A new 140-seat brick oven pizza restaurant could be on the way soon to the southwest corner at Gaul & York, across the street from the large 2424 Studios. The restaurant will take the place of a vacant red warehouse that once housed a meatpacker.

The space

New diner nearby

The Fishtown Neighbors Association (FNA) zoning committee offered its support for the project at 2327 -35 Gaul St. last month. The community voted 30-10 in favor of the project. One concern that neighbors had was about density, according to Matt Karp, FNA zoning chair. One of the co-operators will be the owner of Joe’s Pizza (16th & Sansom) in Rittenhouse. Architects from Landmark Architectural Design designed the project. The site was acquired by Vulcano LLC this April for $185K. It’s zoned industrial, thus prompting the need for a variance. It’s also subject to the overlay district rules set forth via a North Delaware Avenue Special District Controls, which were established to force potential night clubs to get a variance before opening.

Looking east on Gaul

The plans indicate the increasing strength in various parts of Fishtown, as York is located more than an EL stop away from Front & Girard. It also shows the commercial strength that developers and entrepreneurs believe this area of Fishtown can realize. Let us hope the pizza is worthy.

–Lou Mancinelli