Yesterday, we discussed the possibility of a concession stand in Rittenhouse Square and today in restaurants in quasi-public spaces news, the Inky reports the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts is on the hunt for a restaurant tenant. It’s all part of a plan, which City Council will vote on today, to create a plaza between PAFA’s two buildings on part of Cherry Street west of Broad, which “is intended to provide a friendly welcome to visitors whose first real experience of Philadelphia may be walking out of the Convention Center’s imposing facade directly across Broad Street.”
The plaza would contain a public park and sculpture garden, but PAFA is also “working to attract a top-level restaurateur to establish a landmark restaurant” in the Hamilton Building, which is the one that isn’t the famous Gothic Revival Frank Furness building. We’re sure the usual top-level restaurateur names will be tossed around - Starr, Garces, maybe even Vetri? - but perhaps PAFA will throw a curveball and go with someone totally different. It is an art school, after all.
Council Votes Today on Academy Plaza [Inquirer]
