Almost exactly four years ago, Johnny Columbo and Michael Lewis opened Philly Cupcake in an itty storefront on the corner of 12th & Chestnut. A year and a half ago, the duo opened Philly Chocolate at Juniper & Walnut, in the space that formerly contained Naked Chocolate Cafe. And about six months ago, we first told you about about plans for a second Philly Cupcake location at 1944 South St., a handsome but underused space that previously contained a rarely-open gallery.

Last summer

Right before Christmas, Philly Chocolate closed down, with plans to move its operations over to the new South Street location. This new location, incidentally, opened its doors to the public today for the first time after a few months of delays.

Current view

We stuck our heads in the door earlier today and can report that the place is packed to the gills with product. About thirty percent of the space is dedicated to a semi-open bakery, which prepares the cupcakes and other confections sold onsite. Along with selling house-made pastries and chocolates, the shop also sells coffee, tea, ice cream and other tasty items to indulge your sweet tooth. We’d guess that they will do a tidy business in this space, getting customers from South Street traffic as well as people walking up 20th Street to get to (and from) work in Center City. And with a neighborhood full of toddlers to the south, we expect to hear cries for cupcakes from a block away.

View from the east

No doubt, the appearance of this new business is yet another win for South Street West, which seems to be getting a new addition every week these days. Especially on a stretch that’s got more residential than commercial traffic, it’s nice to see this corner come to life. Our only complaint: couldn’t they have stuck with the tasteful green color scheme on the outside? The pastel look works on Victorian homes in West Philly. On South Street West? Eh, not so much.