New Hamilton Court streetscape rendering.
In August 2016, the Post Brothers, the real estate company that has acquired a number of residential properties in University City in the past year, revealed their plans and renderings for the renovation of the historic Hamilton Court apartment complex at 39th and Chestnut Streets. Currently, the company is in the process of making upgrades to Hamilton Court, which was one of Philadelphia’s first apartment buildings when it was built in 1901. The renovations include the conversion of vacant ground-floor space into modern commercial retail spaces, which will be occupied by five dining establishments.
On Wednesday, the developers revealed the restaurants that signed leases for those spaces. Here they are:
• Steve’s Prince of Steaks, one of Philadelphia’s most famous cheesesteak restaurant chains, has signed a lease for 2,277 square feet.
• Bon Chon, an international Korean fried chicken restaurant chain, has signed a lease for 8,238 square feet, its second location in Philadelphia.
• Halal Guys, the 25-year-old, New York-based culinary institution, has signed a lease for 1,710 square feet, its second location in the region.
• Tea Do, a bubble tea house, has signed a lease for 1,207 square feet. This will be its second location in Philadelphia.
• I-CE NY, a Thai rolled ice cream shop, has signed a lease for 933 square feet, marking its first location in Philadelphia following its success in New York and abroad.
Hamilton Court
“The decisions made by these restaurants and cafes to bring their established dining concepts to Hamilton Court further validates our decision to preserve and heavily invest in the modernization of the property,” Michael Pestronk, CEO and co-founder of Post Brothers, said in a statement.
“Their presence will have a profound and immediate impact on University City’s dining scene, adding to the walkability and vibrancy of what has become one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Philadelphia for residents of every demographic,” said Pestronk.
Hamilton Court, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was originally a hotel with a rooftop restaurant. The U-shaped building features a unique façade that was modeled after that of a Venetian palace.
Post Brothers so far has invested $250 million in the neighborhood.
January 5th, 2017 at 7:37 pm
All these restaurants seem like they are part of chains; I don’t know what this means, but it says something about the brothers Post.
If you are going to throw numbers around then be truthful, most if not all this $250M is the purchase price of the buildings they bought, this is alittle different then a investment in the neighborhood.
Don’t fool yourselves, good bad or indifferent, these guys are in business to improve the neighborhood, they are in it to make big huge piles of cash.
January 6th, 2017 at 9:28 am
Restaurants! Restaurants! Restaurants!. I think we’re gonna make it after all, son. In America, they have restaurants as far as the eye can see. The best way to just know that good feeling is to grab some family, some friends and go to a place with a name in front and have some people cook your meal and then some other people bring it right over to you! The experience!
January 6th, 2017 at 2:00 pm
Post Bros is a for-profit business looking to make a return on their investment. It’s no different than what developers do in every city and practically every neighborhood in America. Restaurants with more than one local have a proven track record and most understand how to turn a profit. A closed business means a lack of revenue. Post Bros has to pay their investors and the banks from which they have borrowed money. I don’t see the problem.
And yes, more restaurants, because college students and many professionals study and work long hours and simply cannot often prepare their own food quickly and efficiently. I doubt anyone is looking at Steve’s as anything more than a quick and easy meal. Again, I fail to see the problem.
January 6th, 2017 at 2:50 pm
Steve’s ‘Prince of Steaks’ must bow to the King, Pat’s Steaks
January 6th, 2017 at 4:09 pm
I-CE NY That’s hot! New York City import, Philly style! West Philly could use a Thai rolled ice cream spot. There’s only a few in West Philly.
January 9th, 2017 at 6:29 pm
A few Thai rolled ice? Where, I don’t know of any.
January 10th, 2017 at 10:58 am
It seems like Fooddude has no clue. There aren’t any in West Philadelphia. To clarify, there is a Ben and Jerry’s, a Taiwanese shaved ice store, A Capogiro Gelatti store and a ice cream and sweets shop at 40th Street. There is NO THAI ROLLED ICE CREAM SPOT in West Philadelphia. I know of a few opening up in Center City. I CE NY is a unique sweets shop with a location on Macdougle in Manhattan. I don’t believe “Philly style” applies as ice cream is generally not considered unique to Philadelphia.
January 10th, 2017 at 2:12 pm
Actually, as to your last point, Philadelphia-style ice cream is in fact a thing: it’s an egg-free base (aka not creme anglais).
A simple google search brings ups multiple hits including a NYT piece.
January 10th, 2017 at 5:06 pm
A simple Google search failed to define ‘missing the point’
January 11th, 2017 at 1:11 am
Another place to get a cheesesteak – seriously!!! It would be nice to see some things a bit different the chains of pizza, cheesesteak, some form of Asian, and an expensive, fleeting fancy for rolled ice cream. BORING!
January 11th, 2017 at 10:42 am
Can I get a cheese steak ‘wit’, wiz, growth hormones, umm do you have any of those cherry peppers?, fecal born e-coli, ohh, and of course, fries! Definitely some fries.
January 11th, 2017 at 11:28 am
I’ll take my tofu hoagie with extra phytoestrogens. Perfect for a growing boy!
January 11th, 2017 at 11:46 am
🙂 Heck yeah, brother. Proud but not preachy veg unite!
January 11th, 2017 at 12:27 pm
Don’t sell yourself short: you’re plenty preachy.
January 11th, 2017 at 12:35 pm
I have a cybervoice. Hear me ROIR. The rest, let them eat jellybeans.