For so many years, Chilis held down the northwest corner of 38th & Chestnut, on the edge of Penn's campus. Recently, the chain restaurant shut its doors and when we passed by recently there were signs advertising a "short term lease" opportunity.

Former Chilis

Apparently someone has already jumped on the space, as the Daily Pennsylvanian reports signs in the windows of the restaurant advertising a new restaurant called Tarka. The restaurant will serve some kind of Asian cuisine, but beyond that we don't have any more details.

Across the street

While it's well and good to see a new restaurant opening here so soon after Chilis disappeared, we wonder whether this entire building is fighting against a ticking clock. Right across the street, a few historic brownstones were demolished two years back and 3737 Chestnut is now rising in their place. We wouldn't be surprised if, in the next few years, all of the businesses at this corner were told to hit the road in anticipation of a second high-rise at this intersection. Considering the number of taller buildings to arrive in West Philly in recent years, this would seem like almost a foregone conclusion and just a matter of time.

This would, of course, be bad news for Tarka, bad news for Abner's, and bad news for the loyal patrons of Atlantis Gentlemen's Club, located underneath the future Tarka. But again, we're only speculating.