The Most Glorious Cheesecake Factory in the World Sets Opening Date

Bust out your iPhone and set yourself a reminder for June 23, 2015. While you’re there, go ahead and label it: “The Most Glorious Cheesecake Factory in the World Opens Today”.

The Inquirer’s Michael Klein is reporting that the chain will be planting its high-calorie flag on the second floor of one of Philadelphia’s most (surprisingly) beautiful new projects on that fateful day.

The building, designed by Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, features some amazing architectural elements that make it a true standout, which should come as no surprise. The firm is responsible for the design of the iconic Apple cube in Manhattan. Glass curtain walls wrap the entire building and the Cheesecake Factory even has its own retractable glass wall that opens up to create a balcony space.

Here’s a snippet from Inga Saffron’s review from March 2013:

I’ll admit that when I first heard that the popular suburban temple of caloric overload was touching down at 15th and Walnut Streets, the news didn’t exactly stoke my appetite for good design … But the architecture gods have smiled on Philadelphia.

According to a recent marketing brochure from MSC Retail, the building contains six sizable retail spaces. Cheesecake Factory is located on the second floor. Verizon anchors the corner on the first floor. Four of the spaces are not currently leased, including 13,882 square-feet on the top floor, 11,895 square-feet below ground and two smaller spaces, 2,365 square-feet and 1,244 square-feet, on the first and second floor, respectively.

MSC’s Jacob Cooper mentioned that the third floor is especially incredible and that they’re potentially looking at it as a “sexy” office co-working setting with open floor plates. What’s more, the third floor tenant has roof rights, which means they could potentially build a roof deck on this joint.

The updated look | via MSC Retail

Speaking of the roof, BCJ’s website says it’s going to incorporate both green and blue features, a first for the city:

A green portion of the roof is vegetated to absorb rainwater and return it to the atmosphere via transpiration. The remainder is a blue roof, calibrated by slopes and drain controls to retain rainwater and slow its release, helping to avoid a surge in the city’s aged storm system. This combined green and blue roof technology will be a first for the city.

• Previous Cheesecake Factory Coverage [Philly Mag]