The interior of the Marathon Grill. Photo courtesy of the University City District.
The Marathon Grill (200 South 40th St.) and its lounge MarBar closed their doors yesterday, May 23, after nearly seven years of operation due to declining business, according to a report today in the Penn student newspaper The Daily Pennsylvanian.
The paper quotes Penn’s Executive Director of Real Estate Ed Datz:
“When they [Marathon Grill] came to this location, they brought a renewed vitality to the 40th Street corridor, improving the economy, the activity, and safety of the area in conjunction with other neighborhood development in West Philadelphia.”
The restaurant and bar opened in 2004, replacing a Burger King on the southwest corner of 40th and Walnut. The establishment’s five other locations around the city will remain open, the paper reported. A new tenant for the space, which Penn owns, has not been named.
May 24th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
This is not unexpected news. The food quality was abysmal, every time we went there, there was issues with the food. I hope there will be something better and more exciting in its place!
May 24th, 2011 at 8:26 pm
Too bad – they used to be great. We had friends from out of town who always wanted to eat there when they visited. Then they put in that awful limited menu and no one wanted to go anymore. It’s no wonder their business declined!
May 24th, 2011 at 9:57 pm
I went two days before they closed with a group of relatives from out of town. The food and service were so horrible that would not step foot in any of the other locations ever again. I had the turkey platter, and it tasted like the turkey had been in the freezer for at least a year! Avoid Marathon like the plague! I hope they close all their locations!!
May 26th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
I guess I’m in the minority because I am surprised. My daughter used to waitress there and we had many good meals and good times. I’m sad to see it go and hope something goes in its place.
July 4th, 2012 at 2:39 pm
I have always had a bad dining experience there. My daughter and I had eaten there 2 different times within a two year time span and the food was never tasty but bland. I am glad to see them go but hope a decent restaurant takes its place.