In Fishtown, the 300 block of East Girard keeps on popping with new projects. Such is the case at 315 E Girard Ave. where last month workers were inside sprucing up a spot that has changed hands repeatedly in recent years. Most recently, it hosted Leticia's Serenity Studio. Before that, it held a thrift shop. And prior to its thrift shop days, it was home to a law office. Thanks Google Maps Time Machine, for the history lesson!
This stretch of the corridor has been getting a lot of attention as of late. Just across the street at 300 E. Girard Ave., construction on a three-story mixed-use building is progressing and French brasserie Girard should soon open its doors. A few doors down, Stock, the Pho place we first told you about last December, opened earlier this summer. Meanwhile, less than a block away, a former auto parts store on the 200 block of E. Girard was sold last year and has since been tastefully renovated.
Above the storefront at 315 E Girard Ave., you can see some older looking stucco that's seen better days. The buildings on either side have vinyl siding on their upper floors which is sure to disappear when the inevitable renovation happens someday. Speaking of the building next door, it's for sale along with the building at the corner which was home to Anthony's Cafe. The list price for the pair of buildings is $869K, though the properties have been on the market since the beginning of the year. The price includes two rental apartments and a liquor license so it's not that far off, but it's still perhaps a little on the high side.
If it sells soon, that'd make for changes at three out of four corners on this block, almost a Connect Four victory. The gradual changes on this block sort of snuck up on us, so focused were we on the redevelopments along Frankford Avenue. But as the Fishtown Neighbors Association has seen a record number of zoning requests for new projects, and with the proximity to Frankford Ave. and the El, plus the 15 Trolley that runs down Girard, it makes sense developers are chowing down on these potential mixed-use opportunities.