We’re happy to pass along some recent news from the West Philly food and restaurant world.
Renovations Underway at Rx The Farmacy
(Left to right): Danielle Coulter, Ross Scofield, and Tim Blair.
Some Spruce Hill residents and Rx The Farmacy (Facebook page) fans may have noticed that the restaurant has been closed for several days, so we got in touch with one of the owners, Ross Scofield, to see what’s going on. Turns out they are doing renovations to the kitchen. “A lot of things/equipment in the kitchen were left over from Rx,” Ross explains. ” Now that the Farm is on a steady track, we are taking the opportunity to update our little cooking space.”
Ross and his partners, Danielle Coulter and Tim Blair, who now also manage the recently opened The Barn on Baltimore, are taking the opportunity to renovate the kitchen during the slower winter season. Ross also shared some of his plans for the busy spring season.
“Spring time is a busy time for The Farmacy with UPenn having graduation and the neighborhood coming out for the nice weather. I want to have a new outside seating arrangement in place. The Farm needs a nice, big sign out front. New plates, flatware, and glasses are all needed. The kitchen also needs to be “repositioned” to handle the volume of brunch service,” Ross wrote us in an email.
Finally, Ross and his partners wanted to pass along that they are fortunate to have a wonderful guest base that has enabled them to make these improvements.
We don’t have information yet on when The Farmacy will reopen but we’ll keep you posted.
No More Hookah at Aksum, Babylon Bistro Project on Hold
Starting this year, Aksum Cafe (4630 Baltimore Ave), specializing in Mediterranean cuisine (see our original story here), no longer offers hookahs to its customers. “Hookah was not a big aspect of our business and we decided to make some changes,” Aksum owner Saba Tedla explains. Aksum’s customer base has changed, according to Saba, and they want to focus on their primary business, which is food. Other changes at the restaurant include interior décor with new paint, wall art, menu design and new menu items. “We strive to evolve the business and continue to reinvent our image,” says Saba.
We also asked Saba about her Babylon Bistro project, which was expected to open on Baltimore Avenue in Spring 2014. Saba said that the project’s overall concept has changed, and it’s currently on hold. She promised to update us once she has a better timeline on the project.
Crust Vegan Bakery Coming to West Philly
Photo from Crust Vegan Bakery Facebook page.
A new vegan bakery is expected to open in the next few months in our neck of the woods, The Philadelphia Magazine reports. Owners Shannon Roche and Meagan Benz are planning to rent shared kitchen space to launch their wholesale business, Crust Vegan Bakery, in the area. If everything goes well with their wholesale business, they will also explore a storefront option.
“Philly is a very vegan-friendly city, but it doesn’t have its own brick-and-mortar vegan bakery yet,” Roche told Philly Mag. “I think the city is ready for it.”
February 1st, 2015 at 3:52 pm
There is a Vegan bakery bakery in Philly already, Sweet Freedom on South Street. Not only is it Vegan, it’s also gluten free. Has been around for several years.
February 2nd, 2015 at 10:17 pm
What’s going on with the new Barn restaurant on 49th & Catherine? What are their hours of operation?
February 6th, 2015 at 9:04 am
take a look at their website…
http://www.barnonbaltimore.com/
looks promising if you ask me.
February 6th, 2015 at 9:46 am
The Barn is a bar, not a restaurant. They don’t have a kitchen or a food prep license from the city despite introducing a small food menu recently. Where the food is coming from who knows. Their apparent assumption that because they and their clientele are primarily white they don’t have play by the regs is kind of offensive.
February 6th, 2015 at 10:14 am
Well – your concern about the food and license is valid, but I don’t think it’s because their clientele are white. This owner has assumed the same thing at his other establishment which does not have a primarily white clientele
https://www.westphillylocal.com//?s=Watutsi&x=0&y=0
February 6th, 2015 at 11:24 am
All of us at The Barn have valid food handlers licenses as well as ServSafe certification certificates. We take pride in the amount time we’ve spent preparing for these tests so that we stay on top of current health and sanitation issues. I apologize to tell you that you are incorrect about the Barn not having a kitchen. It indeed does on the second floor. It’s pretty small but with a little love it’s turning into a cool little spot.
The food. If you need to know comes from an assortment of different farms and suppliers ranging from south New Jersey to Lancaster, Pa. We use Krieder Farm eggs, Country Time Farms Pork, and Bella Bella Farms Chicken. In the summertime we use a bunch of local farmers from South New Jersey, where I grew up. We are hoping to expand our network of urban farmers here in the city, as well as, trying some hyper-gardening of our own.
The fact that you bring race into this is sad. Rather pathetic. The color of skin or who to love is not an issue with ANY of us at the Barn. We support all individuals with all kinds of ideas. Our clientele are primarily HUMANS. Humans who want to have a good time.
As far as rules are concerned, we’ve followed every one that has been presented to us during this experience. Any individual who has dealt with any of us at The Barn knows very well how we run a tight ship. I really hope you all give this thing a shot. Don’t beat it up. It’s a bar for everyone to be able to feel safe and comfortable in. A place to feel like you can be yourself. Stop by and talk to us. We’re good people.
February 6th, 2015 at 11:31 am
Sure, post 4901 Catharine’s Food Prep Business License number then.
February 6th, 2015 at 2:30 pm
The Barn is an alright spot. It doesn’t try to be anything other then another place to get a beer after work. That works for me. I for one, am tired of hearing the haters bitch and moan.
I was in yesterday and the food game was still on hold. The bar tenders informed me that I can get pizza next door and eat it inside the bar. That’s freaking cool. Way to throw your neighbor some business and keep your patrons happy.
February 6th, 2015 at 5:06 pm
God, that name is still horrible, almost as much as the willful ignorance of the inherent racial element of the change expressed in the earlier comment.
February 9th, 2015 at 5:31 pm
I’m the first to admit I’m a gentrifier, whether I like it or not. I’m white, I’m from the suburbs and I moved here almost a decade ago. I’ve watched the neighborhood change in the short time I’ve been here and although it doesn’t jibe with my personal politics I cant deny I’m part of the problem. Just one molecule of the pollution that is changing the eco-system, if you will. And as far as I can tell I cant do a thing to change this. But let’s try to remember the New 3rd World Lounge wasn’t even open most of the time for the past couple of years. Let’s try to remember that every single thing you’ve ever known and loved in this world will one day change. Let’s try to remember they didn’t change this into the Continental Midtown or anything, it still got some grit and West Philly flavor to it. But of course, little to no African patrons anymore. So some white folks rented the bar, spruced the place up and as a self-avowed Baltimore Ave bar-fly I have to say they have a nice little place there! It’s spacious and welcoming, they have a good beer list, the booze is on the cheaper side, activities (pool table, video game, board games, etc), dance parties. It’s a nice spot if you’re into bar culture. I’m sorry it’s not filled with black folks anymore. I’m sorry the whole neighborhood demographics are changing. I’m not sure what to do about that but I’m not sure not supporting local businesses is the solution. But I do agree the name sucks. 🙂
February 10th, 2015 at 8:47 am
I love the name.. Especially because you all hate it. When we created the name, we wanted you to hate it…
February 10th, 2015 at 9:13 am
Yes, this is a promising strategy.
February 10th, 2015 at 9:21 am
Funny. Especially if you are the same Ross, the owner, as above. The haters and the whiners aren’t going to come anyway. Good for you.