Recent years have brought wonderful additions to Frankford Avenue. The Philadelphia Record Exchange opened a few years ago, moving their operations from a long established location in Queen Village. We've told you about Sulimay's Urban Salon, and the wine bar planned across the street. And when we want to impress our friends that come in from out of town, we usually take them to the La Colombe cafe/distillery, since it's one of our favorite spaces around. Soon, according to Uwishunu, the corridor will get another new business, this time in the fashion department.

Next door to the closing Bicycle Stable

Work ongoing on the building

Kit and Ace is coming soon to 1424-34 Frankford Ave., a buidling that we think was previously used for the manufacture of different plastics. Unlike so many projects we've seen on Frankford Avenue, the store will be using an existing building rather than building something new. On the one hand, it's great to see a viable building continue to lead a productive life. On the other hand, since it's only one-story tall, there's no opportunity to add residential density to the area.

We've never visited a Kit and Ace location, even though there are a couple dozen around the world. From what we can tell, it's a store that sells clothing for men and women, along with accessories. They feature a material called Technical Cashmere, and we won't try to figure out what separates it from regular cashmere, technicalities aside. Also cool, despite being a chain, each store has its own identity and at least according to the Kit and Ace website, expect this location to curate art from locals and collaborate on events with nearby businesses.

Expect something like this

Maybe this place will be our cup of tea, maybe it won't. But just a few years ago we never would have expected a place like this to open on Frankford Avenue, which shows you just how far the corridor has come in a very short period of time. Assuming this place can make a go of it, we expect other boutiques from in and out of town to give Frankford Avenue a shot, further expanding the retail mix. As this is an international chain, perhaps other international chains will follow. And setting our Philadelphia parochialism aside for a moment, that wouldn't be so bad, would it?