UPDATED 7/12/13 at 9:52 A.M. Many readers have contacted us here at West Philly Local wondering about updates on some of their favorite chew spots in the neighborhood. Well, we’ve asked around and got the scoop (plus more) on what’s going on in the hood’s restaurant and booze scene. Here are some highlights:

• Dorinda Hampton of Planet Vegan told West Philly Local Friday morning that she is ready to build out her sit-down vegan juice bar at 310 S. 48th Street as soon as she secures her permits. She is aiming for a late August opening.
• Zagat’s Danya Henninger reported Thursday afternoon that Thai Singha House at 3939 Chestnut Street is closed for the summer, as the Thai spot is moving a block down to a new location at 3900 Chestnut Street. A note on the website says Thai Singha plans to open sometime in around September.
  
• Everyone’s beloved local diner, Cedar Park Café, will open its original location at 4912 Baltimore Avenue come mid-August (if not then, by September 1^st, owner Nicole Lee told West Philly Local). The breakfast and lunch joint, which opened in 2011, relocated to 2035 North 63rd Street in Overbrook (pictured right) after its flagship spot was heavily damaged during the questionable demolition job following the Christmas Eve fire that engulfed—and destroyed—another local favorite, Elena’s Soul, in the adjacent building. But don’t expect the same Cedar Park on the 4900 block of Baltimore—as far as we can tell, the diner is receiving a bit of a facelift, with a new bright red and white awning, dark tiled façade, and a richer neutral-colored interior accented by what looks like faux-brick wainscoting.
• As for Elena’s Soul, West Philly Local got in touch with owner Algernong Allen this week, who told us by email that there is no update on the future of the popular restaurant and bar as he’s still “sorting the situation out with the insurance company in litigation.” We were also unable to contact the owners of Gary’s Nails, so no word on what’s happening there.
• West Philly Local also learned that Taco Angeleno will have to delay its opening. According to owner Vanessa Jerolmack, the anticipated taco truck/outdoor eatery, which we profiled in May, may not open until late summer or possibly next spring, depending, due to bureaucratic red tape. The Los Angeles native has a zoning hearing for Taco Angeleno, located at 5019 Baltimore Avenue, scheduled in early August.
• Speaking of opening delays, Rx The Farmacy—a rebirth of the original Rx restaurant at 4443 Spruce Street—is also pushing back its launch until August 1st from mid-July because of snags in inspection and issues with kitchen equipment among other things, said owners and chefs Ross Scofield and Danielle Coulter.

• Two new restaurants will also make their way to West Philly this fall: HipCityVeg, Nicole Marquis’s vegan fast-food joint in Rittenhouse, will set up its second location in the former home of Won Oriental Restaurant at 214 South 40^th Street come September, reports Philly.com; and Wishbone, a fried chicken restaurant, will move into 4034 Walnut Street—the former of Walnut Street’s hoagie institution, Lee Hoagie’s House, which abruptly closed in June after serving the West Philly community for nearly three decades (owners and chefs Alan Segel and Dave Clouser are aiming for an October opening, reports The Daily Pennsylvanian).
• Last but not least, the 5,000 square-foot “upscale” Wine and Spirits Shop opening at 4301 Chestnut Street won’t launch until probably Labor Day, if not shortly thereafter, Barry Grossbach, zoning committee chair of the Spruce Hill Community Association, told West Philly Local in an email. According to Grossbach, contracting work for the site should be completed by August 1st, and then will be “turned over to the [Liquor Control Board] for outfitting.” Although West Philly Local reported the liquor store would possibly open by mid-summer, Grossbach said he believes an early autumn opening “was always the anticipated target.”

–Annamarya Scaccia