The University City Grocery Outlet grand opening took place on Thursday, May 30. (Photos by Hanbit Kwon)

A new grocery store, University City Grocery Outlet, has opened at 4301 Chestnut Street, on the ground floor of the new apartment complex that replaced a strip mall (the construction began in Spring 2022). The store is a medium-size supermarket that carries everything from fresh produce to meats to frozen foods and personal care items. It is locally owned and operated by sisters Jaelyn and Jaida Deas (check out their Instagram post).

University City Grocery Outlet is a franchise of the Grocery Outlet chain founded in 1946 in San Francisco. The store offers bargain prices on many items. Grocery Outlet’s business model is built on offering brand-name items that have been discounted because of “packaging changes, surplus inventory or product overruns,” according to the company’s website.

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The new Schmear It bagel shop at 265 S. 44th Street will be selling Lil Pop Shop’s handcrafted ice pops and Weckerly’s ice cream.

Here’s some exciting news for locally made popsicle and bagel lovers. Two popular local businesses, Lil Pop Shop and Schmear It, have announced that they both will be offering their goods at 265 S. 44th St., Lil Pop Shop’s former location. What’s even better, Lil Pop Shop, whose owner Jeanne Chang announced permanent closing of the shop in Fall 2023, has already restarted its operation at the store (the re-opening date was Thursday, May 23).

The shop is now owned by Schmear It founder Dave Fine and his partner Brett Weinheimer, both Penn alumni. Schmear It will begin serving bagels, schmears, Rival Bros. coffee and espresso, and drinks in the coming months, according to Weinheimer. He says that him and his family used to live in Spruce Hill and have been long-term customers of the Lil Pop Shop.

“The Schmear It team is especially excited to share that the store will feature Lil Pop Shop’s all natural ice pops as it has for over a decade. Lil Pop Shop’s team, led by founder Jeanne Chang, will continue to craft and deliver their amazing creations for the Schmear It team to sell at Lil Pop Shop’s former 265 S. 44th St. storefront,” Weinheimer wrote in an email.

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After many years of operation, two popular Baltimore Avenue businesses – Ice Cave and Aksum – have closed their doors.

                          Ice Cave in 2023

Ice Cave, the dessert shop specializing in Taiwanese shaved ice treats, reopened under new ownership just last spring. The original shop, managed by a Taiwanese American couple, opened in 2016 at 4507 Baltimore Ave. and then moved across the street to 4520 Baltimore in 2020. The original owners closed the shop in early 2023 due to family matters, however, a new family took over the space just a few weeks later, in March 2023, continuing the old tradition. Although the “Ice Cave” signage is gone from the storefront, a sign on the door says that the space is only “closed temporarily”, which means a new business may be coming there soon.

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The Baltimore Avenue Dollar Stroll is coming back again this year! University City District (UCD), the longtime event organizer, has scheduled two Strolls this summer – on Thursday, June 6 and Thursday, Sept. 5.

The event draws thousands of neighbors and visitors to enjoy dollar deals from participating local businesses and community vendors. In 2022, the price levels vendors can offer were expanded from $1 deals to deals for $1, $3, or $5.

Currently, UCD is accepting applications from both community food vendors and community merchandise vendors to join in this event as official participants. If you are a community vendor interested in selling either food or merchandise, please email Margaret Leidy Starke, Senior Manager of Events and Community Partnerships, at margaret@universitycity.org. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 19.

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Van Leeuwen’s storefront at 3631 Walnut St.

Expanding upon the success of their other Philadelphia locations, New York City-based ice cream parlor, Van Leeuwen, is opening their 4th storefront at 3631 Walnut Street, according to a recent announcement by Penn’s Division of Facilities & Real Estate Services.

“We’re looking forward to Van Leeuwen bringing their popular parlor and unique ice cream flavors, including vegan and dairy offerings, to the diverse culinary scene in the Shop Penn District,” said Ed Datz, Penn’s Executive Director of Real Estate.

Based on their belief that “good ice cream is for everyone,” Van Leeuwen has been on a mission since its inception to create the best ice cream with simple ingredients. Led by co-founders Ben Van Leeuwen, Pete Van Leeuwen, and Laura O’Neill, the company began in a yellow ice cream truck on the streets of New York City in 2008. From there they grew in popularity, and their ice cream can now be found in various scoop shops throughout the United States as well as select grocery stores.

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Amina Ocean Restaurant is coming to 3.0 University Place at 41st and Market.

The team behind Amina Restaurant & Lounge in Old City is opening up a new venture, Amina Ocean, in University City. The new seafood-focused restaurant has inked a deal with University Place Associates (UPA) to become the anchor retail tenant in 3.0 University Place’s ground floor retail space. The new 250,000 square-foot eight story commercial lab and office building is located at 4101 Market Street.

Encompassing 4,800 square-feet, the upscale dining and nightlife brand is the second retail partner to be announced by UPA, and will be located on the northeast corner of 41st and Market Streets. Lancaster, PA-based Fulton Bank, which occupies 2,250 square-feet in the center of the street level retail corridor, opened on August 7.

“My vision for Amina Ocean is ‘Southern Seafood Fusion,” entrepreneur Felicia Wilson said in a statement. “The theme and vibe of the restaurant will provide a Tulum-meets-Morocco feel.”

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