New apartment building at 43rd and Sansom.
A combination small grocery store and restaurant featuring shawarma and other Middle Eastern treats has been proposed for the ground floor space of the new apartment building at 43rd and Sansom.
Called “Alrayyan Supermarket,” the proposed business would feature groceries, a kitchen serving a fairly extensive menu and a lounge for dining at the space located on the southeast corner of the intersection., according to a presentation before the Spruce Hill Community Association zoning committee late last week.
“It’s a grocery store and not a dollar store or frozen food place that does nothing for the neighborhood,” said Ron Patterson, the lawyer for the outfit seeking approval.
Any non-residential use of the property requires a variance from the city. The SHCA zoning committee required ground floor commercial in exchange for its approval of the project in 2015.
The proposal is scheduled to go before the Zoning Board of Adjustment on Sept. 20 at 2 p.m.
September 27th, 2017 at 7:42 pm
I would rather see an Asian grocery store there. We don’t have one and you have to go China town or other distances to get certain things only sold in one. We already have shawarma enough in this area.
September 29th, 2017 at 8:17 am
That’s a very solid idea considering the large Chinese community along the 43rd St corridor.
That said, there’s never enough shawarma.