The restaurant options in Point Breeze have slowly grown over the years, but in the last few weeks, plans have emerged for two new establishments.
Last night, we attended a community meeting where an attorney and architect representing the owner of the Gus's World Famous Fried Chicken franchise presented their case. The business will indeed open on the corner of 20th & Washington, and will have seating for 81 in its initial incarnation. The operator will have options to expand the business into two additional vacant spaces in the building, but they'll have to sell a ton of chicken before that becomes doable. In the meeting, we learned that they will be getting a liquor license and they won't be open past 10pm. They will enlarge the tiny windows and make the building considerably more attractive than it is today.
Having attended many community meetings in Point Breeze, we were prepared for anything. But the thirty or so residents in the room seemed generally okay with the project. There were some questions about signage, the possibility of outdoor seating down the line, and hours of operation, but nothing that suggested anyone would be aggressively mobilizing against the project. If the community supports and the ZBA approves, we'll be looking forward to fried chicken on Washington Avenue in the coming months.
Around the corner, concrete plans emerged yesterday for the former Burg's Lounge at 21st & Federal. We last checked in on this property back in April, after a 3rd story had appeared on the building. But at the time, we didn't know anything about the restaurant plans on the first floor. Yesterday, Philly Voice reported that restaurateur Michael Pasquarello, the guy that owns Bufad, Kensington Quarters, and other places, will be taking over the space. The bistro will be called Buckminster's, and will have a liquor license. The building has progressed some since we last passed by, though there's still work to do.
We wonder, with a maturing restaurant scene in Point Breeze, will other businesses follow? We're hearing rumblings about at least a couple more places on the horizon, so stay tuned.