Rumor Mill

Marcie Turney and Valarie Safran Taking Over the Former Fish Space

Valarie Safran and Marcie Turney
Valarie Safran and Marcie Turney

For several weeks we’ve been hearing rumors that lawyer-turned-reluctant-restaurateur Evan Prochniak was awfully eager to unload the corner property at 13th and Locust that last housed Fish and its ill-fated offshoot, Rhino Bar, and that Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran were considering it as an addition to their ever-expanding restaurant and retail portfolio. The Insider this afternoon confirms the scuttlebutt, reporting that the Midtown Village empire builders have indeed secured the space for a forthcoming, yet undefined project. But that’s just one of several somewhat related rumors still churning in the mill.

In addition to Turney and Safran taking over the former Fish/Rhino space, we’ve been hearing from multiple sources that this nebulous project is the same as the one that’s pulling former Bindi and Barbuzzo chef George Sabatino away from his high profile hitch at East Passyunk Ave.’s Stateside. We reached out to Turney with that one, but have yet to get a call back.

Bringing this all full circle, we’re also hearing that Fish’s founder, Mike Stollenwerk who parted ways with the restaurant and Prochniak last December is going to resurface soon with a new seafood operation. We’re still awaiting confirmation on those two tidbits, which may not be true at all. Stay tuned. We’ll update as more information becomes available.

Owners of Lolita, Barbuzzo and Jamonera taking over Fish [Insider]

Marcie Turney and Valarie Safran Taking Over the Former Fish Space