Changes on the Way to Stephen Starr’s Commissary Building on North Broad

EBRM’s Studebaker Building project. Photo: James Jennings

Another day, another development on North Broad Street that involves developer Eric Blumenfeld. No, it’s not about Mural Arts Lofts, the Divine Lorraine Hotel project or even The Met. This time EB Realty Management (EBRM) has their collective sights set on the multi-color building at 667 North Broad Street, the home of Stephen Starr’s commissary.

Chris Cordaro, Executive Director with EBRM said plans to redevelop the building are “in our pipeline” and the site has “very developable space.” In a project they’re calling the Studebaker Building–Cordaro tells us it was formerly a showroom back in the day–plans are to keep Stephen Starr’s commissary in place and expand his office and storage space. 20 apartment units will be added to the building and the site will be anchored by three commercial tenants.

Cordaro said they have leases for two of the spaces locked up. Chef John Mims of Carmine’s Act II in Narberth (Best of Philly Winner, ya’ll) will bring a New Orleans restaurant concept called Treme as well as a separate coffee/beignet spot in the mold of the famous Café du Monde. “We’re bringing a little piece of New Orleans to North Broad,” said Cordaro.

The work won’t be limited to the interior, either. Those multi-colored panels will be removed in order to restore and showcase the “brick skin” of the original Studebaker showroom.

There is currently no timeline for the project, but Cordaro remarked that Billy Procida–who is helping to fund multiple Blumenfeld projects through Procida Funding–is “excited” about it. We’ll admit, the prospects of sippin’ a Café au lait while eating a warm beignet heavily dusted with powdered sugar has got us pretty excited, too.

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