Reading