The University of Pennsylvania has acquired the former Hummus Grill property at 3931 Walnut St. for $4 million, according to a report by The Philadelphia Business Journal. The building includes five residential units and a ground-floor restaurant space. The purchase has brought the university one step closer to gaining full real estate control over that specific block of University City.

The transaction took place after the permanent closure of Hummus Grill, which shuttered its doors in mid-May. Longtime owners Fabrice Saadoun and Yaron Netz originally opened the fast-casual Mediterranean staple in 2008, serving the Penn and West Philadelphia communities for nearly two decades before finalizing the property sale just days after closing.

By acquiring the property, Penn expands its real estate footprint along Walnut Street. Controlling the stretch makes it significantly easier for the university to plan long-term development, campus expansion, or targeted retail projects in the area.

As for the immediate future of the ground-floor space, neighbors won’t see it sit empty for long. Penn has indicated that it intends to bring a new restaurant concept into the building’s storefront.