Philadelphia local news, sports, jobs, cars, homes

Tag: Inquirer Local

  • Chester County’s former CEO says an ‘administrative decision’ to allow access to sports betting sites led to his sudden exit from the job

    Chester County’s former CEO says an ‘administrative decision’ to allow access to sports betting sites led to his sudden exit from the job

    Chester County’s former chief executive officer said his departure this week stemmed from an “administrative decision” he made more than a year ago, which allowed county staff to access online sports betting and fantasy sports websites.

    David Byerman, who was the county’s top administrative official for just over a year until his departure Monday, said in a phone call Thursday that Commissioner Josh Maxwell informed him that he had overstepped when he approved an employee’s request to allow access to fantasy sports and regulated online gaming sites on the county Wi-Fi. Byerman acknowledged that he made the decision after being told website access issues were previously under the commissioners’ purview.

    Byerman argued that by creating a new CEO role — moving away from the traditional county structure of a county administrator and two deputies — the county increased his responsibilities and authority, and this “was likely a situation where I felt I had the authority to make that decision,” he said. Though Byerman said he did not recall the email exchange with the employee, he said he had no reason to doubt it happened.

    “Did I occasionally update my fantasy baseball team and put bets on the Sixers and Eagles using the county’s Wi-Fi? Yes, that is true, but it’s also true that I regularly ate lunch at my desk. It’s also true that I regularly worked verifiably 60-hour-plus weeks in this job,” Byerman said. “And I believe I represent the county professionally and persuasively with external constituencies. I take the role extremely seriously. I take my work extremely seriously.”

    A spokesperson for the county on Thursday declined to respond to Byerman’s comments. In a weekly community newsletter, the county’s commissioners publicly acknowledged Byerman’s departure.

    “Mr. Byerman, whose lifetime career of public service includes impactful roles across the country, is a hard-working executive who focused on improving innovation and communication in county government,” they wrote. “We wish him well in his future endeavors.”

    Byerman said he had a “profound appreciation” for the commissioners and the county staff.

    Byerman was appointed to the role in 2024, as the commissioners restructured their administrative leadership structure. He was the first to take the title of “CEO” in the county, which came with increased responsibilities, including terminating employees, something previously left to the commissioners, he said.

    In his role, Byerman oversaw the county’s 2,600 employees and a roughly $730 million annual budget.

    He moved to the county from Kentucky, where he had served as the director of the state’s legislative research commission. He had previously worked as secretary of the Nevada Senate. But the county CEO job was a return to Pennsylvania for Byerman, who was the chairman of the Chester County Democratic Committee in the 1990s (a fact he said he disclosed to the commissioners during his interview, as his role was nonpartisan).

    Earlier this week, the commissioners announced to county staff that they had appointed a new county administrator, former deputy county administrator Erik Walschburger, to fill Byerman’s role. They rounded out the rest of a three-person leadership team by adding Chester County Prison warden Howard Holland as an acting deputy county administrator for operations to work alongside Megan Moser, whom the county hired last year.

    During his tenure, Byerman said, he improved internal communications and addressed policy concerns, including the establishment of a research partnership with Temple University to focus on housing within the county and the creation of a working group on immigration enforcement. The county has also spent months responding to a series of election errors, the most significant of which forced more than 12,000 voters to cast provisional ballots in the November election. Residents have said it rattled their trust.

    Byerman said he had previously been given “very good” and “excellent” performance reviews from the commissioners, and found it “surprising and disappointing that they opted to move directly to remove me because of this infraction.” He said it was the only reason he was given.

    “I think it’s especially important for public servants to demonstrate professionalism, accountability, and respect for the people we serve, and I always work to hit that standard,” he said. “I want the taxpayers who paid my salary to know that I worked my tail off for them, and I’m incredibly proud of the work that we did.”

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Swarthmore’s borough manager has been terminated after just six months on the job

    Swarthmore’s borough manager has been terminated after just six months on the job

    Swarthmore Borough manager Sean Halbom has been terminated from the office after just six months, the latest in a string of short employment stints he has held in recent years.

    The borough council voted unanimously on the termination Monday, though Council President Jill Bennett Gaieski declined to give a reason for the decision in a phone call with The Inquirer.

    Halbom did not respond to phone or email messages left on Thursday.

    Halbom was placed on an administrative leave of absence on Feb. 17, first reported by the Swarthmorean.

    He began in the borough manager role in September after holding several roles in Montgomery County, including most recently in Upper Frederick Township, where he was township manager for less than a year, according to his LinkedIn profile. Halbom resigned from his position in Upper Frederick in June 2025.

    Prior to the job in Upper Frederick, Halbom was an interim human resources director in Bucks County for two months and township manager for Worcester Township for a year and a half. Halbom’s employment in Worcester Township was terminated by its board of supervisors in April 2024.

    He was also the director of veterans affairs for Montgomery County for six years, from 2012 to 2018, his LinkedIn profile shows.

    Halbom succeeded William Webb, who left the Swarthmore manager role in September to become an assistant county administrator in Isle of Wight County, Va.

    Halbom’s leave came around the same time as another personnel shake-up in the small borough. On Feb. 18, Scott Schumacher vacated his position as a longtime Swarthmore Public Library employee and children’s librarian.

    Swarthmore Public Library board president Elizabeth Brown said Schumacher’s departure was unrelated to Halbom’s termination.

    The Swarthmore council on Monday also named David Unkovic as interim borough manager. He “came highly recommended” by Upper Providence Township, where he previously served as interim township manager, Gaieski said.

    Before retiring as a practicing lawyer, Unkovic spent a decade at McNees Wallace & Nurick, a Harrisburg-based law firm with multiple offices, including in Radnor. He also briefly served as the state receiver for the City of Harrisburg in 2012.

    The Swarthmore council has already begun the search for a permanent borough manager, Gaieski said, and hopes one will be in place as early as June 1.

    The search will take “until we find the right person,” Gaieski added. “We have a really good interim in place. We will do what we need to do to find the right person.”

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Two Main Line Jewish schools are merging | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Two Main Line Jewish schools are merging | Inquirer Lower Merion

    Hi, Lower Merion! 👋

    Two prominent Jewish day schools are merging. Here’s why. Also this week, the Gladwyne man who duped some of the region’s wealthiest families into investing in his companies has been sentenced to prison, the township is gearing up to present two final plans for Schauffele Plaza’s redesign, and the county has appointed members to its human relations commission.

    We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at lowermerion@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Two Jewish day schools make a ‘proactive’ move to merge

    The Perelman Jewish Day School is merging with the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy.

    Perelman Jewish Day School and the Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy are merging in a “proactive” move the two Jewish day schools say will keep them competitive.

    The schools plan to keep their geographic footprints, which span Barrack’s Bryn Mawr campus and Perelman’s Melrose Park and Wynnewood facilities.

    While many students currently matriculate from Perelman to Barrack, the merger will allow families to enroll students in a single institution from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

    This isn’t the first time the two schools have come together. In 2012, they combined their middle schools to create a sixth-through-eighth-grade program on Barrack’s campus.

    Read more about the merger, which will go into effect in the 2027-28 school year.

    💡 Community News

    • Josh Verne, the Gladwyne man who convinced some of the region’s wealthiest families to invest in his companies only to use the cash to fund a lavish personal lifestyle, was sentenced yesterday to over nine years in federal prison. Verne’s high-profile investors included Sixers co-owner David Adelman, Fanatics CEO Michael Rubin, and real estate developer Bart Blatstein.
    • Ardmore’s Schauffele Plaza is slated for a redesign, and two final options will be presented at the Lower Merion Building and Planning Committee Meeting next Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. The goal of the redesign is to better utilize the public space and make it more of what the township is calling a “vibrant downtown gathering place.” Both plans call for outdoor dining space and central lawns, but the sizes and amount of greenery in each varies, with one plan reducing overall parking spaces by 56 spots, and the other by 38. See the two plans here.
    • Lankenau Medical Center named a new president this week. Anna Michelle Brandt succeeds Katie Galbraith and comes to the Wynnewood institution from University Hospital in New Jersey, where she was most recently its COO.
    • Speaking of Lankenau, it was recently ranked among the best hospitals in the United States by Newsweek, landing at No. 131. Bryn Mawr Hospital is No. 201 in the U.S.
    • Last month, the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners appointed the first members of its new human relations commission. The members are Samuel Coleman IV, Desha Dickson, Fiona Dow, John Han, Rosemary Jenkins, Shahidul Partha, Burt Siegel, and Akilah Williams-Valdez. The commission will allow residents who believe they’ve been discriminated against to mediate their claims. Members will specifically focus on unlawful discrimination in employment, real estate, housing, and public accommodations across the county.
    • Lower Merion Township has installed four new electric vehicle chargers in the municipal lot in Bryn Mawr across from Ludington Library. Two of the spaces are ADA accessible.
    • Services at the Center for Positive Aging in Lower Merion are returning to its main building at 117 Ardmore Ave. in Ardmore after it underwent a renovation.
    • Sugared + Bronzed is opening at Ardmore’s Suburban Square on Monday. Located at 127 Coulter Ave., it will be in the ground floor retail space of the new apartment complex Coulter Place, which opened earlier this year. Sugared + Bronzed offers “sugaring hair removal,” as well as airbrush tanning.
    • Leveaux Pilates in Ardmore has expanded and is now offering heated mat pilates, a hot take on the classic workout.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Registration is open for all new students starting at any LMSD school for the 2026-27 academic year. Learn more about how to register here.
    • Tonight is the Freedom Tournament at Cynwyd Elementary and Taste of Penn Wynne. Tomorrow, Lower Merion High has its jazz festival, Penn Valley is hosting its “PV Idol,” and Welsh Valley’s spring musical, The Music Man Jr., kicks off. There are school board committee meetings on Monday and a fourth and fifth grade transition information session for Black Rock parents. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • The Prom Boutique is open again on Tuesday at Lower Merion High School from 3:30 to 7 p.m.
    • Students from Bala Cynwyd, Black Rock, and Welsh Valley Middle Schools, and Harriton and Lower Merion High Schools raked in a collective 99 awards at this year’s Pennsylvania Technology Student Association Region 5 Conference, held in late January, with 34 first-place finishes. Some will move onto the state conference, which takes place in mid-April.
    • Friends’ Central School’s girls’ basketball team defeated the Westtown School 62-54 last week to claim the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association championship.
    • Shipley School sophomore Kate Ulrich took home second place in the U.S. Squash Junior Championship Tournament in the Girls Under 17 division, which was held in January in Philadelphia.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    🎳 Things to Do

    🌋 Science with Food: Kids ages 6 and up can make several science-themed edible crafts, including one inspired by a volcano. ⏰ Saturday, March 7, 4-5:30 p.m. 💵 $37.10 📍The Candy Lab

    🍀 St. Patrick’s Day Crafternoon: Kids can make a leprechaun craft during this drop-in event. ⏰ Wednesday, March 11, 3-5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Gladwyne Library

    🏡 On the Market

    A 1930s stone manor in Bryn Mawr with a pool

    The home was built in 1939 and sits on over 2 acres.

    Built in 1939, this sprawling stone manor estate blends the past and present. The first floor features a formal living room with a gas fireplace and built-ins, a formal dining room with dedicated china closets and a crystal chandelier, an office with its own fireplace, and a kitchen with two-tone cabinetry, a large center island, high-end appliances, and granite countertops. Near the kitchen, there’s also a butler’s pantry. There are four bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a dressing room and four closets, while the bathroom has a soaking tub and double vanity. Other features include a cedar closet in the attic and a partially finished basement. Outside, there’s a pool, gardens, a covered patio, and a chicken coop. There’s an open house Saturday from noon to 3 p.m.

    See more photos of the property here.

    Price: $3.5M | Size: 5,283 SF | Acreage: 2.04

    🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • How Media became the nation’s first Fair Trade Town | Inquirer Greater Media

    How Media became the nation’s first Fair Trade Town | Inquirer Greater Media

    Hi, Greater Media! 👋

    This year marks the 20th anniversary of Media as a Fair Trade Town. We delve into how it became the first in the U.S. Also this week, Swarthmore’s borough manager has been terminated, Media is home to a competitive Scrabble club, plus a monthslong utility project on Providence Road is set to get started.

    We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at greatermedia@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    How Media became the country’s first Fair Trade Town 20 years ago

    Media displays its distinction as the country’s first Fair Trade Town on its signage.

    Two decades ago, one man’s vision and one woman’s email set into motion a first for Media as the pair worked to make the borough the nation’s first Fair Trade Town.

    The idea came from Hal Taussig, the late founder of travel company UnTours who wanted to see his hometown prioritize quality products and fair wages for farmers in developing areas. To be part of the global trading agreement, farmers and producers must use eco-friendly practices, invest in their communities, and provide safe working conditions. In exchange, they’re paid higher minimum prices for goods like coffee, chocolate, and produce.

    With a single late-night email to a man in England, Elizabeth Killough, who worked for Taussig, helped start the process. While major cities like New York and Los Angeles were working to establish themselves as Fair Trade hubs, Media beat them to it, and 20 years later, that ethos lives on.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner delves into what it means for the borough today.

    💡 Community News

    • Swarthmore has a new interim borough manager. On Monday, borough council appointed David Unkovic to the role. He takes over for Sean Halbom, who has been terminated, according to Council President Jill Gaieski, The Inquirer learned late Wednesday night. Halbom began in the role less than six months ago, taking over for the outgoing manager Bill Webb in September.
    • Peco is aiming to begin a monthslong natural gas line replacement project on Monday in Media. Work will take place on Providence Road between Meetinghouse Road and Monroe Street on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. through mid-July. While most work will be outdoors, Peco will need access to impacted homes to relight gas appliances. Read more about the project here.
    • In other construction news, the Swarthmore Avenue project is getting closer to completion. Needed parts for the repair project are expected to arrive next week, and once they’re installed, closures on the road are expected to be limited to 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. for “a few weeks.” Construction on the project began in December and was initially anticipated to take eight weeks.
    • Monday is the deadline for Swarthmore residents to order a tree for or near their curb. Here’s how you can get one.
    • Riddle Hospital reported a 36% increase in patients after Crozer-Chester Medical Center closed last spring. With more patients, the hospital’s parent company, Main Line Health, reported an $8.7 million operating profit for the first half of fiscal 2026, which ended Dec. 31.
    • Riddle Village in Middletown Township has become a hub for some of the country’s top Scrabble players. The Delco Scrabble Club’s members range widely in age and come from all over the area, but meet weekly at one of the members’ homes in Media. “I casually hop on SEPTA and then I’m face-to-face with the best Scrabble players in the country. It’s kind of intimidating,” Mark Abadi, 35, said at one of the club’s recent weekly meetings. He and another member of the group, Will Anderson, 41, have competed in national tournaments and are putting their skills to the test on this season of the CW’s game show Scrabble.
    • A pair of sisters recently put their family’s Spanish-style Wallingford home on the market for $699,000. The ranch was built in the 1970s, and their parents purchased it 42 years ago. Take a peek inside.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Two Penncrest High School sports teams are having successful runs. The boys’ ice hockey team shut out Conestoga High School 4-0 last week to claim the Central League championship. And the boys’ basketball team kicks off its PIAA 5A championship efforts on Friday, when the Lions host York Suburban High School. See the full 5A bracket here.
    • Reminder for Rose Tree Media families: There’s no school today or tomorrow for kindergarten through eighth grade students due to parent-teacher conferences. On Saturday, Penncrest High School is hosting Carnival for a Cure from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be food, games, and prizes, with proceeds benefiting the Foundation Fighting Blindness. See the district’s full calendar here.
    • Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is hosting a community meeting about the high school renovation tonight at 6:30 p.m. at the Strath Haven High School library.
    • Also in WSSD, today is the Elementary Chorus Fest, and performances of Strath Haven High School’s musical, Alice By Heart, continue tomorrow through Sunday. On Monday, there’s a virtual meeting about navigating college admissions tests, and the spring book fair starts Tuesday. See the district’s full calendar here.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Fox 29’s Bob Kelly recently visited Bittersweet Kitchen in Media to sample some of its brunch offerings, including crème brûlée pancakes, apple cider fritters, and huevos rancheros. See the segment here.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🏕️ School Day Off Mini-Adventure Camp: Kids in kindergarten through third grade can explore Tyler Arboretum through nature-themed crafts, outdoor play, games, and more. ⏰ Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Standard daily camp admission is $83.70 for members and $93 for non-members 📍Tyler Arboretum, Media

    🩰 Sleeping Beauty: The classic fairytale gets a modern spin as Ballet of Lights dancers perform in glow-in-the-dark costumes. ⏰ Friday, March 6, 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. 💵 $43-$57 📍The Media Theatre

    🎸 The Biscotti Boys: The Chester County party cover band will make its debut at Martinique Deux. ⏰ Friday, March 6, 8 p.m. 💵 No cover📍Martinique Deux, Media

    🏡 On the Market

    A three-bedroom townhouse in Franklin Station

    The open-concept first floor includes living and dining areas, as well as the kitchen.

    Located in Franklin Station off Route 1, this three-bedroom townhouse spans two floors, plus a finished basement, and has access to amenities including a clubhouse, pool, walking trails, and fitness center. The townhome’s open-concept first floor features living and dining areas, as well as the kitchen, which has an 8-foot quartz island, two-tone cabinetry, a herringbone backsplash, plus a walk-in pantry. The space opens onto a deck with a pergola. All three bedrooms are upstairs, including a primary suite with a walk-in closet, a double vanity, and a tiled shower. There are open houses Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.

    See more photos of the townhouse here.

    Price: $712,900 | Size: 2,727 SF

    🗞️ What other Greater Media residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Two Philly-area Jewish schools are merging, a ‘proactive’ push to remain competitive in the region’s strong academic market

    Two Philly-area Jewish schools are merging, a ‘proactive’ push to remain competitive in the region’s strong academic market

    Two prominent Jewish day schools in the Philadelphia suburbs are set to merge, a decision school leaders say will keep the institutions competitive in the region’s strong educational market.

    Perelman Jewish Day School, a private Jewish pre-K and elementary school located in Melrose Park and Wynnewood, and Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, a Jewish middle and high school located in Bryn Mawr, will merge next year to become the only unified pre-K through twelfth-grade Jewish day school in the Philadelphia area.

    Perelman and Barrack will maintain their current operations for the 2026-27 school year, while beginning to combine their admissions and development programs. Faculty, staff, and students will come under the unified school umbrella beginning in fall 2027. Perelman and Barrack will continue to operate on all three campuses.

    School officials say the merger will help streamline curriculum development and strategic planning while bringing more families into the Jewish day school system by offering a consistent, pre-K-through-high-school experience.

    Perelman Jewish Day School was founded in 1956 as the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Philadelphia. The school operates across two campuses, one in Melrose Park, which serves parts of Philadelphia County, eastern and northern Montgomery County, and Bucks County, and another in Wynnewood, which serves Center City and Philadelphia’s western suburbs.

    Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy, originally Akiba Hebrew Academy, was the nation’s first pluralistic Jewish secondary day school when it opened in Center City in 1946. The school moved to Merion Station in 1956, then Bryn Mawr in 2008. Barrack boasts numerous notable alumni, including Gov. Josh Shapiro and CNN anchor Jake Tapper.

    Perelman and Barrack completed a partial merger in 2012, when the schools combined their middle schools into a single sixth-through-eighth-grade program on Barrack’s campus.

    Tuition at Perelman ranges from $21,500 to $32,300 per year, and tuition at Barrack ranges from $34,900 to $42,700. Both schools offer tuition assistance. Perelman says it awards over $3 million in tuition assistance each year to families earning up to $500,000.

    School leaders say the merger will ensure Perelman and Barrack are an attractive option for families in Philadelphia’s rich educational ecosystem, where parents can choose from dozens of strong public and private schools. Often, families choosing private education are looking for continuity from pre-K through high school, something that Perelman and Barrack have not been able to provide until this point.

    The ability to have students “become part of an educational system from their earliest years and grow within that system” will be academically and socially “deeper and more impactful,” said Rabbi Marshall Lesack, Barrack’s head of school and a Barrack alumnus. Lesack will lead the unified school beginning in 2027.

    Daniel Eisenstadt, a member of the Perelman board of directors who will chair the new, combined board, said the merger will also allow for more cohesive planning. The schools will be able to align their vacation calendars, external messaging, and curriculum plans.

    Though the overwhelming majority of Perelman students already matriculate to Barrack, bringing the schools under one system will allow for more parity in what to teach and when to teach it. Elementary, middle, and high school teachers will be able to sit in the same room and plan best practices for everything from math to art to Jewish studies, considering the arc of a student from ages 5 to 18, Eisenstadt said.

    Both schools’ enrollment has been “stable to growing” in the past few years, said Eisenstadt. Both he and Lesack were clear that the merger is not in response to a souring financial outlook, as can be the case when educational institutions merge.

    “We’re both coming from a place of strength,” Lesack said.

    Barrack reported revenue of $20.9 million in 2024, an increase of $3.4 million over 2023, according to tax records. Perelman reported a revenue of $13.4 million in 2024, up $400,000 from 2023.

    However, Eisenstadt said, “there is a recognition that we operate in an environment where there are excellent other independent schools, and excellent public schools. Rather than waiting for a moment where we see a dip in enrollment or where there are challenges, I think the general feeling from a leadership point of view was, ‘Let’s be proactive.’”

    Two Jewish schools are pooling resources

    Amid rising reports of antisemitism, some Jewish day schools have seen a spike in enrollment, as families seek more opportunities for Jewish affiliation for their children.

    When it comes to growing enrollment at Barrack and Perelman, however, Eisenstadt said there’s no one cause. He is “a little bit skeptical about the generic narrative” that the Israel-Hamas war and rising antisemitism have solely driven increased interest in Jewish education. He says Perelman and Barrack can’t rest on the assumption that larger forces will inevitably push families toward the Jewish day school experience. In a “dynamic world,” the schools need to continue to evolve, he said.

    In Eisenstadt’s words, Barrack and Perelman can’t “assume that any one thing that’s occurred, any one event, or any one trend is the future.”

    Lesack and Eisenstadt said many of the merger’s details are still up in the air and will be decided by the board. However they noted that there are plans for major investments across all of Perelman and Barrack’s facilities. Plans have long been in the works to find a new home for Perelman’s Melrose Park campus. School leaders say they are committed to having a continued presence in Philly’s northern suburbs.

    Lesack and Eisenstadt acknowledged the challenges of merging two schools with different campuses and cultures. Yet there’s “an unbelievably strong foundation” upon which to build, Lesack said, citing the many families, values, and traditions that the schools already share.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • A Tredyffrin office conversion bucks a suburban trend | Inquirer Chester County

    A Tredyffrin office conversion bucks a suburban trend | Inquirer Chester County

    Hi, Chester County! 👋

    A Tredyffrin office complex is being converted into housing, bucking a suburban trend. Here’s why. Also, East Whiteland Township’s meeting about a proposed data center was postponed after too many people showed up, the county’s CEO left the job Monday and has been replaced, plus a West Goshen business could face fines after polluting a local waterway.

    We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at chestercounty@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    Why this Tredyffrin complex made for an ideal office-to-residential conversion

    The office complex at 435 Devon Park Dr. in Tredyffrin Township is being converted into housing.

    An eight-building office complex at 435 Devon Park Dr. in Tredyffrin Township is on its way to becoming housing, making it one of the only suburban office-to-housing conversions underway in the region. Zoning issues, demands on school districts, and economic feasibility often make these types of conversions difficult and costly.

    Built in the 1980s, the complex is able to be more easily converted than many of its larger counterparts thanks to its layout and the fact that it already has operable windows.

    Once complete, the former office buildings will have 162 apartments, largely studios and one-bedrooms, breathing new life into the complex.

    The Inquirer’s Jake Blumgart delves into what makes this project different.

    📍 Countywide News

    • In case you missed it, county CEO David Byerman left the job on Monday after just over a year in the role. Former Deputy County Administrator Erik Walschburger was immediately appointed to oversee the county’s staff and budget under the title of “county administrator.”
    • Chester County Library in Exton launched a new service this week allowing residents to apply for a U.S. passport. The appointment-only offering is for first-time passport applicants, applicants whose previous passport was issued before they turned 16, or applicants whose passport was lost, stolen, damaged, or issued over 15 years ago. Learn more about the program here.

    💡 Community News

    • Over the weekend, a “milky white” substance and dead fish were spotted in Goose Creek in West Chester, prompting municipal and state officials to investigate. The leak in West Goshen Township was plugged after the substance was traced back to Atmos Technologies, a company with a location at 216 Garfield Ave. Drinking water wasn’t affected, but Aqua Pennsylvania will continue to monitor the area downstream. Atmos faces potential fines.
    • East Whiteland Township’s planning commission has rescheduled last week’s meeting about a proposed data center at a former Superfund site after there were more attendees than the room’s 98-person capacity could hold. The commission is set to consider an amended application that calls for increasing the size of the two proposed data center buildings by roughly 61% from what was previously approved. The meeting at a larger venue is tentatively set for Monday.
    • An NBC10 Philadelphia investigation found that Honey Brook Constable David Jones Sr. is among two area law enforcement officers to have signed a 287(g) agreement, which authorizes agencies to carry out immigration enforcement. Jones told the network that he hasn’t heard from ICE since entering into the agreement in October.
    • The West Sadsbury Township zoning board will meet tomorrow at 6 p.m. to consider a proposal for a new storage facility at 5787 W. Lincoln Highway in Parkesburg.
    • There’s a town hall meeting tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at the Tredyffrin Township building to discuss the Pennsylvania Turnpike Milepost 320-324 construction project. The project calls for reconstructing four miles of the turnpike and widening the section from four lanes in each direction to six lanes.
    • Malvern Borough is hosting a public workshop on Monday at 7 p.m. for its Zoning, Subdivision, and Land Development Task Force as it considers amendments to its zoning ordinance and map.
    • Heads up for drivers: In Upper Uwchlan Township, Styer Road between Meadow Creek Lane and Morning Light Road will close Monday and isn’t expected to reopen for three or four weeks while crews work on the underside of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Overpass. U.S. 30 westbound between Lincoln Highway and the ramp onto Airport Road, an area that spanning Sadsbury and Valley Townships, will have a lane closure from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. today through Friday as crews make repairs. In East Pikeland Township, Spring City Road is closed between Township Line Road and Wall Street as crews work to replace the bridge there. The project is expected to last 12 to 18 months. Expect delays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. on East Swedesford Road near the intersection of Church Farm Lane in West Whiteland Township for the next two weeks, while roadwork takes place.
    • Pennsylvania American Water is expected to replace water mains in Parkesburg Borough through April 3. Customers may experience no water, low water pressure, or discolored water while work takes place. Learn more about the project here.
    • Peco will begin updating the underground electrical feed in Kennett Township early this month, impacting Davenport and Cedar Croft Roads, as well as Donny Lane. The electrical system upgrade work is scheduled to be completed by June.
    • Residents will gather this weekend in Coatesville to commemorate the 61st anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March, during which civil rights activists faced police attacks. The Together We Stand Project will host a march on Saturday at 9 a.m., with participants gathering at Gateway Park then walking along Route 30 from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue. “This march is not just about remembering history — it’s about inspiring our community to take action and embrace their civic responsibility,” event organizer Linda Lavender Norris said.
    • A former employee at the Devereux behavioral health campus in West Whiteland Township has been convicted for soliciting sexual acts from a 14-year-old resident at the site. Shakur Austin, 28, of Philadelphia, will be sentenced at a later date.

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Great Valley School District’s school board last week approved students’ request to start a “Club America” chapter at Great Valley High School. The chapter, affiliated with the national Turning Point USA organization, will “discuss the principles of freedom, free markets, and limited government” and “give representation to conservative and Christian voices,” according to club leaders. A student and a community member spoke against the club’s formation, describing Turning Point as divisive, The Inquirer’s Maddie Hanna reports.
    • Registration is now open for Owen J. Roberts School District’s more than 40 summer enrichment camp programs.
    • Tredyffrin/Easttown School District is hosting a workshop for its 2026-27 budget on Monday at Conestoga High School following the Finance Committee meeting, which starts at 7 p.m.
    • Registration for new TESD students entering kindergarten and first grade next school year is now open. Learn more here.
    • Unionville High School’s robotics team took home first place in the United States Governors Cup’s FIRST Tech Challenge, held in Washington, D.C., last month. The Silver Wolves were the only Pennsylvania team to compete in the inaugural event.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • Two new eateries recently opened in West Chester. Cousin’s Burger opened last week at 211 E. Market St., taking over the former Miss Winnie’s space. The new spot, which has several other area locations, serves smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, loaded fries, wings, and chicken tenders. And West Chester Chicken, located at 34 S. High St., is also now open and dishing up fried and grilled chicken, sandwiches, boardwalk fries, and water ice.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🏀 Harlem Wizards: The traveling professional basketball team known for its entertaining hoops skills is coming to town. ⏰ Friday, March 6, 6:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 $21.99-$76.99 📍West Chester East High School

    🩰 Spotlight Performance and Fundraiser: See performances from the Brandywine Contemporary and Brandywine Ballet companies, including a preview of the upcoming production of The Phantom of the Opera. ⏰ Friday, March 6, 7:15 p.m. 💵 $56-$106 📍Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester

    🍁 Maple Syrup at Springton Manor Farm: Learn how to tap a maple tree and then boil the contents for syrup during one of three 45-minute sessions. Registration is required. ⏰ Sunday, March 8, noon-2:45 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Springton Manor Farm

    ☘️ Solas’ 30th Anniversary Tour: The Celtic ensemble blends traditional Irish music with Americana, bluegrass, and folk elements. ⏰ Sunday, March 8, 7:30 p.m. 💵 $41.78-$88.87 📍The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

    🏡 On the Market

    A five-bedroom Malvern home with a greenhouse and a pool

    The home spans 3,800 square feet and has a greenhouse.

    This brick Malvern home is classic Main Line, with a twist. It has an attached greenhouse equipped with running water, drainage, and a heating system. Inside, the first floor features hardwood floors, a living room with a fireplace, a dining room, an eat-in kitchen with granite countertops and two ovens, a bedroom with a gas fireplace, and a full bathroom. There are several bedrooms upstairs, including the primary suite, as well as a family room with skylights. Downstairs, there’s a temperature-controlled wine cellar in the walk-out basement, along with another bedroom and full bathroom. Out back, the home has an in-ground pool, a deck, and a large yard. There’s an open house Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $1.275M | Size: 3,800 SF | Acreage: 2

    🗞️ What other Chester County residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Meet the East grad competing on ‘Top Chef’ | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Meet the East grad competing on ‘Top Chef’ | Inquirer Cherry Hill

    Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

    Get to know the East grad and local entrepreneur who’s competing on the new season of Top Chef. Also this week, Plaza Grande in Garden State Park has been put up for sale, sewer work on Kresson Road is getting underway shortly, plus two district basketball teams are continuing their post-season runs.

    We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey or emailing us at cherryhill@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    This Cherry Hill native is vying to be the next Top Chef

    Chefs Nana Araba Wilmot (left) and Laurence Louie compete on season 23 of “Top Chef,” which premieres on Monday.

    Locals tuning into the season premiere of Top Chef Season 23 on Monday might spot a familiar face. Cherry Hill native Nana Araba Wilmot is competing on the popular Bravo show, where she’ll showcase her culinary skills and her Ghanaian heritage.

    An East grad, Wilmot was raised in Cherry Hill, and today is the owner of Georgina’s Private Chef and Catering Co. and traveling supper club Love That I Knead.

    Wilmot began cooking at the age of 7, learning the time-tested recipes and traditions of Ghana from her grandmother.

    The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner spoke with Wilmot about what inspired her decision to appear on the show and how her cooking pays homage to her roots.

    💡 Community News

    • The developer who got the Plaza Grande 55-and-over apartment complex to the finish line has put the project on the market. Several developers had tried, but failed to complete the final piece of the $1 billion redevelopment of the former Garden State Park horse racing track. Developer William “Billy” Procida said he put “so much blood, sweat, and tears” into developing Plaza Grande, but added it’s time to sell, The Inquirer’s Michaelle Bond reports.
    • Heads up for drivers: Starting Monday, Kresson Road westbound between Springdale and Cropwell Roads will be closed on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for work to remove and replace sewer lines. Closures are expected for the next four weeks, with work continuing for another month beyond that. The work is part of a $2.5 million Camden County and New Jersey American Water project.
    • Typical home values in all three of Cherry Hill’s zip codes rose between January 2025 and this January, according to new data from Zillow. The 08003 zip code still has the highest home value, which averaged $549,594 as of this January, up 5.14% over the prior year. Residents in the 08034 zip code typically saw their home value increase 5.8% to $436,173, while the typical home value in the 08002 zip code rose 4.93% to $418,359. (NJ.com)
    • Last month, Mayor David Fleisher and Camden County Commissioner Jennifer Cooley Fleisher, who are married, gave proclamations to East senior Siana Armando for helping a coworker experiencing a medical emergency, including a seizure, during a shift at Nothing Bundt Cakes in the Barclay Farms Shopping Center. Armando said she had personal experience in similar situations and was able to help her coworker while waiting for emergency responders to arrive.
    • A rabid skunk attacked two dogs in the backyard of a Cherry Hill home recently. The dogs are being confined and under observation for the next four months. (NBC Philadelphia)

    🏫 Schools Briefing

    • Two of the district’s basketball teams are continuing their post-season runs. The top-seeded East boys’ basketball team defeated the No. 4 seeded Atlantic City High School at home yesterday 61-51, booking a spot in the Group 4 final. The Cougars will have home court advantage for the Friday game. Follow the results here and see the full group bracket here. And the West girls’ basketball team, top-seeded in Group 3, takes on Hammonton High School today after defeating Clearview Regional High School on Monday. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. at home. Follow the results here and see the full bracket here.
    • Seven Cherry Hill wrestlers are advancing to regional tournaments after successful outings in the NJSIAA District 28 wrestling tournament last weekend. Gabe Jones, Praise Okereafor, Clayton Tyson, Caden Rossi, Aiden Sanchez, and Jakob Ubarry, all of West, and Dominic Canzano of East are all competing. (Courier Post)
    • It was the end of the road for a couple of the district’s post-season runs. After making it to the Group A final, East girls’ swimming fell 102.5-67.5 to Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School last Wednesday. And East girls’ basketball defeated Atlantic City High School in its Group 4 first-round matchup before falling to Howell High School in the quarterfinals 55-41.
    • The school district has a board of education meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. See the full calendar here.
    • SACC summer camp registration opens today at 4 p.m. There are two-, three-, and four-day programs available Monday through Thursday from June 29 through Aug. 13 for township residents entering first through fifth grade.

    🍽️ On our Plate

    • The Kibitz Room’s gross revenue fell by about 12% last year, according to a recent bankruptcy court filing. The popular deli reported $2.2 million last year, down about $300,000 from the year prior. It’s unclear if a decline in revenue is a reason for the business’ abrupt closure earlier this year. The Kibitz Room has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection, with a court date scheduled for early May. Former owner Brandon Parish has said he hopes to reopen the deli, which was being run by his mother, Sandy Parish. (Courier Post)
    • Looking for great dim sum? Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao is one of the best spots in the region, according to The Infatuation, which suggests ordering the “Lucky 6” at the Towne Place at Garden State Park spot. The colorful assortment includes six dumplings filled with things like black truffle, chicken, and scallops.

    🎳 Things to Do

    🤵 Project Prom: Teens or their parents can browse and take home a gently used formalwear outfit for the next big dance. ⏰ Wednesday, March 4, 4-8:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Cherry Hill Public Library

    👹 Monster-Mania Con: Horror fans won’t want to miss this three-day event, where you can see stars from frightening films. ⏰ Friday, March 6-Sunday, March 8, times vary 💵 $41.74-$72.49 📍DoubleTree by Hilton Cherry Hill Philadelphia

    🦜 Birds in Trees and Flowers and Bees Artist Reception: See the works of photography duo Wendy and Bruce Rubin, who have been together for almost 40 years, and turned their lenses toward birds and other wildlife. ⏰ Saturday, March 7, 1:30-3:30 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Cherry Hill Public Library

    🏡 On the Market

    An Olde Springs home with an airy family room

    The stucco-fronted home spans over 3,000 square feet.

    Located in the Olde Springs neighborhood, this home features a living room, a dining room, and an open-concept family room and kitchen. The family room has a gas fireplace, vaulted ceilings, and a skylight, while the kitchen has two spots for eating, as well as a dedicated pantry. There are four bedrooms upstairs, including the primary suite that has a walk-in closet, a tub, and a large vanity. The finished basement has a full bathroom and what could be a fifth bedroom.

    See more photos of the home here.

    Price: $625,000 | Size: 3,008 SF | Acreage: 0.21

    🗞️ What other Cherry Hill residents are reading this week:

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • House of the week: A Spanish-style ranch house near Swarthmore for $699,000

    House of the week: A Spanish-style ranch house near Swarthmore for $699,000

    Donna Wise doesn’t know if this was on the builder’s mind in 1970, but he designed a house that combined sociability and privacy.

    The four-bedroom, 2½-bathroom ranch house in Wallingford has the kitchen, living room, dining room, basement, and two-car garage on one side of the house and the living quarters on the other side.

    That way, Wise said, guests “can ask to use the bathroom without passing through your bedroom. And the grounds are beautiful.”

    The living room.

    The builder’s other houses nearby were all Colonials, she said. Her parents, Mary and Robert Wise, bought the Spanish-style house 42 years ago. After her father died in 1995 and her mother in 2006, she and her sister, Cheryl Wise, remained there.

    Now the sisters, who grew up in Folcroft, Delaware County, are moving to a nearby condo.

    The kitchen has stainless steel appliances.

    The approach to the 3,064-square-foot house is on a circular driveway.

    Donna said the construction is so symmetrical that if one looks through a window, they can see through the whole house.

    The kitchen has stainless steel appliances, and the office could be converted to a fifth bedroom.

    The primary bedroom.

    The family opened up the layout, knocking down a wall separating the kitchen and the dining room. The basement is unfinished.

    The house is near the Commodore Barry Bridge, which provides easy access to the Jersey Shore. It is also close to the Swarthmore SEPTA Regional Rail station. It is also convenient to Tyler Memorial Arboretum and several parks.

    The front entrance to the house.

    The house is in the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District.

    It is listed by Lindsay Wise of Coldwell Banker Realty for $699,000.

  • A ‘milky white’ substance was leaking into a Chester County creek, and a business could face fines

    A ‘milky white’ substance was leaking into a Chester County creek, and a business could face fines

    A business that operates an industrial site in West Goshen Township that leaked hazardous discharge into a nearby creek could face fines, municipal officials said this week.

    Several people spotted a “milky white” substance in Goose Creek, near Nields Street in West Chester, on Saturday. The borough received reports of it around 12:20 p.m., according to a news release from the borough on Monday.

    The “illicit discharge” stemmed from a pipe at Atmos Technologies, at 216 Garfield Ave. in West Goshen Township, near Henderson High School. The leak was plugged within roughly an hour after reports were initially made, officials said.

    It is not known how long the pipe had been leaking before residents reported it.

    The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is investigating the spill to find out how much of it spread into the creek and what remediation efforts are needed to protect the public, officials said.

    Atmos Technologies told DEP that chlorinated water was released to a containment area, Robyn Briggs, a DEP spokesperson, said in an email Tuesday. It mixed with a manufactured product known as “Long Duration Foam AC-645,” forming a foaming agent.

    DEP alerted Aqua Pennsylvania, a public water provider that serves portions of Chester County. It continues to monitor the downstream flow, but said in a post online that residents’ drinking water was not affected.

    People had reported fish kills — mass deaths of fish, usually prompted by environmental stress or pollution — and “noticeable pollution” of the creek over the weekend, but Briggs said no further fish kills had been reported since and the creek appeared clear, with some foaming, on Sunday and Monday.

    Officials advised people and their pets to stay out of the creek, a West Goshen Township news release said Monday.

    This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.

  • Can legacy brands like Coach bring Gen Z shoppers to the mall? Cherry Hill Mall executives think so.

    Can legacy brands like Coach bring Gen Z shoppers to the mall? Cherry Hill Mall executives think so.

    When Coach opened a store at the Cherry Hill Mall in November, mall executives were ecstatic — even though it’s been 85 years since the high-end retailer was founded.

    Coach is as hot as ever. And its new shop in Cherry Hill is just another sign of the South Jersey mall’s success, according to leaders with Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), which owns the complex.

    “Cherry Hill is clearly a dominant fashion property,” Paula Charles, PREIT’S first vice president of leasing, said in a recent interview.

    In the competitive Philadelphia market, “the better retailers have gravitated toward the better assets,” including Cherry Hill, added Joe Aristone, PREIT’s chief revenue officer.

    They noted that top-tier retailers increasingly include legacy brands — long-established companies like Coach, Zara, and Levi’s, that are making a nostalgic, social media-fueled comeback with younger consumers.

    These retailers are seeing a resurgence at the same time that many malls are leaning into newer experiential concepts, such as King of Prussia Mall’s new Netflix House, its forthcoming Level99 live-gaming venue, and the Dick’s House of Sport set to open at the Cherry Hill Mall this year.

    Employee Alex Costa (right) assists Alessandra Bruno as she shops for purses with husband, Luke Baur, and their 20-month-old daughter, Rosalina, at the Coach store at the Cherry Hill Mall.

    Coach’s parent company, Tapestry, recently reported that Coach saw a 25% increase in sales in its most recent quarter. Tapestry executives attributed the rise to a surge in Gen Z customers, who are under 30.

    Other legacy brands, including Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch, have also reported consistently strong earnings in recent years.

    In the Philadelphia area, these retailers have maintained a presence along shopping corridors in Center City and at higher-performing malls like Cherry Hill and King of Prussia, which is owned by Simon Property Group.

    Prior to the Cherry Hill opening, Coach operated shops in King of Prussia and Marlton, as well as off-price locations at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets near Pottstown, the Gloucester Premium Outlets in Blackwood, and the Tanger Outlets in Atlantic City. The brand also has an outpost at the Philadelphia International Airport.

    How Philly-area outlets survive and sometimes thrive in an era of dying malls

    Coach spokespeople did not return requests for comment about their investment in the region.

    PREIT executives declined to comment on sales so far at their new Coach store, but said brand and mall executives are pleased with how the store is doing — and what that means going forward.

    “Coach has had a strategy to make sure that they capture Gen Z,” a demographic that PREIT executives also want to attract and retain as they age, Charles said.

    Why Gen Z and millennials love Coach

    Joe Williams, of Magnolia, N.J., buys a handbag for his daughter, Samantha Williams, at the Coach store at the Cherry Hill Mall.

    About two years ago, Breana Stringer, now 26, noticed that many of her friends were going out with Coach bags. And when she’d open TikTok, she said, the platform’s algorithm showed her videos of other users’ Coach collections.

    Up until that point, the Fishtown resident had been an accessory minimalist: “I was very much an ‘if it doesn’t fit in my pocket, I’m not bringing it’” type of person.

    But Stringer said she was influenced by her friends and TikTok to start buying Coach bags, mostly secondhand (though she has received new Coach bags as gifts). She has come to enjoy styling them with her outfits.

    To Stringer, Coach’s appeal to Gen Z consumers is simple, she said: “They’re affordable in terms of a luxury name brand, and they’re vintage styles.”

    New Coach bags start at $95 for a short shoulder bag, while larger purses can cost $500 or more. At outlet stores and secondhand shops, prices are lower.

    In South Philly, Stephanie Gonzalez, 33, has restored and resold dozens of vintage Coach bags, mostly to Gen Z and millennial women.

    She said these women see the Coach brand as “timeless.”

    For Gen Z, “what is happening is they are really into Y2K, late-’90s, early-’90s nostalgia,” Gonzalez said. “TikTok has been a big hub for people” to share their love of Coach and brands that were popular in those years.

    As for other legacy brands, Stringer said some of her Gen Z friends have also started wearing Cartier rings, which have been around since the mid-1800s and can cost more than $1,000. It’s a trend Stringer has yet to get behind, she said, because she has a tendency to lose small accessories: “I’m less likely to lose a bag.”

    How legacy brands are boosting Philly-area malls

    Products are displayed at the Coach store at the Cherry Hill Mall.

    Cherry Hill Mall isn’t the only local shopping center to have welcomed new legacy retailers recently.

    In the past six months, Abercrombie & Fitch, Columbia Sportswear, Lacoste, and New Balance have opened new stores at the King of Prussia Mall, and an Adidas outpost is also set to open there soon.

    At the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, Hugo Boss, Marc Jacobs, and New Balance have opened stores in the past year, while the Gloucester Premium Outlets in Blackwood have added New Balance and Columbia locations. Like the King of Prussia Mall, both outlet malls are owned by Simon Property Group.

    Typically, these re-energized brands are attracted to places where other similar companies have already set up shop, say the PREIT executives who help shape the tenant mix at the Cherry Hill Mall.

    And they said this cyclical effect further cements the region’s dominant retail centers as shopping destinations.

    “There is so much media out there as it relates to closed malls,” said Aristone, the chief revenue officer. Many of the surviving malls, however, are thriving, he said, thanks in part to these legacy brands.