The Changing Food Face of Market Street
Rendering courtesy Wawa
The glass facades of west Market Street’s office buildings are changing. Once just the home of bank chains and lobbies, many of the skyscrapers are adding food options to their ground floors. And the choices are a bit more interesting than Cosi, Marathon and Starbucks.
Among the buildings adding food:
1601 Market Street
Verts Mediterranean – Everyone wants to be the next Chipotle of something. Verts is aiming to be the Mediterranean version. The Texas-based chain has already hit 30 restaurants and will be opening on Market Street in early 2017.
Sweetgreen – Word on the street is that the corner of 16th and Market will also be getting a new Sweetgreen. Salad-heads will be thrilled to have a second Center City location that should decrease the lines at the 18th and Chestnut location.
1919 Market Street
Naf Naf Grill – The just completed apartment building at 1919 Market Street will soon get falafel and shawarma joint in Naf Naf Grill. Out of Chicago and the midwest, Naf Naf has five locations planned for the Philadelphia region.
1900 Market Street
Wawa – The largest Wawa of them all is coming to the corner of 20th and Market. The 7,000 square foot Wawa will have 25-seats and everything else (minus the gas) that makes Philadelphians swoon.
Crisp Kitchen – At the opposite corner of 1900 Market Street, Crisp Kitchen is a local concept that promises healthy fast food. The first location on Temple’s campus opened earlier this year, serving stir-frys, salads and frozen yogurt.
2100 Market Street
Dunkin’ Donuts – The former Papa John’s is being redone and converted into a Dunkin’ Donuts. The most interesting feature might be the garden seating out back along 21st Street.
2104-06 Market Street
Pho Street – Another local fast-casual concept, Pho Street promises Vietnamese classics like Pho (flat rice noodles), Bun (vermicelli), Com (broken rice) and Mi (egg noodle). The almost 4,000 square foot restaurant will feature 120-seats and self-service kiosks.
