Openings

Openings is Foobooz’s comprehensive list of restaurants, bars and clubs that are coming soon to Philadelphia and its environs. If it’s on the horizon or even a bit beyond, it should be on the list. Of course we rely on tips as to what restaurants are opening and when. So if you know of something new, don’t be stingy, Tip! For more information, check out the Opening Soon section.

2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | Upcoming

Updated November 4th

October 2009

• Ariano Cafe – A quaint Neopolitan pizza spot for Media.
• Beck’s Cajun Cafe – Cajun coming to the Reading Terminal Market.
• Chew Man Chu – The former DuJour at Broad and Pine is becoming more of a destination with a dumplings and noodles theme.
• Con Murphy’s – New Irish bar open on the Parkway.
• Coup de Taco – Fusion style tacos come from this UCity lunch truck.
• Cupcakes Gourmet – Best of Philly cupcakes are coming to Gateway Shopping Center.
• European Republic – Dutch fries for Old City.
• fish – Little Fish’s Mike Stollenwerk is looking has opened a bigger spot in the old Astral Plane.
• Gemelli – Clark Gilbert who has a nice resume takes over Margot in Narberth.
• Good Food Market – Sophisticated convenience in Chestnut Hill.
• Grey Social – New nightspot for Old City.
• Hub Bub Coffee – It’s a four wheel coffee truck complete with treats from P&K.
• Joey’s Stonefire Pizza – Heading to the former Venuto’s on South Street.
• Jolly’s Dueling Piano Bar – is open at 2006 Chestnut.
• Koo Zee Doo – The former Copper Bistro is now a Portuguese  BYOB.
• Pico de Gallo’s Baja Room – The 15th and South Mexican spot expands across the street.
• MidAtlantic – Daniel Stern is opening a new University City restaurant specializing on cuisine of the Pennsylvania Dutch.
• Square 1682 – Promising sounding restaurant for the new Palomar Hotel at 17th and Sansom.
• Sweetie’s Pie Diner – Yep, sweet and savory pies on Spring Garden Street.
• Tavolo – New high end BYOB in Huntingdon Valley for Augusto Jalon.
• Tazia – Ly Michael’s has become Asian tapas.
• Wegman’s Collegeville – Open with a restaurant for 300 and beer by the single and six-pack.
• Whipped Bakeshop – Has a storefront in Fishtown.
• Wrap Shack Kitchen & Bar – The Wrap Shack has added a liquor license and changed its name. You can still get wraps though.

November 2009

• 943- Argentine and Italian in the Italian Market.
• agiato – Joseph Scarpone who ran Sovalo is looking to open a panini and wine bar on Main Street in Manayunk.
• Avenida – Neighborhood friendly Latin on Germantown Avenue.
• Dmitri’s – Dmitri Chimes is adding a third Mediterranean seafooder to his empire. This one in Northern Liberties.
• Fat Salmon – Shinju Sushi is moving to the Aso Sushi location on Walnut and is changing its name to Fat Salmon. Got it? Good.
• Green Aisle Grocery –  East Passyunk is getting a fancy grocery store.
• Hawthornes – It’s a beer-to-go spot with cafe/deli/brunch spot opposite Bella Vista Beer Distributors.
• Indian Thai Spice Bistro – Two kitchens one room for this West Chester restaurant.
• Le Cochon Noir – West Philadelphia outdoor barbecue is getting a roof.
• Lucky 7 – The Aspen in Fairmount will be more bar when it reopens.
• Nonna’s: A Giunta Tradition – is opening a traditional Italian eatery in West Chester.
• Mary Oaks – The gastropub side of the Blockley is looking at opening this November.
• Meze – Organic restaurant at 2028 Fairmount Ave.
• Percy Street Barbecue – The triumvirate of Cook, Solomonov & O’Shea are opening a BBQ restaurant on South Street.
• R2L – Daniel Stern’s Rae is moving to Two Liberty Place late this Fall.
• Sang Kee – A third location for this succesful Chinese restaurant is planned for University City.
• Sticks & Stones – E. P’unk to get a non-Italian, non-Mexican place to eat.
• Tiffin – Elkins Park location has opened.
• StudioKitchen – Shola Olunloyo is opening his “un-restaurant” in Northern Liberties.
• Vietnam Cafe – The West Philadelphia Vietnam Cafe is going to move into the much bigger Abbraccio.
• Zama – The Japanese Zama will replace Loie off of Rittenhouse Square.

December 2009

• Barbuzzo – Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran are opening a Mediterranean restaurant with liquor license on 13th Street.
• City Tap House – The Public House, Fieled House people are opening a beer-centric mega bar in West Philadelphia.
• Floret – Pond will make way for the more casual Floret, an American comfort food restaurant with European style.
• Garces Trading Co. – Jose Garces joins forces with the PLCB in this food/wine commisary.
• Paesano’s – The Girard Avenue sandwich mecca is adding a spot at 9th and Christian
• Sampan – Michael Schulson is coming back to Philadelphia with Sampan, his modern Asian restaurant.
• Ulysses Voyage – The former Deux Cheminees is going Greek.
• Zavino – Fun named pizza and wine at 13th and Sansom.

Over the Horizon

• 500° – Rouge’s ownership is opening a burger storefront on the 1500 block of Sansom.
• Agiato Bread Company – A bread shop coming to Main Street in Manayunk.
• Amís – Marc Vetri promises “simple, rustic food” in Washington Square West.
• Amuse – French Bistro for the Starwood Hotel at 1421 Arch Street.
• Bar – Bar’s the name of the bar by Jason Evenchick that’s opening next to Time.
• Beccofino – A Blue Bell restaurant for the couple behind Moonsruck.
• BODHI Coffee Shop – New coffee shop for the 400 block of South 2nd.
• Blue Angel – What’s old is new. Stephen Starr is bringing back the Blue Angel to its original location.
• Bobby’s Burger Palace – Bobby Flay may be opening a burger restaurant on Penn’s campus.
• Brew – The beer half of Brew has the coolers in. Now, just that pesky liquor license.
• Capogiro – There’s a new Capogiro in the works for the former Chef’s Market.
• Capogiro – Next up for the gelato empire is a production facility and cafe in East Falls.
• Commerce Square – Commerce Square is looking to have an Asian Fusion restuarant designed by Jeffrey Beers International and run by Marty Grims.
• The Commonwealth – An adaptable social environment says winter for this space at 1320 Chestnut.
• Darlings Parktown Place – Harry Arnold, who owns the two Darling Cafes downtown is opening a Continental restaurant a while down the line.
• DiBruno Bros. Wine Bar – Aiming for a mid-August opening in the Italian Market.
• Du Jour Gourmet Market – Du Jour is headed to Commerce Square at 20th and Market.
• Duo – Avram Hornik is opening a brick oven pizzeria at 39th and Chestnut.
• Elevation Burger – The green burger chain is coming to Walnut Street.
• Hadar Nisimi – Former Aden top guy is looking to open a Mediterranean, French and Greek restaurant just up the block in Northern Liberties.
• Healthy Bites to-Go – Katie Cavuto’s organic market is set for the 2500 block of Christian.
• Jet Wine Bar – New wine bar for the 1500 block of South Street.
• Kashmir – The Monkey Bar owners are developing this Rittenhouse location as a lounge.
• La Fuente – Italian BYOB proposed for 2nd and Fairmount.
• Landmark American – Sports bar coming to Drexel’s campus.
• Letto Deli – Jose Garces will be taking over the Letto Deli and turning it into a brat and beer place.
• Lucky Old Souls – Live music and local food in Newbold.
• MaGerks Pub & Grill – Family-friendly restaurant for the former Bent Elbo in Fort Washington.
• Marc Vetri – Vetri could be opening a trattoria in the Marine Club at Broad and Washington and a “real Italian coffee place” somewhere. Or maybe it’s just Amis.
• Masano – Matthew Levin is looking to open a “culinary mashup” in Northern Liberties.
• Philly Cupcakes – The former Blue in Green is becoming a cupcake store.
• Pickled Heron – White table cloths on Frankford between Susquehanna and Dauphin.
• Rubb – Former Lacroix chef Matt Levin is aiming to bring “punkrock barbecue” to Main Street in Manayunk.
• Seasons 52 – “Fresh grill” coming to the King of Prussia mall.
• Sly Fox Brewhouse – The brew pub is moving across Rt. 113 to a bigger building.
• Stephen Starr – Pizzeria Stella is likely to expand. Starr is also looking to open Stella-esque spots near Rittenhouse and in Chestnut Hill. He’s also looking to hire an executive chef for a Mexican concept. He’s also got the former Midtown IV a 2013 Chestnut Street.
• Stogey Joe’s – Kristian Leuzzi who has experience at Kristian’s is planning a neighborhood bar for Passyunk and Moore.
• Sumo Lounge - Construction is progressing for this proposed lounge attached to Raw.
• Susan Schlisman – Devil’s Alley owner Susan Schlismanis bringing a spot to what sounds like Bella Vista.
• Tiffin – More Tiffin locations are on the way. Wynnewood and Bryn Mawr are up for early 2010.
• Timber – A new bar/restaurant for Abington from Marty Grims.
• Ugly Mug – The un-glam sounding Ugly Mug will be taking over Glam on 2nd Street.
• Victory Brewing – Victory is looking to open a 300-seat brewpub in Easton.
• Vinoteca – A Neopolitan trattoria and wine bar set for 944 N 2nd Street.
• Watkins Drinkery – Jonn Klein of the Dive is opening a new place on 10th Street in South Philadelphia.
• White-Dog In Wayne – The White Dog is looking to open a branch in Wayne on Lancaster Ave.
• Wolfgang’s Steakhouse – This New York City based mini-chain might be coming to the AAA building on Market Street at 21st.
• World Cafe Live – A second World Cafe Live is  in the cards for Wilmington.

Graveyard

The graveyard is for concepts that were announced but dropped before they ever got off the drawing board.

• Alphabet Soup Gourmet – Jayson Grossberg is opening a prepared foods and chef’s table in Cherry Hill.
• Audrey Claire – Look for a second Audrey Claire to debut at 13th and Sansom in September.
• Benny’s – Another deli comes to Montgomery Avenue in Narberth.
• Blackbird Dining Establishment – Blackbird chef/owner Alex Capasso is scouting locations in Philadelphia for a second restaurant, this one focusing on wine.
• Broad Street Diner – Stephen Starr has passed on the BSD.
• Cabaret – Looks like Neil Stein is getting back in the restaurant game, taking over the Restaurant M just off of Washington Square.
• Cicchetteria – Former Starr chef Bill Murphy is looking to take over Di Vino.
• Daniel Stern – Look for a new casual eatery at the former home of Rae in 30th Street Station.
• Evolve – The neighborhood surrounding 13th and Locust didn’t like the idea of a strip bar. Now the idea has evolved into a dinner theater.
• Gastropub by Starr – Before it was announced that Starr was bringing back the Blue Angel, the Chestnut Street spot was being considered for a gastropub.
• Jumbo Theatre – It’s live music on the bill now for the Jumbo at Front and Girard.
• L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon – If the Unknot gets built it will have a signature restaurant by Joël Robuchon.
• Littleneck – Stephen Starr’s Angelina’s is next set to be an oyster house.
• Love Burger – Stephen Starr toyed with the idea of turning 13th Street’s Letto Deli into a burger spot.
• Michael Schulson – Word has leaked out that Michael Schulson is looking to open a Japanese spot near the Kimmel Center.
• Serafina – 10 Rittenhouse could be getting this New York Italian restaurant.
• Side Car Bar & Grille – Business is going up, as in upstairs with a summertime expansion.
• Shank’s Pier 40 – The second location of Shank’s Original will be on the Delaware riverfront.
• Sofitel – Stephen Starr is going to be taking over the Chez Colette and La Bourse spaces in the Sofitel lobby.
• Sotto Pizzeria & Tavola Calda – The team behind Radicchio and Bistro Juliana is looking to open on 24th Street underneath the Walnut Street Bridge.
• Stephen Starr – Fun and Greek for Washington Square. Other concepts that have been floated are the Starr’s Izakaya spot at The Lanesborough at 16th and Locust. Starr has also said he’ll have an Indian restaurant open in 2009.
• Susanna Foo Dumpling Kitchen- Is the dumpling stand still going to happen at the Comcast Center?
• Talula’s Table – Aimee Olexy and Bryan Sikora are opening a 60-seat cafe down the block from their impossible to get into Talula’s Table.
• Tony Luke’s – Will Tony Luke’s ever take over the Reading Terminal steak sandwich torch from Rick’s Steaks at the Reading Terminal Market or will Rick’s get to stay?
• Tria Cafe – A third Tria. Looks like G-Ho will be the winner, in the former MAB store at 21st and South.
• Wagamama – Noodle and small dishes chain is reportedly looking for a location in University City.
• Waverly – Bistro 7’s Michael O’Halloran had a plan for a 2nd restaurant at 412 S 13th Street.
• Yards Brewpub – Yards is working to open a brew pub in Merchantville, NJ.
• Yoshi – Japanese eatery coming to 20th Street across from Twenty Manning.
• Zento – A second Zento will be opening at 9th and South.