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Originally Posted by cardeza
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"Blake Development Co. is exploring building a mixed-use project on the site where the Trolley Car Diner operated for the last 20 years.
The developer is proposing to build a five-story building that would have 20,222 square feet of retail space and 60 residential units at 7619 Germantown Ave. in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia. The property is zoned CMX-2 and would allow for a project of this scope. Efforts to reach Sam Blake of Blake Development were unsuccessful.
In late August, Ken Weinstein announced that he was closing the Trolley Car Diner, which had become an institution over the last two decades. It opened in 2000 as a family-friendly restaurant in what was a blighted neighborhood of Philadelphia. It quickly gained a following and filled a void in bringing a dining option to a neighborhood that had a dearth of them.
Weinstein said the diner was no longer financially sustainable and as a result of an increase in competition from more dining options in the neighborhood. The prospect of selling the diner site to a developer had nothing to do with closing the eatery, he said.
"We closed the Trolley Car because we were losing a good deal of money," he said. “We did know this was a marketable property. While we are sad about the Trolley Car Diner, it’s exciting. It’s a sign of success and not a bad thing."
The diner is scheduled to cease operations Oct. 15.
Weinstein, through his PhillyOfficeRetail and JumpStart Germantown, has been at the forefront of revitalization efforts along Germantown Avenue in Mount Airy, Germantown and Wayne Junction. He has purchased several properties over the years and redeveloped them, laying the groundwork for someone like Blake to come along and see the opportunity the neighborhood offers.
Weinstein said he and Blake have come to terms on the property but nothing has been finalized. "