Come April 2017, Acme may replace Fresh Grocer at 40th and Walnut. Fresh Grocer, which is affiliated with ShopRite, “did not renew their lease in a timely fashion,” according to a statement released on Monday by the University of Pennsylvania. The statement also said that Penn identified a new operator for this location, which is reportedly Acme.

Fresh Grocer employees and customers have been distributing flyers asking passersby to support Fresh Grocer.

Employees of ShopRite’s Fresh Grocer at 40th & Walnut Streets are petitioning customers to lobby Penn to not change the store’s ownership: pic.twitter.com/XS1R7CTjFl

— Jonathan Tannenwald (@jtannenwald) December 24, 2016

Signed by The Burns Family (Patrick J. Burns is Fresh Grocer’s president and CEO), the flyer urges customers to contact Penn’s executive vice president Craig Carnaroli by phone and email, join the movement to save the store on Facebook, and use a #SavePennFroGro hashtag on social media.

The Philadelphia Inquirer‘s staff writer Jason Nark spoke to Fresh Grocer customers and asked their opinion about the store’s possible closing. Read his report here.

Here is information on holiday hours and closings for assorted local cafes and stores. We’ll update the post as more information becomes available (let us know about your business at: editor@westphillylocal.com or via Twitter @westphillylocal).

Stores:

Mariposa Food Co-op (49th and Baltimore)

Dec. 24: 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Dec. 25: Closed
Jan. 1: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m.  Continue Reading

The Baltimore Avenue and Lancaster Avenue Business Associations are teaming up again to provide a unique holiday shopping experience for neighborhood residents next month. The Winter Express Shoppers’ Trolley (W.E.S.T.), connecting two of the busiest West Philly streets and commercial corridors – Baltimore Avenue and Lancaster Avenue – will return on Saturday, Dec. 3.

From noon till 5 p.m. this free trolley will travel along both avenues, stopping along the way at designated shopping and dining destinations. Businesses will welcome riders with specials, promotions and giveaways, as wells as with some delicious treats.  Continue Reading

Many local stores and cafes will be closed or will have special hours tomorrow and this weekend:

Coffee Market (45th and Pine): Thursday, Nov, 24: 7 a.m. – 1 p.m.; Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Nov. 25-27: 7 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Mariposa Food Co-op (49th and Baltimore): Thu, Nov. 24: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Green Line Cafe: All locations will be closed this Thursday and Friday. Wednesday, Nov. 23: 43rd and Baltimore – closes at Noon; 40th St. and Powelton Village shops will close at 3 p.m.; Locust Street – Closes at 5 p.m.

Milk and Honey Market (45th and Baltimore): Thursday, Nov. 24: Closed

Renata’s Kitchen (46th and Baltimore): Thursday, Nov. 24: Closed

Fine Wine and Spirits stores (44th and Chestnut, 49th and Baltimore): Closed on Thanksgiving Day.

Supreme Shop-N-Bag (43rd and Walnut): Special hours on Thanksgiving Day: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Fresh Grocer – Open 24 hours

From left to right: Noah’s Pizza owner Mekonen Hailu, executive chef Sal Traina, and co-owner Chris (Photo by Rana Fayez)

Pizza lovers of the west rejoice, we now have more options. Noah’s Pizza just opened next to Lil’ Pop Shop at 4602 Woodland Ave. Now we’re quite aware of the shortage of quality pizza on our side of the river, but this is exactly why owner Mekonen Hailu decided to transition his previous business, Noah’s Market, into what is now Noah’s Pizza.

The pizza shop opened about a couple of weeks ago, with the idea to provide quality pizza to the neighborhood. “There is more need for pizza than a mini market here,” said Hailu.

The pizza chef? Sal Traina, he’s the executive chef at Chestnut Hill Hospital. He’s really good friends with Hailu and well, he loves making pizza, so he decided to add a side gig to his work week. “I wanted to help out a friend,” said Traina.  Continue Reading

On Tuesday, Nov. 1, Milk and Honey Market (45th and Baltimore) will host a meet and greet for Baltimore Avenue business owners and neighbors. This is an opportunity to meet owners of some of the recently opened Baltimore Avenue businesses, including Eight Limbs Academy, Greensgrow West, The Nesting House, Hair Vyce, and more. There will be some food, fun and opportunities for networking. The event will be held from 5 – 7 p.m.

The event is organized by Baltimore Avenue Business Association (BABA).