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New grocery stores are coming your way | Inquirer Chester County
Hi, Chester County! 👋

A handful of new grocery stores are in the works, including a pair of brick-and-mortar co-ops. Also this week, a developer is hopeful that remediation of a contaminated Kennett Square site can make way for housing, plus, a new report reveals why so many voters were left off the poll books in November.

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Chester County is getting several new grocery stores this year

Sprouts is looking to expand to Phoenixville.

Chester County residents are getting more grocery store options thanks to three independent shops.

West Chester Cooperative is working on a brick-and-mortar for its members and the public. Another co-op, the Kennett Community Grocer, is targeting a spring opening for its storefront, which will sell local produce, dairy, meats, and eggs, and will have a cafe.

Kimberton Whole Foods is also adding to its footprint, with a new store — and its largest — slated to open at Eagleview Town Center in the coming months.

Two other national chains are eyeing spots in Phoenixville, with one already under construction.

Read more about the county’s growing grocery options.

Can a contaminated former industrial site in Kennett Square be cleaned and make way for housing?

A developer wants to transform the former National Vulcanized Fiber site in Kennett Square into housing.

A developer wants to transform one of Kennett Square’s largest untouched parcels into housing, but the process would be years in the making and has some residents concerned.

Rockhopper LLC purchased the 22-acre lot at 400 W. Mulberry St. in 2009, two years after National Vulcanized Fiber shut down. It had operated there for more than a century and the site now requires extensive remediation, government agency approvals, and rezoning.

Some borough residents are concerned about the safety of building houses there given the contaminants.

The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz delves into those concerns and where Rockhopper is in the process.

📍 Countywide News
- The region saw its largest snowstorm in a decade over the weekend, and Chester County recorded some of the highest totals in our area, with several municipalities reporting over 10 inches of snow. East Nantmeal saw 12.8 inches, followed by Malvern (12.5), Paoli (11.2), East Coventry (10.5), and Phoenixville (10.4). Freezing temperatures are expected to remain this week, meaning the snow and ice aren’t going anywhere. Check out a map of where got the most snowfall.
- Due to the storm, a number of municipalities have altered trash pickup schedules. See how yours is impacted here.
- The county now has an answer as to why over 75,000 independent and unaffiliated voters were left off the poll books in the November election. An independent report found that human error was to blame, and that issues were made worse by insufficient training, poor oversight, and staffing challenges. The county plans to implement many of the more than a dozen recommendations made in the report, along with several additional steps.
- The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission is hosting a pair of public meetings tomorrow about proposed water and wastewater rate changes impacting county residents. The hearings come about two months after the PUC voted unanimously to suspend and investigate Pennsylvania American Water Company’s proposed rate hike on water and wastewater services, which would have increased a typical water customer’s bill anywhere from $2.73 per month to $27.77 and potentially increased fees for the typical wastewater customer. The public input hearings will take place at Coatesville City Hall at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
💡 Community News
- A developer of a proposed data center along Swedesford Road in East Whiteland Township will come before the Planning Commission tonight to present changes to the plan, which calls for a more than 1.6-million-square-foot center, up from the previous 1 million square feet proposed. The developer, Charles Lyddane, has been working to build a data center in that area for several years. The commission is scheduled to meet from 7 to 9 p.m. at the township building. The meeting will also be live streamed. Find details here.
- Caln Township is hosting a conditional use hearing tomorrow night for Sheetz to demolish the former Rite Aid at 3807 E. Lincoln Highway and redevelop the lot into a 6,139-square-foot convenience store with a drive-through window, six gas pumps, and 43 parking spaces. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. at the municipal building. The first Sheetz in the Philadelphia area is slated to open next month in Montgomery County.
- Heads up for drivers: Work to reconstruct and widen four miles of the Pennsylvania Turnpike between the Route 29 interchange in East Whiteland Township and the Valley Forge Service Plaza in Tredyffrin Township was slated to get underway this month. Plans call for widening the road from four to six lanes and replacing mainline bridges. Construction is expected to take five years. And Dutton Mill Road between Strasburg and Manley Roads in East Goshen Township will continue to be closed from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. through Friday for Peco work.
- A Lincoln University woman, Fatima DeMaria, 65, has been charged with multiple counts of asylum fraud, mail fraud, and tax evasion for allegedly falsely representing herself as an immigration attorney who could help people obtain work authorizations in the U.S. DeMaria owned Immigration Matters Legal Services in Oxford and is accused of preparing fraudulent asylum forms in her clients’ names from 2021 to 2024, charging them between $6,000 and $9,000 per individual, and $12,000 to $15,000 per couple, totaling at least $1 million.
- Easttown Township has been awarded nearly $1 million from the state’s Multimodal Transportation Fund for new sidewalks, ADA-compliant ramps, and crosswalks around Beaumont Elementary School and Hilltop Park.
- Kennett Square-based Genesis HealthCare and its subsidiaries were officially sold last week to investment group 101 West State Street for $996 million. Once one of the largest skilled nursing providers in the U.S., Genesis filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July. Genesis says it operates nearly 200 nursing centers and senior living communities in 17 states, including Highgate at Paoli Pointe in Paoli. (McKnights)
- The founder of independent natural beauty store The Indie Shelf, which has locations in Malvern and Philadelphia, is helping drive the region’s clean beauty movement. Sabeen Zia came up with the storefront concept after struggling to gain traction for her makeup brand and is now using her business to showcase and support small local brands with similar missions.
🏫 Schools Briefing
- In case you missed it, Great Valley School District is being investigated by the Trump administration over its policies allowing transgender girls to compete on girls’ sports teams. President Trump last year threatened to strip federal funding from schools that recognize transgender students. The district said last week that it’s cooperating with the investigation and working to prepare a response.
- Tredyffrin/Easttown School District’s Ad Hoc Redistricting Committee is meeting next Wednesday to review the district’s prior redistricting process and establish criteria for selecting the Redistricting Steering Committee members. The meeting comes in advance of the opening of Bear Hill Elementary School, which is slated for August 2027. The committee has also been reviewing parameters for new attendance boundaries across all six elementary schools.
- In other news, TESD’s school board recently selected Henry Zink to fill a vacancy on the board during a special meeting earlier this month.
- Oxford Area School District’s Advisory Council is hosting a guidance plan meeting to begin shaping goals for each school from 2026 through 2029. The meeting will be held next Wednesday at the district administration building from 8:30 to 10 a.m.
- Due to Monday’s snow day, Coatesville Area School District has planned a make-up day for April 6, which was slated to be the last day of spring recess.
🍽️ On our Plate
- A new pizza joint opened yesterday in Phoenixville, taking over the former New Haven Deli space at 1442 Charlestown Rd. Matthew’s Pizza’s menu includes pizzas, hoagies, cheesesteaks, burgers, and wraps.
- Bored Trading Cafe is hosting a grand opening for its West Chester location on Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. Located at 139 W. Gay St., the cafe will serve coffee and other specialty drinks, baked goods, burgers, salads, and all-day breakfast.
- And in Coatesville, Andrea’s Jazz Cafe is gearing up to open on Feb. 17. Andrea’s will offer live music and other entertainment, in addition to dining.
🎳 Things to Do

❄️ Frozen: There’s hardly a more appropriate movie to watch this week than the beloved animated Disney film. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 30, 6-8 p.m. 💵 Free 📍 The Creamery, Kennett Square

🎥 The Princess Bride: For those looking to catch a cult classic, the 1987 film will be screened seven times over the weekend. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 30-Sunday, Feb. 1, times vary 💵 $10-$15 📍 The Colonial Theatre, Phoenixville

🍷 Wine and Chocolate Tasting: Taste five wines paired with chocolates during this guided one-hour event. There are additional tastings on Saturdays and Sundays in February. ⏰ Sunday, Feb. 1, noon-5 p.m. 💵 $40 📍 Chaddsford Winery

🏡 On the Market

A four-bedroom Colonial in Devon

The home has a covered porch and a patio with a pergola.

This four-bedroom, two-and-half-bathroom Devon Colonial’s recent updates include a new roof, fresh paint, and refinished hardwood floors. The first floor features a living room with a wood-burning fireplace, a dining room, also with a fireplace, a kitchen with granite countertops and high-end appliances, and a family room with a gas fireplace. All four bedrooms, including the primary suite, are on the second floor. Other features include a large patio with a pergola. There’s an open house Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.

See more photos of the home here.

Price: $1.389M | Size: 2,543 SF | Acreage: 0.69

📈 Chester County market report
- Median listing price: $561,400 (down $8,600 from November) 📉
- Median sold price: $555,000 (up $27,500 from November) 📈
- Median days on the market: 61 (up 16 days from November) 📈
This Chester County market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for December from realtor.com.

🗞️ 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.
January 28, 2026
A Cherry Hill man with autism was kicked off a cruise | Inquirer Cherry Hill
Hello, Cherry Hill! 👋

A Cherry Hill mom is on a mission to increase understanding for people with autism after her adult son was kicked off a cruise last month. Also this week, we look at whether Wegmans is using biometric technology to spy on its customers, we’ve mapped how much snow fell around town this past weekend, plus a township resident has been charged in the hit-and-run death of a pedestrian.

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A Cherry Hill mom is advocating for greater autism awareness after her son was kicked off a cruise

Cherry Hill resident Carolyn Piro poses for a portrait with her son Sean Curran, who has autism.

Cherry Hill resident Carolyn Piro’s first vacation in a decade didn’t end how she expected. The mom of four — including a son with autism and two other sons with development disabilities — took her family on a Celebrity Cruise to the Caribbean last month to celebrate her 60th birthday.

She chose the cruise line because the company, Royal Caribbean, claims to offer an “autism friendly” environment. But when her eldest son was kicked off the ship on Christmas Eve over an incident on board, Piro found staff lacked understanding about his needs.

After having what she described as the “worst Christmas ever,” Piro is on a mission to increase awareness and acceptance for people with autism, The Inquirer’s Melanie Burney reports.

Is the Cherry Hill Wegmans collecting shoppers’ biometric data?

Wegmans has nine New Jersey locations, including in Cherry Hill and Mt. Laurel.

Signs in New York City Wegmans grocery stores recently alerted shoppers that it was collecting biometrics, raising concerns about what it was doing with that data and whether it was collecting it from other stores, too.

The popular Rochester, New York-based grocery store won’t say if it’s collecting similar data at its Cherry Hill location, but noted it does have cameras with facial recognition technology in “a small fraction of our stores that exhibit an elevated risk,” The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.

Read more about why biometric technology is gaining traction in stores beyond Wegmans.

💡 Community News
- The region saw its largest snowstorm in a decade over the weekend, with Cherry Hill recording 9.3 inches as of Monday morning, according to one figure reported to the National Weather Service. Freezing temperatures are expected to remain this week, meaning the snow and ice aren’t going anywhere. Check out a map of where the most snow fell.
- Due to the storm, Monday’s township council meeting has been pushed to tonight. The caucus meeting is at 7 p.m., with the council meeting slated for 7:30 p.m.
- A 34-year-old Cherry Hill resident has been charged in the death of a 75-year-old woman in a hit-and-run on Jan. 17. Shakira Carter allegedly hit Andrea Wilson and her dog, Ozzie, near a crosswalk in the Evesham Road and Alpha Avenue area. Carter, a juvenile detention officer, fled the scene before returning in a different vehicle. She has been suspended from work with the Camden County Juvenile Detention Center and charged with second-degree leaving the scene of a fatal motor vehicle accident. (NBC10)
- Last week, Cherry Hill residents Giselle V. Brown and Ted Gallagher were recognized as recipients of the 2026 Camden County Freedom Medal for their contributions to the community. Township resident Jim Peeler was also presented with the 2026 Camden County Congressional Award.
- Women’s apparel and accessories store Francesca’s, which has a location at the Cherry Hill Mall, is reportedly closing its remaining stores after years of financial turmoil. Francesca’s filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late 2020. (Fox Business)
- In case you missed it, Club Studio Fitness recently announced it will open a 30,240-square-foot location at Ellisburg Shopping Center in the former Buy Buy Baby space.
- Gearing up for the Academy Awards? While they may still be six weeks out, the AMC Cherry Hill 24 is screening several of the nominated movies, including the William Shakespeare-inspired Hamnet, the Leonardo DiCaprio-led One Battle After Another, and the 1930s-set Sinners.
🏫 Schools Briefing
- Due to snow closures on Monday and Tuesday, the district has planned make-up days for Feb. 16, previously allocated as a holiday for President’s Day, and March 30, which was originally the first day of spring break.
🍽️ On our Plate
- In case you missed it, the James Beard Award semifinalists were announced last week, and there are two Cherry Hill ties among them: Russ Cowan of Radin’s Delicatessen was nominated in the Best Chef: Mid-Atlantic category, and township native Greg Vernick got the region’s lone nod in the Outstanding Restaurateur category.
- Speaking of Greg Vernick, his latest restaurant, run by fellow Cherry Hill native Meredith Medoway, opened yesterday. Located in Kensington, Emilia is a neighborhood trattoria with a seasonal menu featuring house-made pasta and live-fire cooking.
🎳 Things to Do

🛍️ Hott’s Pop-Up Home and Lifestyle Show: Browse local businesses selling home decor, food, and art. ⏰ Friday, Jan. 30-Sunday, Feb. 1, times vary 💵 Pay as you go 📍Cherry Hill Mall

🧸 The Winter Fever Toy Show: Browse over 180 tables of antique and collectible toys. ⏰ Saturday, Jan. 31, 9 a.m. admission for early buyers, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. for general admission 💵 $10 general admission, $20 for early buyers, free for kids under 12 📍Cherry Hill Army National Guard Recruiting Station

📼 The Bygone Boomerang Vintage Show: If you’re in search of other vintage finds, this show features vendors selling goods like housewares, clothing, art, and more from the 1950s to ‘90s. ⏰ Sunday, Feb. 1, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 $5, free for kids under 12 📍Cherry Hill Army National Guard Recruiting Station

❤️ Galentine’s Besties Brunch: Tickets are going fast for this third annual event, which connects women with one another. Attendees are encouraged to wear red. ⏰ Sunday, Feb. 1, 1-4 p.m. 💵 $36.09 📍Vera

🏡 On the Market

A completely updated Ashland home

The updated kitchen features two-tone cabinetry and an island.

Located in the Ashland neighborhood, this three-bedroom, two-bathroom home recently underwent a full renovation down to the studs, and now has new windows, a new roof, new HVAC and electrical systems, as well as a completely updated interior. The first floor features a kitchen with an island, a living room, two bedrooms, including the primary, and a full bathroom. There’s another room and bathroom upstairs, and a basement downstairs. There’s an open house Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

See more photos of the home here.

Price: $395,000 | Size: 2,470 SF | Acreage: 0.17

📈 Cherry Hill market report
- Median listing price: $435,000 (down $25,000 from November) 📉
- Median sold price: $492,500 (up $35,000 from November) 📈
- Median days on the market: 52 (up 11 days from November) 📈
This Cherry Hill market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for December from realtor.com.

🗞️ 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.
January 28, 2026
Her adult autistic son was kicked off a cruise ship. Now this South Jersey mother is on a mission to better awareness.

While preparing her four sons to take a dream family vacation in the Caribbean last month, Carolyn Piro carefully reviewed every detail to get them ready.

She also contacted the Royal Caribbean cruise line about accommodations for her children, because her oldest, Sean Curran, has autism, and two other sons also have developmental disabilities.

The trip ended abruptly when Curran, 31, was kicked off the Celebrity Cruise ship in Cozumel on Christmas Eve after an incident that his family says was mishandled by cruise officials who lacked understanding of his disability.

“Worst Christmas ever. Horrible,” Curran said. “I’m never going on a cruise again.”

Piro, a trauma therapist, is now on a mission to increase awareness and acceptance for people with autism. About 1 in 31 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and that number is 1 in 29 in New Jersey, according to the group Autism New Jersey.

“They have a place in our society. They have a place in our community,” Piro said.

Royal Caribbean, which advertises an “autism friendly” environment, said it had reviewed the incident and “concluded we could have been more sensitive to their needs during the debarkation process.” The company, which owns Celebrity Cruises, will provide additional training for employees, a spokesperson said.

‘Just trying to be nice’

Curran lives as independently as possible at home, Piro said. He participates in job training at Ability Solutions in Westville, has a girlfriend, sings with the Pine Barons Chorus, volunteers at an animal hospital, and enjoys dancing.

The Cherry Hill family was having a great time on a seven-day Caribbean cruise in December to celebrate Piro’s 60th birthday. It was Curran’s fourth cruise, and he knew the ropes and was allowed to roam unaccompanied.

Four days into the cruise, Curran was in a pool lounge when, he said, a teenage girl asked him to purchase her a Long Island iced tea. He said he bought the drink, unaware that it contained alcohol. His mother and brothers were not with him at the time.

According to Curran, the girl touched his chest and stomach, used profanity, and followed him to a hot tub, where he lifted her like Shrek did when he rescued Princess Fiona from a dragon in one of his favorite movies. (Piro said Curran enjoys swimming and playing in the water.)

The girl’s parents arrived and her mother began screaming, Curran said. Ship personnel escorted Curran to a security office, where he was asked to give a statement, he said.

“I have autism and I was just trying to be nice,” he wrote in the statement, given to ship personnel and provided to The Inquirer. The statement was only a few sentences of explanation Curran wrote about what happened.

Piro arrived during the questioning and said Curran offered an apology to the girl’s parents. Curran said he asked for patience and repeated what his mother taught him to say about having autism when he encountered difficulty explaining.

Curran was given 90 minutes to pack and leave the ship, his mother said. She accompanied him, along with another son. Other passengers gawked and pointed as security escorted them off the ship, she recalled, saying, “Look at them: They’re getting kicked off the ship.”

“It was just so shameful,” Piro said.

Piro said she believes ship officials had other options, such as restricting Curran to his room, rescinding his room card that allowed him to buy drinks, or allowing him to disembark at their next port of call, she said.

“With all of the information about autism, there was no compassion. They treated him as a fully functioning adult,” the mother said.

Piro said the family was given only a security incident report and told that the FBI and Homeland Security would be notified. She was not allowed to speak with the girl’s family, whose full name she does not know. She said no charges were filed.

Sean Curran, 31, of Cherry Hill, boarding a Celebrity cruise ship in December for a family vacation. He has autism and was evicted from the ship after a misunderstanding.

Piro, Curran, and another of her sons who left the cruise were reunited with two other family members several days later when the ship docked in Florida.

Piro said she accepted an apology from Royal Caribbean after returning home, complaining about the incident, and sharing her story publicly. She also said she had asked to be reimbursed for the $20,000 she spent on the cruise and expenses. Royal Caribbean declined to comment on the request.

A spokesperson said Royal Caribbean’s additional training for its staff will “ensure this experience doesn’t happen again.” She declined to comment further.

CHOP launches Philly-area autism therapy network in partnership with Soar Autism Centers

Stacie Sherman, a spokesperson for Autism New Jersey, declined to comment about the specific incident but agreed there is a need for more awareness. She has had similar experiences as the mother of two on the autism spectrum.

“Education and awareness is key,” Sherman said.

Sherman said acceptance is slowly growing. Her daughter used to get nasty looks and comments for making loud noises or having a tantrum in public places, she recalled.

“I get way more smiles and nods, even praise and offers of help. It gives me hope,” Sherman said.

Sean Curran, 31, of Cherry Hill, plays with a dolphin during a cruise excursion in Cozumel, Mexico in December.

Seeking change to the system

When the family arrived home, Piro said, she reprimanded Curran and limited his activities for a month. Piro said she acknowledges that he did something wrong but said his intent was not malicious.

Piro said she had selected Royal Caribbean for her first family vacation in a decade because it offered initiatives for families with children who have special needs.

She said she contacted the cruise line a month before their vacation about her children’s special needs. In addition to Curran, two younger sons have mosaic Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome.

Piro said she requested special seating, for example, to isolate the family in the dining area from noise and large groups. During an excursion, she rented a cabana away from other guests, she said.

“We don’t go anywhere where people don’t stare, giggle, or make a comment,” Piro said.

Piro said she plans to monitor whether Royal Caribbean implements the additional training that it has promised. She wants changes “in the system so that this doesn’t happen again.”

Carolyn Piro, of Cherry Hill, poses for a portrait with her son Sean, who has autism, in their home this month.

Curran said telling his story was “making me feel better.” He wants to better advocate for himself and others with autism.

“I want people to treat other people with dignity and respect, compassion, and kindness,” he said.

January 28, 2026
Trash pickup, school closures, and rescheduled events: What you need to know post-snowstorm in Lower Merion

The largest snowstorm in a decade just hit the Philadelphia area, closing schools and coating the roads with a sheen of slippery white stuff.

Penn Wynne received 9.4 inches of snow on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service.

Lower Merion lifted its snow emergency declaration at noon on Monday, though crews are continuing to do post-storm cleanup.

Winter storm totals: How much snow and ice fell in the Philadelphia area?

Trash and recycling will not be picked up Monday in Lower Merion, and a holiday schedule will go into effect. To figure out when your garbage will be picked up, use the township’s address lookup tool to determine what zone you live in. Then, use this chart to determine your holiday garbage pickup day. If you live in Zone 3, your garbage will be picked up on Thursday following today’s Monday snow “holiday.”

The township has asked residents to bring their trash curbside because garbage trucks may not be able to get into alleys with the high volume of snow. Any missed collections from this week will be made up next week.

Narberth residents can expect their normally scheduled trash pickup on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Sidewalks must be cleared (36 inches in width) within 24 hours of the last flakes falling in both Lower Merion and Narberth (here are The Inquirer’s tips for shoveling snow safely). It’s illegal to throw or plow snow into the street.

The Lower Merion School District has declared today a remote instruction day (rest in peace to the snow day), and all libraries and township offices are closed.

Narberth Borough’s administrative offices are also closed, and any documents that need to be dropped off can be left in the secure lockboxes outside the building entrance on Haverford Avenue. Narberth Borough Hall’s multipurpose room will be open until 8 p.m. for residents who need access to heat, water, and power.

Waldron Mercy Academy, Friends’ Central School, the Baldwin School, Agnes Irwin School, Holy Child School at Rosemont, and Gladwyne Montessori, and the Shipley School are closed. Merion Mercy Academy is having a remote learning day.

Monday’s Coffee with a Cop has been rescheduled to Wednesday.

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.

January 26, 2026
Trash pickup, school closures, and more: What you need to know post-snowstorm in and around Media

The largest snowstorm in a decade just hit the Philadelphia area, closing schools and coating the roads with a sheen of slippery white stuff.

Seven inches of snow fell in Media on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Swarthmore got 7.3 inches and Nether Providence got 8 inches.

Winter storm totals: How much snow and ice fell in the Philadelphia area?

There will be no trash or recycling pickup in Media on Monday. All borough offices are closed. Parking restrictions will be in place until 5 p.m. See the full list of restricted streets here. Media residents who live on a designated snow emergency route are encouraged to park in the Baltimore Avenue parking garage on the first or second level. Parking fees will not be enforced during the snow emergency declaration, which runs until 5 p.m. Monday.

There will be no trash collection in Swarthmore on Monday. All trash scheduled to be picked up Monday will be picked up on Tuesday. The Swarthmore library and borough offices are closed.

Middletown and Upper Providence townships’ offices are also closed Monday.

The Rose Tree Media School District is holding a flexible instruction day (a remote learning day with a combination of live instruction and office hours). The Wallingford-Swarthmore School District is closed.

The Walden School, Benchmark School, and The School in Rose Valley are also closed. Notre Dame de Lourdes School is having a remote learning day.

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.

January 26, 2026
Chesco saw some of the area’s highest snow totals, closing schools and delaying trash collection
Parts of Chester County saw more than a foot of snow, with the heavy snowfall delaying trash collections, closing municipal offices, and shuttering school buildings countywide Monday.

East Nantmeal saw some of the highest snow totals in the county — and the entire Philadelphia region — with 12.8 inches blanketing the township as of Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service. Malvern wasn’t far behind, with 12.5 inches. East Goshen racked up the lowest total reported in Chester County, sitting around 8. Chester County municipalities saw some of the highest snowfalls in the collar counties, and outdid Philadelphia, which topped out at 9.3 inches.

Most of the region received between six and 12 inches by Sunday evening.

But even with the gradient of difference in Chesco, it was enough to close all school districts’ buildings in the county Monday. Some districts instituted flexible remote learning schedules. Others gravitated toward a traditional snow day.

“Students are officially expected to enjoy this winter wonderland — and take a well-deserved breather at the midpoint of our school year,” Kennett Consolidated School District wrote in a post on its website.

The districts hadn’t yet made their calls by noon Monday about returning to school for the rest of the week, but several said flexible instruction may be implemented if road conditions don’t improve.

As municipalities continue to plow streets, many are still calling for no street parking, with several offering free parking in borough lots or parking garages. Municipal meetings are also being rescheduled as residents continue to dig out.

Meanwhile, across the county, residents should expect their trash and recycling collection to follow a different schedule this week.

Here’s a look at the trash collection delays municipalities have advertised online:
- Avondale: Trash pickup moved to Tuesday.
- Caln: Shifted by one day through the week, beginning Tuesday for Monday customers.
- Kennett Square: Trash pickup moved to Wednesday.
- East Brandywine: Trash pickup moved to Wednesday.
- East Bradford: Trash pickup moved to Saturday.
- East Caln: Trash pickup canceled this week.
- East Fallowfield: Trash pickup moved to Saturday.
- East Goshen: Shifted by one day through the week, beginning Tuesday for Monday customers.
- Easttown: Trash pickup moved to Tuesday.
- Elverson: Trash pickup moved to Wednesday.
- Sadsbury: Shifted by one day through the week
- Spring City: Trash and recycling delayed until Tuesday and Wednesday.
- Upper Uwchlan: Trash and recycling for Monday will be delayed until at least Tuesday, but the township may have further updates.
- Uwchlan: Trash pickup moved to Wednesday.
- West Chester: Shifted by one day through the week.
- West Goshen: No collection Monday; the township will provide updates on collection for Tuesday.
- West Whiteland: Trash pickup moved to Wednesday.
- Westtown: Shifted by one day through the week, beginning Tuesday for Monday customers and Friday for Thursday customers.
January 26, 2026
Trash pickup, school closures, and rescheduled meetings: What you need to know post-snowstorm in Cherry Hill

The largest snowstorm in a decade just hit the Philadelphia area, closing schools and coating the roads with a sheen of slippery white stuff.

Cherry Hill received 7 inches of snow as of Sunday evening, according to the National Weather Service.

Winter storm totals: How much snow and ice fell in the Philadelphia area?

Garbage and recycling will not be picked up in Cherry Hill on Monday. There will be a one-day delay on all pickups.

Cherry Hill’s township offices, the public library, and the Cherry Hill schools are all closed Monday. The King’s Christian School and the Y.A.L.E. School in Cherry Hill are also closed, as is the Katz J.C.C.

The township has urged residents to stay off the roads so that crews can continue plowing.

The township council meeting scheduled for Monday night has been moved to Wednesday, with the caucus meeting beginning at 7 p.m. and the council meeting beginning at 7:30 p.m.

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.

January 26, 2026
Fitness classes, juice bars, and cryotherapy: The new, upscale gym coming to Cherry Hill and Lower Merion

Boutique gym Club Studio Fitness is expanding to the Philadelphia area with new locations in Cherry Hill and Wynnewood.

Club Studio is set to take over 30,240 square feet at Cherry Hlil’s Ellisburg Shopping Center in the former BuyBuy Baby storefront. The gym is expected to open in spring 2027.

The Cherry Hill gym will be Club Studio’s second New Jersey gym. The California-based chain opened its first Garden State location in Edgewater in May.

A rendering of the Club Studio Fitness gym slated to open in the Ellisburg Shopping Center in Cherry Hill, N.J., in spring 2027.

The high-end gym chain is also set to open on the Main Line late this year. Club Studio will take over a 50,000-square-foot space in the Wynnewood Shopping Center, a space formerly home to Bed Bath & Beyond. The Wynnewood gym is expected to open toward the end of 2026.

Both shopping centers are owned by Federal Realty Investment Trust, a Maryland-based real estate trust with a large Philadelphia-area footprint.

The addition of Club Studio is “an exciting new chapter for Wynnewood Shopping Center” that continues “the evolution towards more relevant shopping, dining, and now, wellness” experiences, Jeffrey Fischer, Federal Realty’s vice president of leasing, said in a news release.

The Cherry Hill and Wynnewood gyms will have boutique fitness classes; free weights areas; strength and functional training zones; cardio equipment; juice bars; cryotherapy and red-light therapy; and personal stretch stations.

Club Studio is planning to open another Pennsylvania location in Collegeville. The chain has around a dozen locations across the U.S., with a large presence in California, and has around 20 new gyms in the works, according to its website.

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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.

January 26, 2026
A former industrial site making up 10% of Kennett Square could become housing — after it’s decontaminated

One of Kennett Square’s last remaining sizable undeveloped parcels could get hundreds of townhomes and apartments — once contamination cleanup of a former industrial site passes muster.

But even with the OK from state and federal environmental officials, it would be years — and require more sign-offs at the municipal level — before the developer eyeing a residential complex at the former National Vulcanized Fiber site could break ground.

And the site’s owners face headwinds beyond the governmental approval, as some borough residents worry that the site is not safe for homes.

Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, agencies that have to ultimately green-light the land as safe for people to live on, sought to assuage those concerns Tuesday during a town hall that explained the processes for cleanup and the standards the developer would have to meet for any homes to be built.

It was the latest update regarding a proposed residential complex that would feature 246 townhomes and 48 apartments, located at the 22-acre lot on 400 W. Mulberry St., not far from the historic district of the borough, on a plot of land that has languished for almost 20 years.

It’s one of the largest untouched parcels in the borough, making up at least 10% of Kennett Square, which is one square mile. Developers project the residential complex would increase the population of the 7,000-person borough by 15%.

The site, which housed National Vulcanized Fiber from the late 1890s until it shut down in 2007, was purchased by its current owner in 2009 and has been the subject of cleanup efforts for more than a decade after the land was found to be contaminated with so-called forever chemicals.

“It feels like the cart was put before the horse for the public,” one resident, Sarah Hardin, said during Tuesday’s meeting. “I think it’s the fact that we’re all feeling like this was guns a-blazing forward, and we would like to know that all the proper environmental steps are taken.”

The former National Vulcanized Fiber in Kennett Square on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026. Once an industrial site, the property’s current owner is seeking to eventually turn it into a residential development. But first, the property has to be decontaminated that satisfy state and federal requirements.

What’s the history of the site?

For more than 100 years, National Vulcanized Fiber ran operations on the property, creating a slew of products with vulcanized fiber — a durable, flexible, lightweight plastic-like material that was used to make anything from trash cans to computer circuit boards.

Production of those items led to contamination of the site; polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were identified in the 1980s, after contamination spread into Red Clay Creek. That prompted the EPA to become involved, said Amanda Michel, the agency’s PCB coordinator for the region.

The chemicals are probable carcinogens, linked to liver and breast cancer, melanoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The chemical is also associated with birth defects, developmental delays, and immune system dysfunction.

Remediation began after the chemicals were found in the 1980s, and NVF folded in 2007. Rockhopper LLC purchased the property two years later and began cleaning the site, eyeing future residential development.

Along with the federal cleanup, in 2010 the owners began a voluntary state cleanup process — which is aimed at redeveloping contaminated, vacant, and unused parcels into productive uses — to target the other chemicals found on the site.

In both cases, the owners have to demonstrate, through sample testing, that contamination has been lowered to a threshold acceptable for human health or that they have the proper barriers in place to prevent exposure.

“Until that happens, there will not be a residential occupant at this property,” said Jonathan Spergel, an environmental lawyer representing Rockhopper.

What is the developer proposing?

Under the proposed development, the property would have 104 stacked and 38 unstacked townhomes, along with 48 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. The owners said the project would comprise affordable and market-value units. A proposed rezoning ordinance would require 15% of the homes to be affordable.

That component was critical for Kennett Square officials, Mayor Matt Fetick said in an interview last week.

“It’s our best opportunity to have an affordable component,” he said.

Alongside those homes, the property would have roughly 732 parking spaces, and 50 would be added to Mulberry Street.

To offset feared bottlenecks, the property’s proposed plan would have five driveways to distribute traffic flow.

The site’s developers estimate that the property would bring in $382,000 for the borough and more than $830,000 for the school district each year.

Another portion of the site serves as a baseball field at the high school, and no further development is planned there, the property’s owners said in 2024.

The project is helmed by Rockhopper LLC, which is led by two development firms, Delaware Valley Development Corp. and Catalyst City. They brought in Lennar, a home-building company, in 2021. Lennar has done at least two similar projects, remediating industrial lots in Phoenixville and in Bridgeport for residential use, a representative said previously.

What are residents’ concerns?

On Tuesday, residents shared stories of loved ones who lived near the site who have been diagnosed with cancer. They worried that the developer could skew data to move the project forward. They wondered why there had been no urgency to clean it up before.

Officials said the developer has to work with an independent environmental professional and their agencies had been on site throughout the cleanup process.

Corey Barber, who lived near the site for 20 years and moved out of the area after her cancer diagnosis in 2021, worried what construction on the site would bring.

“People are going to believe that they’re going to get cancer from the dust kicking up,” she said.

Charla Watson, who lives right by the property, said there was distrust because the community has not seen the work the developer says is happening.

“It’s just been a wasteland,” she said. “Everything looks the same the day they moved out of there.”

What comes next?

The developer is going through two processes simultaneously. As it cleans up the property to get the necessary state and federal approvals for residential development, it is also working at the municipal level for the land to be rezoned so it can build the residences.

The borough is advertising a change to the ordinance that would rezone the land.

If the ordinance is approved, the developer could formally start developing the land — which would come with at least another year of planning and meetings.

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.

January 25, 2026
New grocery stores are coming to Chester County. Here’s what and where.

From national chains to homegrown operations, as Chester County continues to grow, so too do the grocery store offerings.

Here’s a look at some of the stores opening around the county.

Kimberton Whole Foods expanding

This spring, locally owned Kimberton Whole Foods will open its largest location in the county in Eagleview Town Center. Construction began in 2024, roughly 20 years after the location in Kimberton Village opened at a former hardware store.

“We look forward to serving Eagleview and the surrounding communities with healthy, locally sourced grocery options in a customer-focused environment,” Ezra Brett, chief operations officer for Kimberton Whole Foods, said in a statement.

The new 14,000-square-foot facility will continue the store’s offerings of organic produce, grass-fed meats, specialty cheese, grab-and-go meals, and more.

The store will join the growing Eagleview Town Center, which offers restaurants, salons and spas, professional offices, daycares, and more.

West Chester Cooperative slated for opening

West Chester is slated to get a brick-and-mortar member-owned grocery this year, with West Chester Cooperative at 204 W. Market St.

Permits were submitted to the borough in December, according to the grocery’s website.

The cooperative kicked off more than a decade ago, formed by a group of borough residents who wanted sustainable, local alternatives to chain grocery stores.

Over the next 10 years, the group launched outreach efforts, opened a pop-up market, and did curbside pickup and limited in-store shopping hours. In 2022, it reached 500 member-owners.

The grocery will be open to all shoppers, but member-owners will receive select benefits.

Kennett Square is also getting its own cooperative grocery store

West Chester isn’t the only municipality in Chesco getting a different model of grocery store. Also nearly a decade in the works, Kennett Square’s Kennett Community Grocer is expected to open this spring at 625 E. Cypress St.

Renovations began in 2025, and the store will offer locally grown produce; dairy, eggs, and meat from county farms; local baked goods and prepared foods; pantry staples from local producers; and a cafe for community members. It will also hold educational and other events led by healthcare professionals and farmers.

“It felt like doing this was to highlight for everyone that we have this precious land that’s quite beautiful, that is very bountiful with products, not just mushrooms, but meat, dairy, produce, fruit, vegetables,” said Edie Burkey, president of the nonprofit board leading the grocer. “We felt that bringing people together for the common cause of supporting the land that we’re very, very proud to be part of was a good thing.”

Farmers will get a free cup of coffee at the cafe, which will sell locally roasted coffee, and local teas and honey. The store hopes to partner with the high school’s culinary students for an internship program. Products that don’t sell will be donated to organizations like Philabundance’s Mighty Writers, Children’s Advocacy Centers of Pennsylvania, and others, Burkey said.

“We all eat, and to create a community around eating — things that are grown around here — and protecting the land so that maybe farmers don’t sell their land to developers, you’re just creating a sense of community in and around an activity that is so vital to every part of your day, every day of the year,” Burkey said.

Other national chains coming to the county

Meanwhile, bigger chains are also looking to call the county home. Phoenixville could see two national stores coming in the coming months.

Construction for an Aldi, an international discount supermarket, began over the summer at 297 Schuylkill Road.

Meanwhile, Sprouts Farmers Market, the Arizona-based organic and natural grocery store, is also eyeing a location in Phoenixville. Most of the grocer’s local footprint is within Philadelphia, but a Phoenixville location would broaden the store’s reach further west.

The Phoenixville location is proposed at 808 Valley Forge Road, where the former Royal Bank used to sit. It would operate 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, next to an indoor self-storage facility.

January 23, 2026