The new Cedar Park Cafe location at 2035 N. 63rd St. (Photo from Yelp)
We have some good news and bad news for those of you who enjoyed a hearty, all-day breakfast at the Cedar Park Cafe on the 4900 block of Baltimore Avenue, which was heavily damaged in the Christmas Eve fire that destroyed Elena’s Soul. The bad news for Cedar Park residents and others nearby is that the cafe has relocated to north 63rd Street near the Overbrook train station. The good news is that it might come back.
The roof collapsed at the cafe’s Baltimore Avenue location when a wall fell on it as crews demolished what was left of the adjacent Elena’s Soul building. The cafe’s owners hope to return to Baltimore Avenue later this year.
Rimedio at 45th and Spruce streets. What kind of place might make it here?
Café Renata (Facebook page) on the 4300 block of Locust opens for brunch this weekend. But the Spruce Hill neighborhood is apparently losing a brunch spot as Rimedio, the Northern Italian brunch and dinner joint, has closed. A notice is posted on the restaurant’s front door at 45th and Spruce claiming that it is several months behind in rent.
Rimedio’s apparent departure (their website is offline too) has sparked some conversation about what kind of business might succeed at the 45th and Spruce location, where two businesses have opened and closed since the original Rx restaurant, which had a lengthy spell of success, changed owners in 2010.
We’d love to hear your thoughts about what kind of place might succeed there.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:26 pm
I lived around the corner from Rx for 6 years. I think that the price point for Rimedio was unrealistic for the neighborhood it was in. I never dined there, when I looked at the menu I thought, those are “center city” prices and while I could have afforded it I knew a lot my neighbors never would have stepped foot in the place.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
My husband and I ate there once and were unimpressed by the food and the service. I don’t recall the prices (we have middle class food stamps, aka a Groupon for the place). I know that we would gladly support a moderately priced, nice restaurant in that location (preferably BYO). We were patrons of Rx and were sad to see it go. However, it seems like the center of gravity for restaurants has shifted more towards the Baltimore Avenue corridor.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:49 pm
As an Overbrook resident, I’m very excited about this new location! Bring more shops to Overbrook!
March 15th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
I think a kid friendly restaurant, that also serves alcohol. Kinda like Abbracio was.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:50 pm
We dined at Rimedio one time. We found it over-priced and pretentious. My scallops were drizzled with “bacon foam.” I mean, really. Bacon foam? I don’t know that the owners gave much thought to what this neighborhood is looking for in a restaurant, but expensive northern Italian cuisine just doesn’t seem to fit.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:52 pm
I think a different type of Italian restaurant (BYO would be great) could really work there! More of a cozy neighborhood spot with reasonable prices and definitely no white table cloths… Rimedio just never looked inviting to me. Family friendly probably would help too (with options for plain pasta for kids etc). I would certainly go with my family to a place like that.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
Put the Cedar Park Diner there. Or, Anything casual and family friendly that serves weekend breakfast/brunch and dinners. It is should cater to the local, walking clientele – too hard to park to be an upscale place that will rely on non-neighborhood patrons. We miss Abraccio and Local 44 needs a kids menu!
March 15th, 2013 at 12:58 pm
I heard from somewhere that the people of the Mood cafe, Desi Chaat, Desi Village are considering opening another spot in the area. Maybe they’d like to consider that space…
I miss RX, but never went to Rimido, which I didn’t hear very good things about anyway.
March 15th, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Rimedio was pretentious, overprices and mediocre. I’m not surprised that it failed. What would succeed is a simple and plain BYO with reasonable prices. Wouldn’t it be great to see a small little inexpensive Italian restaurant or Pizza place with lots of people sitting and standing outside in the summer? This is not center city, and one fancy place (Marigold Kitchen) is enough.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Honest Tom’s, Pop Shop, Tampopo, Local 44, and Saigon Cafe all seem to attract heavy traffic on that same stretch of Spruce. What do they all have in common- prices 50% or more below Rimedio’s.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:18 pm
I took my parents to Rimedio for brunch when Local was jammed…I was really very pleased with it (food, service, decor, the whole package), but I wasn’t footing the bill. It’s really unfortunate to see another place gone. Nice Italian is something that our neighborhood is missing, but all the points above are incredibly fair: no parking, overpriced, not family-friendly. Look out your window at your clientele– college kids, young professionals, and young families.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:19 pm
RX used to be good, so a restaurant with those prices can succeed there. But their quality dropped precipitously after a management change.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
I’d love to see the original RX return in the space, or something like the original Marigold (sans decor) – they would serve homey foods like crab cakes and meatloaf.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:39 pm
I loved rx and was sad to see it go. Rimedo seemed overpriced and the menu didnt impress me. I think an Italian byob like la viola could do great there. A diner would be cool too. I miss the cedar park cafe, that was my Sunday spot
March 15th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
The non-veggie-friendly menu at Rimedio kept me away. I get that not many restaurants are going to be totally vegetarian, but to not have a single vegetarian entree on your menu is nuts these days! I would LOVE to see a bakery go in there. Somewhere to buy fresh bread in the neighborhood and maybe stay for a casual/BYO (soups, salads, sandwiches,etc) meal would be great.
March 15th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
I never found Rimedio pretentious or over-priced, I just found it mediocre (at best). In a city with so many great dining options across the price-point, there just wasn’t any reason to go back.
In that space, I’d like to see either:
• A decent fishmonger (Otolith has great seafood, but its CSS program was so poorly run two years ago that we dropped out).
• Or a tapas place that doesn’t go the upscale route. A place to grab a beer or a $4 glass of wine, catch the Barcelona game, and have simple bite to eat.
[edited by admin]
March 15th, 2013 at 2:14 pm
Once upon a time I could go to this place for brunch. It would be a dream come true if it suddenly, magically appeared in that RX spot. Shrimp omelettes, grits, andouille sausage, crab cakes, hot sauce. Sigh.
http://www.haightshop.com/pages/crescentcitycafe.html
March 15th, 2013 at 2:16 pm
i’d love to see a great bakery at that location.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:19 pm
Yikes.
I dig the tapas idea. What if that tapas place could also have a kids’ menu? I would totally order some chicken fingers and tiny grilled cheeses to go with my fancy “adult” food.
That way I can hang out with my mini-neighbors, order any food I want, and apparently dine in peace, away from some particularly nasty people. Everyone wins!
Seriously, though. Tapas sounds great. So does a reasonably-priced Italian place.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:20 pm
I’m okay with kid friendly restaurants. But complaining that a place that is mostly a BAR that has really limited seating needs to have a kid menu?? Come on. I’m not saying ban kids, but it is a bar! What is next, sippy cups of porter??? Adults need a place to go that is tuned for adults.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:24 pm
Ok folks. Lets keep it civil. No reason to angrily flip off people’s kids on a simple post about a restaurant. There’s room for everyone’s opinions as long as they are productive.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
I really hope that whatever establishment that replaces it loses the drug store theme. I understand that the building used to be a drug store, but the pharmaceutical theme doesn’t really stoke the apetite.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:27 pm
I wonder what the rent is like at the Rx location. It could be too high to attract a restaurant that isn’t going upscale.
I’d like an actual sushi/Japanese place (not Tampopo)
March 15th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
I think people in this neighborhood would go for a good pizzeria with a brick oven. Except for Dock Street Brewery, I don’t believe there are any wood-fire pizza places in West Philly.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
Sad to hear Cedar Park is moving so far away. Not so sad to see Rimedio go away. I dont really know what that place was going for but it wasnt working. It looked very upscale inside but had handwritten messages and menus taped to the windows and doors? It really made no sense. I would be ecstatic for a standard breakfast place in that location. Maybe a step above diner food but not what Rx was when it was around. Do you know how impossible it is to just get a non-prepackaged bacon, egg and cheese on a bagel in this area? Renata has been good but there is always room for more.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Sherry, according to the delinquent rent notice in the window, the rent is $2228/month.
March 15th, 2013 at 2:51 pm
My wife and I will always have a place in our hearts for the old Rx. That was our favorite restaurant around 2006 and 2007. After the economy took a dive we couldn’t afford to go there as much as we wanted. And when we did go it was suddenly empty. They had great food and service. We had a couple of dinners there before they closed where on a Friday or Saturday night we were the only customers in the whole place. We were so sad when they closed down.
March 15th, 2013 at 3:02 pm
First, I love the bakery idea. I’m from Germany, and we have good bakeries at almost every corner. They bring neighborhoods together, since people meet there every other morning to buy their bread. I really miss this, and I’d like to see it in West Philly.
Second, I’m always sad to hear that there are restaurants that are “family-friendly”, and those that aren’t. Shouldn’t all restaurants be inviting to children? Again, in Germany, I can count the places that I would consider less family friendly on one hand – and those are very fancy places you would go too once a year at most anyway. For all other restaurants, it’s simply normal to bring your kids, let them draw (restaurants even supply pens and paper), play or just simply sit there and be part of the gathering. It’s no big deal. And I’m not talking about awfully annoying places like Chili’s, Olive Garden or junk like that. Just about any Italian restaurant, etc. – it’s just normal to bring your kids.
March 15th, 2013 at 3:04 pm
BGrad-
Samesies on having a soft spot in my heart for Rx. And, I liked the Pharmacy connection (esp. before they pulled out all of the amazing woodwork), so different strokes, right?
What about some American-ish place (kids menu, fine, nice weekend brunches, fab)? Burgers and fries, soups and salads, some pasta dishes, etc., with reasonable prices. It’d be nice.
March 15th, 2013 at 3:50 pm
@Henry – I think everyone agrees it depends on the establishment. If its a restaurant it should definitely be family friendly. However a lot of us have a problem with straight up bars or gastropubs (Im looking at you Local 44) allowing children inside. Not everyone wants to be around young children or have to tailor their conversations for the ears of kids. Doesnt it say no one under the age of 21 allowed in the bar?
March 15th, 2013 at 9:03 pm
GREEN EGGS CAFE! GREEN EGGS CAFE! GREEN EGGS CAFE!!!!!
If not at theRx, then wouldn’t it be awesome if the “transitional living center” on the corner of 46th and Spruce became a Green Eggs or Honeys??? That bldg burned down some time ago and it’s just been sitting there, not sure what the city plans for that venue but if Honey’s or Green Eggs are listening…come on down! Also, why hasn’t Vetri or J. Michaud set up some joints in West Philly? You think you are too good to go west? Bobby is here. Jose is here. Starr is here. But where is the Vetri/Michaud duo? And what if Koch’s Deli shut down and a Sarcone’s opened up instead? And since I’m on a roll here…I say just shut down that entire 40th street corner w Copabanaa/Nara/ and that annoying arcade and bring some music lounge venues like Elena’s Soul or anything else besides that arcade.
March 15th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
Rimedio’s menu was too meat-centric for this neighborhood. I’m not saying don’t serve meat, but a lot of people in West Philly don’t eat it, and even the seafood dishes mostly had meat in them, which I found incredibly annoying. Vegetarians and pescetarians need options, and in any party of more than one there is a good chance that someone will be a nonmeateater, at least in this community. I don’t think the owners really got this neighborhood.
I’d love to see a quality seafood restaurant.
March 16th, 2013 at 4:18 pm
On the idea of bakery – I saw a sign a few weeks ago for a zoning application for a bakery to go in the first floor of the building next door to Local 44, down the hill on Spruce St…
As to the Rimedio building, I think a sit-down breakfast/lunch-counter place would fit well there. Something along the lines of Gold Standard, but more low-key, with more cooked items than what you can get at Green Line. That may fit the “pharmacy” style interior of the building quite nicely as well. Could even turn it into a evening BYO cafe, and have local musicians play there after hours, with snacks.
March 16th, 2013 at 6:21 pm
The proposed Asian bakery on Spruce Street got shot down by the Zoning Board.
March 17th, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Oh VPA, you are reading my mind (but Koch’s as a family biz will hopefully never shut down, that would be sad) …
I just got back from New Orleans. Now, we’re no NOLA, but we have talent to spare around here. Where’s the showcase? The arcade is the right idea, maybe even better at 46th and Spruce. Tipitina’s in NOLA started as a collective – and look at it now. That would work so well here.
RIP Remedio is a great Bakery /Breakfast spot. (I, too, cannot believe they pulled out the old woodwork, but that’s in the past). Green Line is not a Breakfast Spot. Milk and Honey is not a Breakfast Spot. The place at 48th and Balt. is not a Breakfast Spot. A BS requires Booths and Waitresses (is that sexist?) who are into character. “Kid friendly” goes w/out saying.
The old owner of Sam’s on 45th st. (aka The Bean) tried to do a fish market next door years ago and for whatever reason it didn’t work. That’s a really tough biz.
$2300 a month. I’m trying to do the #s…
SlugMother – I used to LIVE in the apt. down the Hill from Local44 – a Bakery? Yes, that’s a great location! Tables in the yard! Is Al Krigman still the Landlord? He’s got to be into that! Will he remember I pitched it to him in ’85?
Fondly, Your Know all, See all, 30 yr. Resident
March 19th, 2013 at 8:18 am
Al Krigman is not the landlord of that property. Al Krigman was the neighbor opposing the bakery: http://content.yudu.com/Library/A215ox/UCReview012313/resources/4.htm
If you’ve lived here for 30 years, that should not be surprising.
March 19th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Well you sure showed her, Anony. Zing! …
I second the motions for a brick-oven pizza place, and/or artisanal pizza, or pizza/wine bar – something a step up from the pizza that’s available around there, but not overly expensive or prissy. I also second the diner/breakfast spot idea. I could do without tapas, but a low-key Spanish place could be nice. The Cajun/Creole place could be fun. New Mexican food would be interesting. Bakery. Really good bagels with an array of toppings. Or what about Eastern-European food? My feeling about West Philly is that it’s flush with Indian, African, and Asian foods – with a smattering of anything else. So I’d be into the idea of a touch more of that “anything else”.
March 19th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
I live on 45th street right down the block from the former Rx and Remedio and would love to see something that fits into the neighborhood better than both did. Though I liked Rx in the beginning I felt they became overpriced with mediocre food and awful service as time went on.
My suggestion and hope is that something not already in the neighborhood will open, such as a soul food/southern style kitchen. Ideally IMO it would be an ala carte sit down BYO such as Mama”s Food Shop in the East Village in NYC. That way vegetarians and meat eaters could both dine there. Just imagine a place where you could get some mac n cheese, mashed potatoes, greens, cornbread, chicken, fish, etc…..There used to be a soul food place where Saad’s is back in the day and Big Georges further west.
March 19th, 2013 at 4:16 pm
I would love an affordable Italian BYO similar to L’Angolo, Melogran or La Viola.
Rimedio tried to respond to the criticism that there wasn’t enough veg-friendly options on the menu. The menu expanded and just turned into something that was mediocre and didn’t please both vegetarians and omnivores.
March 22nd, 2013 at 6:26 am
I never tried Rimedio, so I can’t really speak on it. I did like Rx though. I’d just like a nice, cozy breakfast spot with all the essentials – eggs, pancakes, french toast, grits, etc. – without any glitz and glam. Something like my old favorite waaaaay back in the day on 52nd st. called Pete’s Eats. Good food, reasonable prices.
Also, I haven’t checked out Renata yet, but is it safe to assume it isn’t the study haven Clave used to be? It seems like the quiet room in the back is off limits, though I can’t confirm.
March 22nd, 2013 at 4:55 pm
I was told that the original Rx was sold to a South Jersey building contractor, who hired a consultant to devise a menu that another chef/cook would execute. Quite a change from the original owner/operator of the establishment and I was not surprised that the 2nd version of Rx and, after that, Remedio both failed.
Successful neighborhood restaurants and bars all seem to have that ineffable quality – something that involves being simpatico with their surroundings. Tearing out the old fittings, that had been there for so many years and that reflected the character of our neighborhood, demonstrated pretty clearly that its new owner was fairly uninterested in what makes our area special. I know I resented it – it’s interesting to learn that others did too. So, while agree that the neighborhood could use a low-key Italian, and I’d really enjoy a tapas place, a new restaurant’s cuisine would probably be less critical to its success than the attitude of its owners – someone either coming out of the community, or at least sympathetic to the people who live here.
March 25th, 2013 at 8:24 am
How about a gourmet take out, with maybe 20 seats……something like Fork etc? $8/$10 entrees? Baked breads, desserts…….local of course……..thoughts?
June 26th, 2015 at 10:01 am
“As an Overbrook Farms resident”, I NOT “excited” by this Cedar Park Café outfit. When I see armed guards, standing watch in front of a restaurant, one has to wonder WHAT sort of history is being added to this historical neighborhood … turns-out this business was, elsewhere, tied up in some homicidal event.
If that isn’t enough, the owner ignores local ordinances.
June 26th, 2015 at 10:06 am
BTW, question … Why, in heavens name, do you name a restaurant Cedar Park Café that is IN OVERBROOK FARMS?! Why not, Cedar Park at Overbrook? … If the restaurant has to be here, at all.
June 26th, 2015 at 10:08 am
Cluke: I have no idea what you’re talking about, but there has never been a homicide at the Cedar Park location and there are no armed guards there. Sounds like an Overbrook problem.
June 26th, 2015 at 10:20 am
One more note: This 2035 address used to be a biker cafe called, “The Village”. That meant loud and live Jazz / Rocker music, pouring through the open door, well pass their stated closing time. Sometimes all night, into 2- and 4 AM … Saturday or Sunday morn. Crowds mobbed the side walk and motorcycles screamed to and from.
None of this mattered to the President of The Overbrook Farms Club. Apparently, none of the elite members lived near enough to the action.
In fact, I was told the Club President and the owner were fairly acquainted? If so, that may explain why some PARTS of Overbrook Farms just watch.
June 26th, 2015 at 10:35 am
Mr / Ms Anon:
I apologize for not being clear. Last year I S-A-W … (as in witnessed?)… a guard, with gun on hip? … standing in front of the restaurant on a daily basis. I thought it was ODD… never having seen a restaurant WITH an armed guard. before? Have you?
To continue…Later,after that restaurant closed I was informed by a business owner on Lancaster Avenue that someone was shot and killed at one of their other locations. Thus the guard. Thanks for your response.