My reply in the Francis Jerome thread morphed as I edited it into ruminations on a wave of recent changes on the next street over, 20th near Rittenhouse Square, so I thought I should begin a new thread.

I almost granted your wish, but bit my tongue. Actually, I remembered the name from walking past it (and I'm trying to remember the name of that whimsical typeface of their sign). Just idle speculation, but maybe their demise was partly due to the competition of the bigger-name Kiehl's, which opened a few years ago hardly 2 blocks away at 18th & Walnut.

Tangent time - Francis Jerome is on 19th, but I've noticed a small wave of shop closures a block west on 20th St. Besides the unfortunate demise of the beloved Crimson Moon at 20th and Sansom, 3 longstanding shops have closed in just the past two weeks in the short blocks between Locust and Spruce: The General Store (novelty gift shop), Metro Antiques (which seemed to keep sporadic hours, during which the owner would haul odd cheap pieces of furniture, not really antiques, out onto the sidewalk), and an old traditional barbershop. In the case of the barbershop, they're already beginning some kind of interior work and I saw stacks of drywall inside; they were actually working on the 4th of July.

It will be interesting the see what will comprise the new wave of shops on 20th street. Besides the 4 properties cited, extensive work has been underway for a while in the Crimson Moon block at the former Warren Art Books and at the burrito place that moved out a couple years ago.

I just hope we never lose the little laundromat on 20th above Spruce. Even though it's a couple blocks further away from my apt than my nearest laundromat, I patronize the 20th St laundry exclusively because I can take care of other small shopping errands around Center City while my wash is running or sit in Rittenhouse Square.

The existance of a lowly, utilitarian laundromat in such a pricey neighborhood underscores a key tenet of Jane Jacobs' thinking on the urban ecosystem which I revisit again and again (and now yet again, copy/paste follows).

Chapter 10 of Jane Jacobs' "The Death and Life of Great American Cities," the chapter titled "The need for aged buildings"
The reasoning here is that not all kinds of enterprises that are critical ingredients in the diversity crucial to a thriving neighborhood can justify the higher rents of newly constructed buildings.

Our raggedy old laundromat certainly is one of the kinds of places that would not be a gold mine for its owner if located in a newly constructed or majorly renovated building, yet it is a vital part of the mix.

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Cheers,
Jayfar
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“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

Don't forget the closure of Salt which *still* remains empty! It took forever for Salt to take over from the bakery that used to be there so it might be a while before we see anything at that spot again.

Speaking of 20th, is there any talk out there as to whether there will ever be anything on the site of that ugly parking lot at 20th and Walnut. Its too prominent of a location to remain fallow. Maybe the PPA should buy out that spot and develop thier garage there and hopefully someone else can put something on the weedy lot.

The rent on the Salt place is $6700 a month, it'll probably be empty alittle longer. The General Store has a tenant and after renovations should be open by the fall. The owner would rather me not say what it is going to be yet, but above the place will be two very modern apts for rent.

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let's not forget about WHEN Jan Jacobs was writing. increasingly, there is little need for laundromats. the one at 12th and spruce recenly closed. after looking at apt's, only one did not have access to a W/D. laundromats need to make money to stay in biz and their clientele is dwindling...I wouldn't worry too much if it's alway sbusy but if it's mostly empty....the one at 10th and spruce isusualy busy b/c it's the only one around and there are a lot of old apt's around there.

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Actually Jane Jacobs didn't cite laundromats at all in her examples as I recall; I was giving my own personal case. I would say the laundromat in question is fairly well utilized though, plus it offers drop-off laundry service for those who don't have the time to do their own wash.

__________________
Cheers,
Jayfar
--
“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

When did the Rice House close? They had the best tea there.

In other 20th St news, a couple blocks further down, below Pine, I see a zoning application for Darling's Coffee Shop & Cafe, with a couple apts above it. This was a small clothing and women's accessories shop until a few months ago. Always nice to see a new spot for java that isn't named Starbucks.

__________________
Cheers,
Jayfar
--
“I am indeed well aware of the history of Conventional (sic) Hall, both globally and locally, and can assure you that we are carefully exploring avenues for its future.” -- Penn President Amy Gutmann 5 days before demolition began.

jayfar, which corner do you mean -- the southeast one? (wasn't that a kids' clothes/bookstore with a jewish flare?) if so, it's sad that it's that corner and not the one across the street, the long empty pharmacy. well, not entirely empty but i don't know what one desk and computer are doing in such a big space. i'm happy that this end of town has pushed ahead sans starbucks (or any large chains for that matter).

my girlfriend said she saw a "coming soon: starbucks" sign on that huge green building at 9th(?) & south that used to be an antiques place. egh. i'm sure glad such a large commercial building is coming back to life, but it sure sucks that it's starbucks. south street's ecclectic edge keeps being chipped away bit by bit. the people who go to places like the bean and phila java company obviously won't go to starbucks, and the people who DO go to starbucks aren't the types of people who've made south street south street.

now that toll bros is apparently close to taking over the parking garage and block between south and bainbridge on 24th, i have fears about everything i just described happening literally out my bedroom window.

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look up. phillyskyline.com.

i thought that space was an old billiards hall? I wasn't happy to see a starbucks either. there is also a restaurant going in, non-chain. personally, I would have loved a pool hall.

__________________
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I believe you're thinking of Chris's Corner, on the SE corner of 20th & Pine, and no, this store is still there and still in business, as far as I know, despite the death of the eponymous Chris a year or two ago. My daughter's preschool is right around the corner & they go there sometimes. It's strictly a kids' bookstore, but really cute.

I imagine it might be the old pharmacy space that's destined to become a coffee shop, or maybe one of the store fronts to the south of Pine, but Jay can confirm. I haven't noticed this sign.