The Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters plans to relocate its headquarters and two local training centers to the Philadelphia Navy Yard.
“We’re extremely excited about the prospects and what this facility is going to transform into over the next few years,” William Sproule, executive secretary-treasurer for the Carpenters, said on Tuesday. “It’s really only the beginning of the story, and we’re going to be doing a lot of neat things down there.”
The council had outgrown its Spring Garden Street facility, Sproule said, and started seeking a new property 2½ years ago. Philadelphia buildings continue to have vacancies as a result of the pandemic, he said, and the current state of the real estate industry represented an opportunity.
The council purchased the Navy Yard building for $52.5 million, said Sproule, and the deal closed on Dec. 19. The building at 5 Crescent Dr. previously sold for $130.5 million in 2018.
The pharmaceutical company moved its operations to the Navy Yard from Center City in 2013.
Although GSK was a remote-friendly company since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the building remained well used until 2020.
Then, in 2022, GSK moved its operations out of the then-lightly used Navy Yard office to a 50,000-square-foot office in University City’s FMC Tower. In an unusual move the company continued to pay rent at the former location, and did not seek to sublease the space.
That left the building at 5 Crescent Dr. in a tricky position: it is difficult to get new financing on a vacant building, even if rent is still being paid, because it is clear that when the lease is up the tenant will not renew. As a result, the building owner, Korea Investment Management Co., ran into financial problems on the property which went into foreclosure.
Special servicer Rialto Capital Management has been handling the day-to-day care of the building in recent years. Neither Rialto nor GSK immediately replied to requests for comment.
Office space in the Navy Yard is in high demand, with no official vacancy thanks to GSK’s continued rental of their former space. According to the official website, it hosts over 16,500 workers from 150 companies.
Carpenters union’s plans for the Navy Yard
Plans for the Navy Yard site include constructing a training facility adjacent to the purchased building that would eventually replace the council’s Northeast Philly and New Castle training centers, said Sproule. He estimated that it could cost $30 million to build out “on the low end,” and take at least 24 months to complete.
The move to the Navy Yard will also improve accessibility for some, said Sproule. When apprentices who live in the city are first starting out, they might not have access to a car, he said, adding that the new site is conveniently located near the NRG SEPTA stop.
“I think it’s going to be extremely convenient for members doing journeyman upgrade classes that live within the city limits as well as apprentices that live within the city limits that may not drive as much as folks that live out in the suburbs,” he said.
Sproule said employees of the union could be working out of the Navy Yard site as soon as the end of April, with initially up to 125 people based out of the building’s fourth floor.
The council has also already identified some potential tenants to lease out parts of the Navy Yard building.
Sproule said the council is considering selling the Spring Garden facility, or getting it “zoned for a mid-rise, multifamily structure.”
“We may try to build something similar to what’s across the street, or we may sell it to an interested party. We haven’t made those decisions yet,” he said. “I guess it’s just going to be a matter of what’s more practical and feasible.”
Cyclists ride past 5 Crescent Dr. at the Navy Yard in Philadelphia, Pa., on Monday, April 29, 2024.
Sproule said the purchase of the Navy Yard site seemed from the start like “a really good deal.” Then when he learned from an article in the Philadelphia Business Journal that the building at one time had sold for roughly $130 million, he said, “knowing that somebody actually invested that kind of capital for that building back then — which wasn’t that long ago, when you think about it — makes me really feel good about our endeavors that we’re about to embark on.”
“Aside from our pension funds and all the investments that we do on that end to make sure that they are strong and secure for generations to come, we do have general fund assets that our Regional Council uses for operational purposes. We just hit a spot in time where we had an opportunity to possibly look at an investment of this size and magnitude, and it was just a matter of being at the right time, at the right place,” he said.
Navy Yard neighbors
The Carpenters are not the first building trades union to move to the Navy Yard from Spring Garden.
In 2023, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 98 announced that it would be relocating its headquarters from 1719 Spring Garden St. The union purchased two properties for $18.5 million.
“We’re excited to be their neighbors,” said Sproule.
The Regional Council of Carpenters and Local 98 are among the most powerful building trades unions in Philadelphia, and they have strong membership bases in South Jersey and South Philadelphia, making the Navy Yard location at the edge of the city ideal for many members.
The spacious property at the Navy Yard also allows room for training facilities, which could be difficult to co-locate with a headquarters office in other parts of the city.
On the other side of Philadelphia is another concentration of building trades infrastructure in the Far Northeast. Near the Bucks County line, this hub provides similar advantages for union locals that include the Steamfitters, Ironworkers, and Bricklayers.
South Jersey’s Frank Cairone, an 18-year-old pitching prospect with the Milwaukee Brewers, remains hospitalized after a serious car accident Friday night in Gloucester County.
According to the Franklin Township police, the Delsea Regional High graduate and a 20-year-old female passenger were injured following a vehicle crash at 10:15 p.m. Police said the crash happened when an 18-year-old female driver from Millville was traveling east at the intersection of Williamstown and Fries Mill Roads in Franklin and failed to stop at a stop sign. The car struck Cairone’s vehicle, which was traveling south.
Cairone was flown to Atlantic City Medical Center and remained hospitalized as of Tuesday. No information has been given about his condition or when he would be released. The female passenger, who suffered injuries to her lower extremities, was driven to Cooper University Hospital in Camden.
The Brewers have released a statement about pitching prospect Frank Cairone, who ranks 26th on @MLBPipeline’s list of Milwaukee’s top prospects. pic.twitter.com/1VJqTaKXWo
The driver of the other car was also taken to Cooper University Hospital with lower extremity injuries. According to police, she is expected to be charged with reckless driving and disregarding a stop sign. Alcohol and drugs did not play a role in the crash, police said.
Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said Monday that Cairone was “progressing positively. The reports we’ve gotten are good.”
The 6-foot-3 pitcher was selected 68th overall in the MLB draft in July and was considered one of the top lefties available. He withdrew a commitment to Coastal Carolina to sign with Milwaukee and spent part of the summer and fall at the Brewers’ facility in Arizona in hopes of making his professional debut this year.
With Delsea last season, Cairone was clocked throwing as high as 94 mph and kept an 88- to 90-mph pace in later innings. He struck out 94 batters in 44 innings and helped the Crusaders to an NJSIAA Group 3 quarterfinal appearance.
Former Pemberton Township Mayor Jack Tompkins revealed in a rare interview this week that lawsuits stemming from allegations of misconduct against him made him uninsurable, compelling him to resign to avoid financial ruin.
The township’s insurance carrier “decided to cancel my insurance,“ said Tompkins, 64, who resigned on Dec. 31. ”They notified me and the township in October. I weighed my options and the smartest thing to do was to resign. Withdrawal of insurance coverage would have financially devastated me.”
Tompkins, a Republican, was long under fire for alleged sexual harassment and other behavior over the last two years.
On Wednesday, the five-member township council of the Pine Barrens community in Burlington County — all Republicans — will choose one of three GOP candidates to replace Tompkins. The three candidates were selected by the Republican municipal county committee last week to serve the balance of the year. The committee didn’t release the candidates’ names.
Tompkins was the subject of a highly critical independent investigation in April 2024 that was commissioned by township officials and conducted by a Hackensack law firm, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden.
Some of the report’s more serious allegations included inappropriate interactions with female lifeguards under age 18; sexual harassment of the township’s recreation director, who sued Tompkins and the township, winning a $500,000 judgment.
He was also accused of a pattern of misconduct — such as poking a woman in the head, or discussing rape in township offices — that was sometimes accompanied by obscene language and “retaliatory” outbursts, fostering what the investigators who wrote the report termed a “severe chilling effect” that silenced anyone who felt wronged and allowed Tompkins to continue his aberrant behavior.
Tompkins said that while he was mayor, he worked in a “toxic environment created by [township] council, and I was walking on eggshells.
“Things got really ugly and nasty.”
He added that his time in office left “such a dirty taste in my mouth about politics, I want nothing to do with it anymore.”
In office since January 2023, Tompkins, 64, a retired Air Force veteran, refused to quit during his tumultuous tenure despite calls from members of both political parties for him to do so, including Gov. Phil Murphy.
Over time, the township council officially censured Tompkins, whose pay was cut from $13,000 annually to $4,000, to $1.
Tompkins told The Inquirer on Monday herelented after the Burlington County Municipal Joint Insurance Fund, which covers the township, informed him of their decision to no longer insure him. The fund cited “numerous claims resulting from your interaction with Pemberton Township employees over the past several years.”
Township officials said last summer thatmore lawsuits connected to Tompkins were expected.
In the interview, he said that inappropriate behavior with lifeguards “never happened.” He also said that any alleged misconduct “toward [other] females never happened.” He declined to comment on additional allegations.
Tompkins said there have been “zero criminal charges” leveled against him. He added, “Everything has been civil allegations, and nothing’s been proven.”
Asked why these allegations were made in the first place, Tompkins said, “You’re looking for an answer to something I don’t know. I don’t know what they were trying to do.”
Accused on several occasions of cursing and being harsh to staff, Tompkins explained, “Sometimes when you’re the boss and tell somebody they need to get something done, I guess they wanted me to ask ‘pretty please.’ With my military background, that wouldn’t always happen.”
Tompkins said he’s survived the experience with the support of friends and family “who knew this was nonsense.”
Sherry Scull, a former Democratic township council member, has publicly supported Tompkins, and continues to do so. “I’ve never seen signs of him doing what he was accused of,” she said.“I think his resigning is sad.”
Others contacted this week didn’t agree.
“This has been a total embarrassment for the town,” said Republican council member Dan Dewey.
Abby Bargar, Republican municipal chair for Pemberton Township, said, “I always liked Jack, but I think he made some bad decisions. It was the best thing for the party that he stepped down.”
Throughout town, the reaction to the end of Tompkins’s administration is “overwhelmingly positive,” said Marti Graf Wenger, president of the Browns Mills Improvement Association. Browns Mills is an unincorporated section of Pemberton Township; the association works to improve and promote the area, once a “Gatsby-esque” locale with chic hotels that drew well-off Philadelphians vacationing in the woods, Wenger said.
She added, “Tompkins treated this town like his dictatorship. There’s just a sense of relief now, a feeling that we can start fresh and hope our leadership will be better.”
Asked whether lingering resentments will make it difficult to remain in town, Tompkins said he’s not going anywhere.
“I just want to go into retirement and put this chapter behind me,” he said. “I’ve traveled the world, and I’ve settled here. I once said I’m going to die in this house. So this is where I’ll be.”
Philadelphia-area restaurant diners will have plenty of new options in 2026 — among them, a chic wine bar/bottle shop in Chestnut Hill, an all-day Italian spot from Ellen Yin and High Street Hospitality in Rittenhouse, an Asian fusion/sushi bar in Penn Center from Teddy Sourias, a retro French “bouillon” in Washington Square West, a white-tablecloth destination in Fort Washington, a Euro-style cocktail-bar collab between Forsythia chef Christopher Kearse and design house PS & Daughters at the former Varga Bar space, plus restaurateur Jeffrey Chodorow’s swank, retro splash at the Bellevue, topped with stunning light fixtures and a Ferris wheel on the bar toting top-shelf selections.
I’ll offer first word on those projects, and — because we go high-end and low-end around here — I’ll also drop the news about a luxe tasting-menu restaurant coming to Merchantville’s recently shuttered Park Place Cafe as well as a takeout counterinside a Center City gas station.
And have you heard the one about the comedy club coming to South Broad Street?
The 2026 lineup includes a few projects announced in 2025, such as Greg Vernick’s Italian restaurant Emilia in Kensington; the New York-based Ayat, serving homey Palestinian food in a casual setting in the former Roxy Theater in Rittenhouse; chef Elijah Milligan’s Lovechild at the 990 Spring Garden building; the bold Indian restaurant Adda in Kensington, from New York’s acclaimed Unapologetic Foods; the novel, crowd-sourced restaurant called Recipe Phillyat Broad and Arch; the all-day cafe, bakery, and pub in Chestnut Hill called the Blue Warbler; the new location of Collingswood’s Hearthside; Charles Barkley’s yet-to-be-named King of Prussia steakhouse; and Savú, a mod Washington Square West lounge on two levels. (The deal to open the New York hit Pig & Khao at the former Martha in Kensington blew up last spring, but another restaurant is on the way for the space.)
The dining room of Adda in New York City’s East Village.
Altogether, well over 100 restaurants fill the rows on my 2026 tracking spreadsheet, and more surely will crop up. I can’t tag everything here. Details are scarce about Stephen Starr’s forthcoming project at the former Devon Seafood Grill on Rittenhouse Square, as they are on Pica’s timeline for its new takeout location in Delaware County.
Love & Honey Fried Chicken (1111 W. Lancaster Ave., Bryn Mawr)
The Northern Liberties-based fried-chicken outlet expands to the Main Line. Grand opening: Jan. 17
Malooga (203 Haverford Ave., Narberth)
The Old City Yemeni restaurant joins the Main Line with lunch and dinner service, a bakery, and expanded space for groups and outdoor dining. Late January
The California-inspired restaurant at Ellis Preserve boasts an extensive list of domestic and international wines in a polished setting. February
A group digs into a box of PopUp Bagels.
PopUp Bagels (Anderson and Coulter Avenues, Ardmore)
The viral bagel sensation will enter the Philly market across from Shake Shack at Suburban Square; a lease for a Center City location is being finalized. Mid- to late February
Salt Korean Barbecue Steakhouse/Yugo (840 W. Lancaster Ave., Devon)
The owners of Salt Korean BBQ in North Wales are headed to the Main Line for two restaurants on the former site of La Jonquille and Shiraz. Salt will be a luxe Korean BBQ experience. The Japanese-themed Yugo upstairs, opening after Salt is running smoothly, will have a carousel bearing premium sushi. Late summer
Testa Rossa (523 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne)
Fearless Hospitality will bring a second location of its fun-loving Italian restaurant to Wayne’s former Bertucci’s. April
333 Belrose (333 Belrose Lane, Radnor)
The Main Line stalwart is undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation. January/February
Wild Yeast Bakehouse (503 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne)
New restaurants in Montgomery County, King of Prussia, and Bucks County
Academy Grill (424 S. Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington)
Michael Sloane and Jay Rosenthal, of Jasper’s Backyard in Conshohocken and the Fort in Fort Washington, are transforming Cantina Feliz’s previous location into a white-tablecloth, Italian-inspired restaurant. The menu will have seafood, steaks, and house-made pasta from Jeffrey Power, longtime chef of the nearby Dettera in Ambler, which Sloane and Rosenthal recently purchased. When Academy opens, they will close Dettera and, 100 days later, renovate and roll out what they call an approachable pan-Mediterranean concept on the site. March
Amma’s South Indian Cuisine (280 N. Sycamore St., Newtown)
The South Jersey-rooted operation’s sixth location will replace a former Zoe’s Kitchen. Spring
Cecilia (266 E. Fourth St., Bridgeport)
The crew from Blue Bell Inn and Horsham’s Copper Crow is taking over the defunct Taphouse 23 for a contemporary American bar-restaurant. March
Charles Barkley’s steakhouse (Valley Forge Casino in King of Prussia)
The still-unnamed project, announced in October, attaches the NBA star to a sleek luxury dining and smoking experience, complete with personal memorabilia from his career and a walk-in humidor. No timeline
Haraz Coffee House (1459 Bethlehem Pike, Flourtown)
The fast-growing Yemeni coffee house expands into a former Starbucks. Jan. 15
Lazy Dog(160 N. Gulph Rd., King of Prussia)
The Rocky Mountain lodge-themed restaurant is coming to the mall after a long delay. Late 2026 (The Mount Laurel location is not due till 2027.)
Melange on Sycamore (255 N. Sycamore St., Newtown)
Taking shape in the former Sycamore Grill is chef Joe Brown’s revival of his erstwhile South Jersey restaurants with a Louisiana-meets-Italian menu. February
Nudy’s Cafe (122 Park Ave., Willow Grove)
Diner king Ray Nudy is teeing up a location across from the Marshall’s store. Spring
RiverTide Brewing (58-B E. Bridge St., Morrisville)
Pennsbury High grads Frank Brill, Ken Terry, and Rob Staples have taken over the former Bitchin’ Kitten space. January/February
Table 8460 by Amina (8460 Limekiln Pike, Wyncote)
Felicia Wilson and chef Darryl Harmon (Amina, BlackHen, FIA, AVANA, and First Daughter Oyster & Co.) are creating a rustic farm-to-table restaurant at the Towers at Wyncote. February
New restaurants in South Jersey
Bar Tacconelli(461 Route 38, Maple Shade)
Vince Tacconelli and partners Stacey Lyons and Greg Listino are turning the former Versa Vino into a 50-seat Italian cocktail lounge serving oysters, charcuterie, fried bites, and pastas — but no pizza, as it’s four minutes from Tacconelli’s Maple Shade location. February
Duo Restaurant & Bar (90 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township)
The former Keg & Kitchen is reopening under the owners of Cherry Hill’s Il Villaggio, who plan to keep the bar menu and supplement with small plates. January/February
Eclipse Brewing (25 E. Park Ave., Merchantville)
New owner Megan Hilbert refreshed the space and expanded the outdoor setup with fire pits, patio seating, and a tented event area. Alongside house beer, Eclipse will offer alcoholic and nonalcoholic seltzers and its popular root beer, rotate food trucks and local vendors, and lean heavily into events — trivia, comedy, and pop-ups — as Hilbert frames it as a community gathering spot. Grand opening: Feb. 6.
Gouldsburger’s
The fast-growing fast-casual sandwich specialist has several on the way: 27 N. Maple Ave. in Marlton (February), 110 High St. in Glassboro (April), and 1251 Burlington Pike in Cinnaminson (spring).
Happy Place Homemade (690 Stokes Rd., Medford)
Ice cream, doughnuts, and other fun foods. Jan. 23.
Haraz Coffee House (113 Route 73, Marlton)
The Yemeni coffee house premieres in South Jersey with a location in Marlton Crossing. March
Hearthside (105–107 Haddon Ave., Haddon Township)
After eight years in Collingswood, chef/owner Dominic Piperno plans to move down the street into larger digs with a bar, lounge, and outdoor patio. He says he’d like to set up a chef in Hearthside’s existing space. Fall
After a year’s delay, Chris Fetfatzes says his bagel shop is finally coming round. Spring
Pizzeria Cusumano (872 Haddon Ave., Collingswood)
On the books since September 2021, this artisan pizzeria from third-generation pizzaiolo Sal Cusumano is back on track.“Q1”
Chef Chris Bennett (left) with June chef-owner Richard Cusack at a food event.
1793 (7 E. Park Ave., Merchantville)
Chris Bennett, chef de cuisine at Collingswood’s stellar June BYOB, has taken over the tiny Park Place Cafe for a tasting-menu restaurant whose six-course contemporary American menu will emphasize seafood, pastas, risottos, and a consistent duck entrée. Bennett, a carpenter in his first career, is building it out to feel like an upscale library, with dark woods and leather seating. He’s aiming for fine dining without formality. “I want people to leave full and happy,” he said. March
New restaurants in Philadelphia
Center City West / Rittenhouse / Logan Square
Ayat (2021 Sansom St.)
Abdul Elenani’s Palestinian restaurant is as well known, especially outside New York, for its outspokenness as it is for its mansaf (a lamb stew served over saj and rice) and maklouba (a six-layer, upside-down chicken and vegetable dish). March
Bar Caviar (256 S. 16th St.)
At Dwight D Hotel, a new bar whose Champagne list is expected to read more like a collector’s catalog than a bar menu: 50 selections in total, with 15 by the glass. Spring
Cake & Joe (1735 Market St.)
Sarah Qi and Trista Tang are opening the third location of their pastry/breakfast/lunch shop at BNY Mellon Center. January
Carolyn’s Modern Vietnamese (2015 Walnut St.)
Carolyn Nguyen is moving up as Revolution Taco moves out; she’ll take over for her Viet-Cajun hybrid. Early 2026
A chill, elegant bar above the new Wine Dive. Late summer
Mac Mart (Arch Street just west of 18th Street)
After 13 years at 18th and Chestnut Streets, sisters Marti Lieberman and Pamela Lorden are pivoting to a kiosk outside the Four Seasons at 18th and Arch. It’s built for grab-and-go, drawing on lessons from Mac Mart’s successful Munch Machines vending operation. In addition to mac and cheese, the kiosk will feature rotating wraps, hoagies, and products from local food businesses. Mid-January
Mahmood Islam and Samina Akbar at MOTW Coffee, 2101 Market St.,
A rendering of Mr. Edison, Jeffrey Chodorow’s first Philadelphia restaurant, with a bartop carousel at left. The restaurant is due to open in the Bellevue in spring 2026.
Mr. Edison (the Bellevue, Broad and Walnut Streets)
Jeffrey Chodorow calls this a “new generation” supper club that honors tradition while embracing the present — pairing the clubbiness, sophistication, and hospitality-driven focus of classic supper clubs with a modern culinary approach and live entertainment from a stage. The name nods to the Bellevue, whose lighting and electrification were overseen by Thomas Edison himself. Chodorow says it will “pulse with modern electric energy,” illuminated by warm, Edison-inspired lighting. The farm-to-table menu will be supplied in large part from Chodorow’s farm in New Hope, and dishes will be inspired by the iconic Philadelphia restaurants that influenced Chodorow’s personal culinary journey, including Le Bec-Fin, La Panetiere, Jimmy’s Milan, Bookbinder’s, Astral Plane, Knave of Hearts, Frog, and Commissary. March
O’Morrey’s (1720 Sansom St.)
Main Line-based chefs Biff Gottehrer and Kenjiro Omori (Refectory, the Ripplewood, Izzy’s) are developing this cocktail bar in the spirit of the Ripplewood on the former site of Genji, which Omori’s father created decades ago. O’Morrey’s is a cheeky rendering of Omori’s last name. Early summer
Recipe Philly (1401 Arch St.)
A full-service restaurant created by local businessman Ed Baumstein, who has invited the public to submit family recipes to create the menu. The entire build-up to opening is being filmed for a reality series. May
Restaurateur Ellen Yin will open a new Italian restaurant in Rittenhouse in 2026.
An Ellen Yin project (1620 Sansom St.)
Yin and High Street Hospitality have taken a space next to Uchi in Rittenhouse for an unnamed Italian restaurant. Spring
A Teddy Sourias sushi bar (1515 Market St.)
Sourias has no firm opening date or even name for his latest restau-bar, a splashy, two-level Asian fusion space that will subsume the shuttered HSBC Bank at 16th Street, adjacent to his Uptown Beer Garden. There’s an eight-seat sushi bar that will be overseen by the crew from Kichi Omakase. No timeline
The bar inside the Teddy Sourias restaurant at 1515 Market St. on Dec. 31.
Center City East / Old City
Chibanos (1127 Pine St.)
Evan Fong Jaroff, who melds his background — his mother is Chinese and born in Cuba, his dad is Russian American Jewish — will specialize in pressed sandwiches at the former Effie’s in Washington Square West. March
Harlem Shake (1330 Walnut St.)
The old-school burger shop, whose name was borrowed from the dance created by Al B. (Albert Boyce), has an atmosphere that pays homage to Harlem, home of its original location. No timeline
The future Known Associates, on the former site of Varga Bar, 941 Spruce St., on Dec. 31.
Known Associates (941 Spruce St.)
Chef Christopher Kearse of the Michelin-recommended Forsythia and designers PS & Daughters will open a cocktail bar at the former Varga Bar. Specifics are few for now, but the line is that food will play a more substantial role than at most American cocktail bars and will have a clear European influence. “That idea really clicked for us in Milan on my honeymoon — seeing how naturally great drinks and serious, satisfying food can live together,” Kearse said. The design reflects that same depth and intention. “Nothing here is minimal,” said Phoebe Schuh, PS & Daughters’ creative director. “We want to create a room built for lingering — where layers, atmosphere, and a sense of memory reward a closer look, and support the depth and creativity of Chris’ cocktails.” Spring
Chef Christopher Kearse and his wife, Lauren Kearse, during the cocktail hour at the Michelin Guide announcements at the Kimmel Center on Nov. 18.
Mi Vida (34 S. 11th St.)
Upscale Mexican player out of Washington, D.C., is opening next to Mom’s Organic Market in East Market. January/February
Piccolina (301 Chestnut St.)
A low-lit Italian restaurant and cocktail bar at the Society Hill Hotel from Michael Pasquarello (Cafe Lift, La Chinesca, Prohibition Taproom). Late winter/early spring
Savú, 208 S. 13th St.
Savú (208 S. 13th St.)
Kevin Dolce’s Hi-Def Hospitality has converted Washington Square West’s Cockatoo into a modern, bi-level dining and late-night lounge, with weekend brunch and Champagne brunch parties on Sundays. Jan. 30
Soufiane at the Morris (225 S. Eighth St.)
Soufiane Boutiliss and Christophe Mathon of Washington Square West’s intimate Sofi Corner Cafe are expanding into the genteel Morris House Hotel with an elegant but approachable restaurant inspired by France’s classic bouillons and brasseries. Menu will be split between small-plates bar offerings and full entrees: pâté en croûte, frog’s legs, bone marrow, smoked beef tartare, duck à l’orange, cassoulet, and mussels prepared with cream and curry, alongside Moroccan-influenced tagines. Breakfast, lunch, and brunch service will continue outdoors during the day, while the indoor dining room will open in the evenings only. February
Tun Tavern (207 Chestnut St.)
Montgomery Dahm, who owns Tun Tavern in Atlantic City, is retrofitting Old City’s Lucha Cartel into a tribute to the Marine Corps and is targeting early spring. (There’s a whole legal saga surrounding the name; the nonprofit group planning its own re-creation of the Tun around the corner hopes to open in 2027.) March
Society Hill / South Street
Kampar (611 S. Seventh St.)
Ange Branca hopes to reopen her Malaysian restaurant sometime in 2026; it’s undergoing extensive repairs from a February 2025 fire. No timeline
Taste Taco Bar (300 South St.)
Hi-Def Hospitality is readying this indoor/outdoor taco bar at the former Jon’s Bar & Grille. Spring
The long-delayed third location, just off Second and Girard, from the Center City Sichuan specialist is on track for 2026; its name hasn’t been set. Spring
Emilia (2406 Frankford Ave.)
Chef Greg Vernick and chef de cuisine Meredith Medoway lead a neighborhood trattoria featuring a seasonal menu built around house-made pasta and live-fire cooking. Late January/early February
ILU (2118 Dauphin St.)
A low-lit cocktail bar with Spanish tapas from Vintage Syndicate in the former Old Philadelphia Bar. February
Joe & Kay(702 N. Second St.)
Owen Kamihira (El Camino Real, Superette) and sons are behind a Northern Liberties izakaya — on the books for two years — named in honor of his grandparents, who owned a farm in Washington State before the family was interned during World War II. March
Matt Kuziemski has taken the old Penalty Box for a convivial 12-seat bar (amid 42 seats overall) with eclectic decor sourced from Thunderbird Salvage. Next week
7th Street Burger (1216 Shackamaxon St./1215 Frankford Ave.)
New Yorker Kevin Rezvani keeps the smash-burger menu simple; this location is just north of Girard Avenue and across from Frankford Hall and Fette Sau (another New York transplant). March
Slider & Co. (2043 Frankford Ave.)
William Johnson and Anesha Garrett are going the pop-up route at 2211 Frankford while awaiting their permanent home nearby. Spring
Terra Grill (1099 Germantown Ave.): Chef Laurent Tourondel, also behind Scusi Pizza, will tend this wood-fire grill at Piazza Alta. February
South Philly
Brunch Bulls (1638 W. Passyunk Ave.)
Brothers Derrick “Dee” and Jarrick “Jakk” Long are setting up an all-day bruncherie, where they’ll also serve their own liquor brand, Jakk & Dee Spirits Co.Spring
Claude’s Comedy Club & Bar (1123 S. Broad St.)
Reid Benditt, who publishes the comedic gem Philly Jabroni, plans a comedy club with a full bar featuring beer, cocktails, and fun food. (You don’t need a show ticket to sit at the bar, but it wouldn’t hurt.) Spring
EMei plans to open at the former Marra’s, as seen Nov. 30, its closing day after 98 years.
EMei (1734 E. Passyunk)
The Chinatown landmark takes the former Marra’s in South Philadelphia. Summer
Bartender Sam Ahern’s cozy, Euro-influenced homage to her spunky great-great-grandmother, who ran a speakeasy in North Jersey. Early 2026
Love & Honey Fried Chicken (1523 E. Passyunk Ave.)
The fried chicken chain heads to South Philadelphia. Spring
Long hot and provolone-stuffed Swabian pretzel from Pretzel Day Pretzels.
Pretzel Day Pretzels (1501 S. Fifth St.)
James and Annie Mueller’s pretzel-delivery operation gets a takeout home in South Philadelphia’s former Milk + Sugar. They bake classic soft pretzels, plus German-style variations rarely seen locally, including Swabian pretzels with a large, split-able belly and thin, crunchy arms. The shop will offer several stuffed options. February
Schmaltz (1300 S. 18th St.)
Jewish-inspired breakfast and lunch spot in Point Breeze from spouses Jeremy Asch and Abby Armstrong, who plan coffee, egg-and-cheese sandwiches on house-made English muffins (with pickle-brined crispy tofu as a vegan option), latkes, and blintzes. No timeline
Side Eye (623 S. Sixth St.)
Hank Allingham has taken the former Bistrot La Minette for a bar serving chef Finn Connors’ “French-ish” food alongside beer, $13 cocktails, and European wines. January
The Jeweler’s Row coffee-geek haven goes for its second location. No date
North of Center City / Loft District / Spring Garden
Lovechild (990 Spring Garden St.)
Well-traveled chef Elijah Milligan, taking over the former Lucky Well space with friends Simon and Yaminah Egan, plans an eclectic menu blending Japanese and Mexican cuisines, with a wood-fired grill as a centerpiece. They’re going for sleek and chic with cushy seating. The bar program will focus on clarified cocktails. The Lovechild name carries personal meaning for Milligan, who was raised by a single mother and is a single father himself. Spring
Chef Elijah Milligan in the space that will become his restaurant Lovechild at 990 Spring Garden St.
South Sichuan II (1537 Spring Garden St.)
A sequel for the South Philadelphia takeout. January/February
Yum Grills (1135 Vine St.)
Shahezad “Shah” Contractor and crew from Cousin’s Burger Co. are behind this halal shop selling smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken over rice, and wings out of a Shell station; at the Jan. 10 grand opening (1 p.m.), the first 100 people will get a double smash burger, fries, and soda.
West Philly / University City
Amina Ocean (4101 Market St.)
Felicia Wilson and chef Darryl Harmon (Amina, BlackHen, FIA, AVANA, and First Daughter Oyster & Co.) are going the seafood route for their long-awaited restaurant at 3.0 University Place. Summer
Burrito Feliz Cantina (4403 Chestnut St.)
Miguel Nolasco’s Burrito Feliz food truck — no relation to the Cantina Feliz restaurants in Fairmount, Manayunk, and Ambler — is partnering with Brewery ARS on a brick-and-mortar. No date
Kabobeesh and Karak Cha House (3748 Lancaster Ave.)
Asad Ghumman’s popular Pakistani restaurant and the street-food sibling are moving a mile within University City into bigger quarters at the Triad Apartments. January
Fahad Azam and Khurram Ghayas are franchisees of this Yemeni coffee shop, prepping for opening at the Triad. January
Northwest Philly
The Blue Warbler (8001 Germantown Ave.)
First-time restaurateur Fred Mogul calls this an “unfussy” all-day bakery-cafe-tavern serving “edgy, eclectic comfort food” accompanied by coffee, cocktails, wine, beer, and nonalcoholic drinks. February/March
Crust Vegan Bakery (4200 Ridge Ave.)
Meagan Benz’s vegan bakery, relocating from Manayunk to East Falls, will be an expanded shop/cafe in a century-old building just off Kelly Drive. January
Lovat Square (184 E. Evergreen Ave.)
Damien Graef and Robyn Semien — he’s lead sommelier at Philly’s Four Seasons, she’s a journalist who runs a podcast company called Placement Theory, and together they own Brooklyn’s long-running Bibber & Bell wine shop — are taking over Chestnut Hill’s former Top of the Hill Market and Mimi’s Cafe. Phase one, beginning in coming weeks, will be a wine shop featuring about 30 indoor seats, wines by the glass, tastings, and snacks. A 70-seat courtyard with a full dinner menu is planned for spring, followed by a late-fall opening of a full cocktail bar and restaurant.
Mermaid Bar (6745 Germantown Ave.)
Pizzaiolo Dan Gutter and business partner Alex Carbonell are redoing the shuttered Mermaid as a yet-to-be-named bar-restaurant whose pizzas will resemble Circles & Squares, the Kensington shop that became Gutter’s first brick-and-mortar location in 2019. (Gutter also has Pizza Plus in South Philly.) There will be a full bar, a large outdoor patio, and two levels: a bar downstairs and a dining room upstairs. Summer
Tyrese Maxey dropped one spot in the second round of NBA All-Star fan voting returns released Tuesday. The 76ers point guard now ranks third among Eastern Conference players and fifth overall.
Meanwhile, Joel Embiid remains 17th among players in the East.
Maxey had been fourth overall and second in the conference when the first returns dropped on Dec. 29. However, he was supplanted by New York Knicks point guard and former Villanova standout Jalen Brunson.
Los Angeles Lakers point guard Luka Dončić is the league’s top vote-getter with 2,229,811 votes, and Milwaukee Bucks forward and two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is second overall. He leads the East with 2,092,284 votes. Brunson has 1,916,497 votes, followed by Maxey at 1,908,978.
Fans account for 50% of the vote to determine the 10 starters for the All-Star Game, which will be played Feb. 15 at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif. A media panel and NBA players each account for 25% of the vote. This season, All-Stars are being selected regardless of position.
Voting will conclude at 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 14. NBC and Peacock will reveal the All-Star starters on Jan. 19. Coaches will select All-Star reserves at a later date.
Under a new format, two teams of U.S. players and one team of international players (the World team) will compete in a round-robin tournament featuring four 12-minute games.
Tyrese Maxey has the third-most Eastern Conference NBA All-Star votes in the second fan returns released today. The 76ers point guard was second in the first returns. pic.twitter.com/3TUUWxyz40
It’s not surprising that Maxey has a solid chance to be voted an All-Star starter.
An All-Star reserve in 2023, he entered Tuesday third in the league in scoring (31.0 points per game), fourth in steals (1.8), and 12th in assists (7.0). He’s also fourth in made three-pointers (120). And the sixth-year veteran has scored at least 30 points in 17 of his 32 games.
Maxey’s season highlight was a career-high 54 points, to go with nine assists, five rebounds, three steals, and three blocks in a 123-114 overtime victory over the Bucks. He joined Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlain (March 18, 1968) as the only two players in franchise history to produce at least 50 points and nine assists in a game.
Detroit Pistons point guard Cade Cunningham (1,752,801) and Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Donovan Mitchell (1,530,237) round out the East’s top five vote-getters.
The West’s top five vote-getters are Dončić, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (1,998,560), Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry (1,844,903), Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (1,554,468), and San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama (1,321,985).
Dan Vladař remembers watching the highlights of the Czech Republic’s only Olympic gold medal in men’s ice hockey. It was how he fell in love with the sport.
Growing up in Prague, the goalie was less than a year old when Dominik Hašek and former Flyers like Jaromír Jágr and the late Roman Čechmánek helped their country win at the 1998 Nagano Olympics.
Now the 28-year-old Flyers goalie will get a chance to follow in their footsteps. On Tuesday, Vladař was named to the Czechia, formerly known as the Czech Republic, team for the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.
“I wouldn’t say it was a goal, but it was maybe in the back of my head somewhere,” he said Monday before the announcement. “Obviously, especially coming here as a new guy, I didn’t really have time to think about it that way.
“I was just trying to establish myself on this team and get to know everybody and focus on myself and the team here.”
Vladař joked that if his phone didn’t ring, he’d go somewhere warm during the two-week NHL break. But how could Czechia leave him off the roster after the season he is having?
Through 24 games, Vladař is 15-6-3 with a 2.39 goals-against average and a .910 save percentage. His 24 starts are five off his career high, set last season when he backed up Dustin Wolf in Calgary. And his 15 wins are already his all-time best.
“I feel great. Still hungry, as everybody else is in this locker room,” he said about his season with the Flyers. “So, obviously, I’m glad for the opportunity and trying to take advantage of it every day. Body feels great. Head feels really good, too. So everything’s good.”
Flyers goaltender Dan Vladař is tied for eighth in the NHL with a .910 save percentage.
Everything is better than good. Vladař has looked sensational in net with his tracking and ability to read plays. He will put up a bad game here or there, but they have been few and far between as the Flyers have lost only once in regulation following a loss.
He’s also been one of the NHL’s top goalies.
Vladař’s save percentage ranks him tied for eighth in the league among goalies with 20 appearances, and his GAA is the fifth best. He could challenge to be Czechia’s starting goalie, too, as his numbers are better than those of Karel Vejmelka (.896, 2.70), who plays for Utah, and projected starter Lukáš Dostál (.887, 3.18), who might be in the opposite crease when the Flyers host the Anaheim Ducks on Tuesday (7 p.m., NBCSP).
“I think he worked on his game this summer because he went with a skating coach, and I think he wanted to work on some stuff like the next play, the rebound,” coach Rick Tocchet said before the season resumed after the holiday break. “And I noticed him this year, he’s in position for the second rebound. … I think Vladdy’s worked on that, and I think he’s really done a great job when it comes to that second save, being in position and not being out of position.”
Vladař joins Rasmus Ristolainen (Finland), Travis Sanheim (Canada), and Rodrigo Ābols, who was one of Latvia’s original six players named. Tocchet will be an assistant on Jon Cooper’s staff for Canada.
The netminder last played for Czechia at the 2025 IIHF men’s World Championship, posting a 3-0-0 record in four games with a 1.09 goals-against average and a .951 save percentage; Vladař relieved Vejmelka in the Czechs’ quarterfinal loss to Sweden.
It was the first time he suited up for his country since 2017 at the World Juniors. In 2014, he was the backup to Vítek Vaněček as the Czechs lost to the United States in the gold-medal game at World Juniors. That same year, he started the gold-medal game against Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament, giving up four goals, with one scored by his current teammate Travis Konecny.
Czechia is expected to compete for a medal in Milan, and boasts NHL stars like David Pastrňák (Boston Bruins), Martin Nečas (Colorado Avalanche), and Tomáš Hertl (Vegas Golden Knights). Former Flyers Radko Gudas (Anaheim Ducks) and Lukáš Sedlák (HC Dynamo Pardubice) will also suit up for the Czechs. The tournament begins on Feb. 11 and will run through the gold-medal game on Feb. 22.
Breakaway
After clearing waivers on Tuesday, Egor Zamula agreed to a one-year contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets through the end of the season. The former Flyers defenseman, who was traded to Pittsburgh last week but refused to report to its American Hockey League affiliate, was placed on waivers Monday by the Penguins for the purpose of contract termination. Puckpedia lists the deal at $1 million. Zamula, 25, will reunite with former teammate and fellow Russian Ivan Provorov with the Blue Jackets. Ivan Fedotov is also in the Columbus organization but is currently in the AHL with Cleveland.
After being sworn in to her first full four-year term, City Controller Christy Brady on Monday vowed to examine spending related to Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s signature housing program and to probe whether Philadelphia is maximizing economic opportunities at its waterfront and port.
“In my next term, I will be expanding my oversight of the mayor’s housing program to ensure every dollar borrowed is used as intended and is properly accounted for,” Brady said of Parker’s Housing Opportunities Made Easy, or H.O.M.E., initiative during a swearing-in ceremony at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts.
“And with our waterfront and ports being one of our strongest economic assets, we will be focusing on efforts to ensure they can deliver the greatest financial impact,” Brady said.
Holt denies that it has engaged in anticompetitive conduct, and a company spokesperson said growth is “vitally important to the future of our business and our region.”
“Holt Logistics has been a key driver of the Port’s growth over the last decade, as witnessed by the fact that in the last month alone, two new lines of business have chosen to call Philadelphia, largely because of the service they receive,” spokesperson Kevin Feeley said.
Additionally, Brady promised to help prevent fraud in city spending related to this year’s Semiquincentennial festivities.(Parker has pledged to dole out $100 million, focusing on neighborhood-based programming across the city, for major events in 2026, including the nation’s 250th birthday.)
And in her capacity as chair of the Philadelphia Gas Commission, Brady said she would “conduct a thorough review of PGW’s operations.”
Brady also sits on the city Board of Pensions and Retirement and said she would “collaborate with [City] Council to adjust benefit structures.”
The controller’s office audits city agencies and investigates allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse.
Brady was appointed by former Mayor Jim Kenney to serve as acting controller in late 2022 when Rebecca Rhynhart resigned to run for mayor. Brady in 2023 won a special election to serve the remaining two years of Rhynhart’s term.
Seeking her first four-year term, Brady ran unopposed in the May 2024 Democratic primary and easily defeated Republican Ari Patrinos in the November general election.She was sworn in Monday with District Attorney Larry Krasner, who is beginning his third term, and city judges who were on the ballot last year.
Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Natasha Taylor-Smith introduced Brady and administered her oath of office.
Many past controllers have had less-than-friendly relationships with the mayors they served alongside, a natural dynamic for an office tasked with investigating the executive branch. The post has also served as a springboard for many politicians with higher aspirations.
Rhynhart, for instance, repeatedly clashed with Kenney by publishing critical reports on city accounting practices and a lack of accountability in spending on anti-violence groups. She touted those probes to brand herself as a reformer while running in the 2023 mayor‘s race, finishing second behind Parker in the Democratic primary.
Brady’s background and leadership style are different. She has spent three decades rising through the ranks in the controller’s office and was deputy controller in charge of the audit division before being appointed to the top job. And since becoming controller, she has made a point of working collaboratively with Parker’s administration.
Dignitaries and elected officers before start of 2026 Inaugural Ceremony at the Kimmel Center Performing Arts on Monday.
“As promised, I hit the ground running. We’ve achieved far more than many thought was possible,” Brady said. “A key to that success has been collaboration with Mayor Parker and Council President [Kenyatta] Johnson to ensure that our recommendations resulting from the findings in each report, review, and audit that we issue are implemented.”
Parker acknowledged their collaboration in her remarks during Monday’s ceremony.
“Controller Brady, thank you for not being wrapped up in politics and staying focused on the work of the controller’s office,” Parker said. “You do it by communicating with our office. No ‘gotcha’ moments.”
In her relatively short political career, Brady has received strong support from influential groups in local politics, especially the building trades unions and the Democratic City Committee. On Monday, she gave shout-outs to numerous politicos, including former U.S. Rep. Bob Brady, who chairs the city’s Democratic Party and is not related to her.
“I want to thank the people who have made this possible, including my friends in labor, Congressman Bob Brady, my friends in the Democratic Party, the business community, and all the voters who put their trust in me,” Christy Brady said.
Blood banks across the Philadelphia region say donations are urgently needed this week as they brace for anticipated post-holiday blood shortages.
New Jersey Blood Services, whose coverage area includes South Jersey, declared a blood emergency on Tuesday, stating they had less than a two-day supply for the more than 200 hospitals they serve across New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut.
The American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania separately said Philadelphia and South Jersey, as well as the nation at large, are on the cusp of a blood shortage.
January is a difficult time for blood donations — so much so that President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1969 declaring it “National Blood Donor Month.”
This year, a trifecta of seasonal illness, severe weather, and holiday disruptions has resulted ina significant decline in donations, said Chelsey Smith, a spokesperson for New Jersey Blood Services.
Flu cases surged in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Christmas and New Year’s Day both fell midweek, on days when the organization normally sees high collection. Blood donation levels dropped toalmost 40% below what is needed to meet hospital demand.
“We essentially experienced a mere total loss of midweek collections for two straight weeks, and that adds up very quickly,” Smith said.
The most urgent needs are for red blood cells and platelets.
The group urges people to donate at least once per season, emphasizing that blood is a perishable product. Red blood cells only last about 42 days after a donation. Platelets, which are especially critical for cancer patients going through chemotherapy, have a shelf life of just five to seven days.
“When those donations drop, it directly impacts our blood supply, and hospitals usually feel the effects of that pretty quickly,” Smith said.
Blood shortages are becoming more frequent
Blood shortages and emergencies have become more common following the pandemic, Smith said.
Fewer young people are donating, for starters, which she attributes to the loss of school collections during the height of COVID-19.
“We weren’t able to go into high schools and instill those lifelong values of donating blood when they’re young,” she said.
More people are also working from home, a challenge for the New Jersey organization thatused to rely heavily on corporate workplace blood drives.
New Jersey Blood Services declared a blood emergency last summer as well.
“Pre-COVID, blood emergencies were not quite as common. Post-COVID, they’re almost routine,” Smith said.
The American Red Cross also saw a lower number of people donate over the holidays than anticipated, according to Alana Mauger, a spokespersonfor the Southeastern Pennsylvania chapter.
Organizersreleased calls this week for donations in hopes of preventing a shortage, which they’re on the cusp of.
The group alsopartnered with the National Football League this month to offer a chance at winning a trip to Super Bowl LX to those who donate.
Saquon Barkley is participating in the campaign, sharing his own experiences as a blood donor.
“It only takes about an hour and once you realize in that short amount of time how much help it can bring — it’s a beautiful thing,” the Eagles running back said in a Monday news release.
New Jersey’s acting health commissioner, Jeff Brown, urged donors not to wait to donate.
“Schedule an appointment today or visit a walk-in center this week. Your donation can save a life,” he said in a statement.
One Trump supporter’s journey from a mall kiosk to a Bucks County strip mall is coming to an end this month.
The “Trump Store,” a Bensalem spot for merchandise and knickknacks celebrating President Donald Trump, is closing its doors after six years in business. The store’s final day is Jan. 31.
Mike Domanico, who co-owns the store with his wife, Monica, remains an ardent supporter of the president. But business is business, and Domanico said sales have declined since Trump returned to the White House, forcing the “tough decision” to shut down.
“Business has slowed down some because there’s not really much action going on with Trump,” Domanico said. “It’s time.”
There were other factors. The store’s lease is up in February, and Domanico wants to devote more of his time to a booming side business selling gun show merchandise.
Domanico said Trump’s tariffs on imported goods haven’t impacted his business at all.
“Any of the stuff I buy is priced the same as it was before all the tariffs took effect,” Domanico said.
Michael Domanico and his wife, Monica, seen here in 2020 during the grand opening of their Trump Store in Benaslem.
The store began its closeout sale on Tuesday, Jan. 6, exactly five years to the day when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in an unsuccessful attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Everything’s on sale, from shirts featuring the president as an Eagles player to hats promoting a fictitious 2028 reelection campaign barred by the U.S. Constitution.
Domanico opened a sister Trump Store in Chalfont in July 2022, but closed it last year due to issues with the landlord and some vandalism. He has two full-time employees helping him run the store.
In his six years selling Trump merchandise, Domanico said the only tough year was after the 2020 election. Following his second impeachment, Trump appeared to lose support from most Republicans, and sales at the store slowed.
“I stuck with it because I knew he was going to run again, and it worked out very well,” Domanico said.
Trump Store manager Lisa von Deylen, seen here replenishing the store’s inventory in May 2024.
Sales grew during the final years of Joe Biden’s tenure, fueled by Trump becoming the first former president indicted for a crime. “Free Trump” shirts became a particularly hot seller, and the store saw a spike in sales when the president’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., was raided by FBI agents.
While many Bucks County residents appear to have soured on the president and his policies, Domanico isn’t among them.
“I think his second term has been great,” Domanico said. “I know the liberal media turns everything around, making it look bad, but he’s doing some great stuff. I love it.”
The namesake behind Wawa’s biggest rival, Sheetz, has died.
Stephen G. Sheetz, the man responsible for taking a family-owned convenience store in Altoona, Pa., and transforming it into a multibillion-dollar empire, was 77. The company announced his death in a statement Monday, citing respiratory complications after having been hospitalized with pneumonia.
And while Wawa fans may be suspicious of how the chain’s fried food, or coffee, or even gasoline stacks up against their supreme leader’s, there’s no denying Sheetz’s legacy and vision.
Sheetz served as the chain’s CEO and president from 1984 to 1995, overseeing its expansion. After that, he was chairman of the board for another 18 years.
The former president was just 12 when he began working at the original Sheetz Kwik Shopper, founded by his brother, Bob Sheetz. He graduated from Altoona Area High School in 1965 and from Pennsylvania State University four years later.
Penn State named Steve and his wife, Nancy Sheetz, as its 2010 philanthropists of the year, following their donation of $2.5 million to the school’s Altoona campus. It was the campus’ largest donation in its 70-year history. The couple tacked on another half a million that year, funding the establishment of an entrepreneurial center and a Sheetz Fellows program.
“I try to provide a positive influence,” Steve Sheetz said at the time in a university statement. “I really hope that students in the program will be better prepared for the world they’re about to enter, whether it’s business or another profession.”
As supervisor and director of operations at the chain, he oversaw the expansion of Sheetz convenience stores, with the intention of opening a new location every year, according to the company’s website. Over the next 14 years, Sheetz would grow to 100 locations.
“Above all, Uncle Steve was the center of our family,” Sheetz president and CEO Travis Sheetz said in a statement. “We are so deeply grateful for his leadership, vision, and steadfast commitment to our employees, customers, and communities.”
Today, with over 800 locations across six states and about 25,000 employees, the business remains largely family-run.
Offering a hodgepodge of fast food, including burgers, hot dogs, and mozzarella sticks, the chain has its super fans, just like Philly’s own Wawa phanatics.
They call themselves “Sheetz Freakz.” And they start them young.
Take Dylan LaMotte of Lynchburg, Va.
In 2020, then-8-year-old Dylan went viral for his mom’s video of him wearing a shirt that said “Youngest Sheetz Freak” and pitching ideas for the chain’s menu.
Steve Sheetz himself flew to Lynchburg to surprise Dylan and gift him $5,000 toward his daily order of fries and a slushie. In other instances over the years, the company has rewarded other superfans with hefty donations to their charities of choice.
In 2020, The Inquirer tapped Pennsylvanians Sen. John Fetterman (who was lieutenant governor at the time) and U.S. Rep. Brendan F. Boyle to weigh in on the debate.
Boyle, who is team Wawa, helped cut the ribbon on Wawa’s first D.C. location. He joked that it was the “Philly Embassy in Washington.”
“Sure enough, as I approached the D.C. Wawa right after the game, the crowd of people wearing Eagles jerseys was out the door. The Philly diaspora had had the same thought I did. We flocked to our ‘embassy’ to celebrate,” he said.
Fetterman, who is pro-Sheetz, said, “Whether I’m Jeeping it home from Harrisburg, or on the road asking yinz and youse about legalizing cannabis, the warm red glow of a Sheetz awning beckons with red beet eggs, a hunk of cheese, and the rich cavalcade of the entire family of Duke’s smoked shorty sausages.” He added, “It is a given that Sheetz is far superior.”
At the end of the day, the rivalry isn’t going anywhere. But you can still respect the man behind the mystique.
“Steve’s guidance shaped nearly every aspect of our family business,” said Joe Sheetz, chairman of the Sheetz board of directors. “He was a mentor for every leader who has followed him, and his vision, wisdom, and entrepreneurial spirit will be missed deeply by everyone at Sheetz.”
Altoona Mayor Matt Pacifico also released a statement, saying “Steve had a genuine, tangible love for the City of Altoona, as shown by his contributions, actions and initiatives. We send our sincere sympathy to Steve’s family during this difficult time, as well as immense gratitude for his lasting contributions to our City and its residents, that will be his legacy for years to come.”
In addition to his wife, Nancy, Steve Sheetz is survived by two daughters, Megan Sheetz and Nicole Sheetz Frith; seven grandchildren; and six of his seven siblings, including his brother Bob Sheetz.
