A couple of weeks ago, news came out that Jose Garces’ Frohman’s Wursthaus project was not gonna happen at 208 S. 13th St., the former home of Letto Deli. Apparently, our resident Iron Chef is too busy with other projects to go through with this one.

No hot dogs

Seemingly in no time, sources have told us that Garces has sold the building to a local investment firm. The firm, which wasn’t identified, is looking to fill the roughly 2,000 sqft space with a restaurant tenant, and has Jackie Balin of Fameco marketing the space. Yes folks, it stinks that one of the top restauranteurs isn’t doing his thing here. But with Garces making a relatively quick exit, this extremely desirable space is now available to anybody.

Letto space, a few months ago

And with the new businesses that have come in on this block in the last couple of years, it’s only gotten more desirable. Fish opened (and then reopened) at the corner of Locust Street, and the Green Eggs location at Nest seems packed every time we pass by. With a tenant apparently imminent on the first floor of the Gramercy and something cooking in the former Pastoral space across the street, this block is looking more and more like the area around 13th & Sansom. And when the Letto space is finally, uh, let, it will go a long way to completing the puzzle on this block.

So what do we think would look good in this unique space? Another hot dog concept? Shake Shack East? A low-key restaurant with condos upstairs?

We’ll keep our ears open and letcha know when we hear anything…