Chili Szechuan closed its Baltimore Avenue location after a little more than 2.5 years of operation. (Archived photo/West Philly Local)

We received some requests from readers asking what’s happening with Chili Szechuan’s Baltimore Avenue location as it seems to have closed. As you may know, the popular Chinese eatery opened a new location on the 4200 block of Chestnut Street in the summer, and the owner, Kangzhi Ma, said she might close the Baltimore Ave. location, which opened in early 2013, at the end of the year. So we can confirm that Chili Szechuan at 4626 Baltimore Avenue has already closed, so that the owners can focus solely on the Chestnut Street location. As as one of Chili Szechuan workers we spoke to back in May said, “it is a bigger place and close to campuses.”

So it will be interesting to see what business will occupy the now empty storefront at 4626 Baltimore Avenue, a very lucrative piece of commercial property.

Bob Casey (left) and Leo Eisenstein (photo from Bikram Yoga West Philly Facebook page)

The Bikram Yoga studio, which opened at 42nd and Chestnut in 2012, has a new management team and has changed its name from Bikram Yoga University City to Bikram Yoga West Philly, according to information posted on their Facebook page. The studio has been closed for renovation, which includes repainting and remodeling, since September 22, and is expected to reopen in early November.

The management changes include Leo Eisenstein, a yoga instructor from Bikram Yoga Philadelphia (and a veteran bartender!), joining the team as studio director. Bob Casey from the original management team will continue his work at the studio. We’ll keep you posted about the grand opening of Bikram Yoga West Philly. Also, visit their Facebook page for updates.
 

Great news for two local non-profit organizations – The Enterprise Center and Bartram’s Garden – which have been selected to receive generous grants.

Bartram’s Garden has announced on their website that they are a recipient of a $2 million grant from the William Penn Foundation. “This funding will increase access to the Schuylkill River and promote Bartram’s Garden as a cultural hub in Southwest Philadelphia. Among the areas targeted are capital projects and programming for enhanced use of the river as a community recreational space and environmental center,” reads the announcement. The grant will be distributed over three years.

The Enterprise Center, a West Philly business accelerator, is in line for up to $1.2 million ScaleUp America grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration, according to reports. The purpose of the ScaleUp America funding is to help existing businesses in underserved neighborhoods grow. The funding will be used for training, technical assistance, and networking events for small businesses in the area, especially those run by minorities and women, Philly.com reports. The first portion of the grant, $239,323, will come in the first year. The Enterprise Center expects to receive $1.2 million over five years.

Hanniya Mitchell (photo from Philly Police Blog).

UPDATE (10/21/2015, 8:35 a.m.): 13-year-old Hanniya Mitchell, who had been missing since Monday morning, was found safe, according to police.

Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating a 13-year-old West Philadelphia resident, Hanniya Mitchell. Hanniya was last seen around 6:30 a.m. on Monday, leaving her residence on the 400 block of S. 62nd Street. She attends the Bryant Elementary School, located at 6001 Cedar Ave., however she hasn’t attended school since she was reported missing.

Hanniya is 4 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 115lbs, with brown eyes, medium build, dark brown complexion, and black wavy shoulder length hair. She was last seen wearing a blue Polo shirt, khaki pants, gold jacket with fur, and red sneakers.

Anyone with information on Hanniya’s whereabouts, please contact Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183 / 3184 or call 911.

A 19-year-old man was shot and killed near 52nd and Locust in the latest of a series of violent incidents in that area in the past few weeks.

Police say the unidentified man was shot at about 2:50 p.m. on Sunday afternoon and was taken to Penn Presbyterian Hospital, where he died at about 3:30 p.m.

No arrests have been made and no weapon was recovered, police said.

Two men were shot during separate shootouts near the same intersection three weeks ago. No arrests were made in those shootings.

                         Chaniece Benn

Police are searching for a 20-year-old woman, Chaniece Benn, who vanished after leaving Mercy Hospital, 501 S. 54th St., on early Saturday morning. A resident of the 3800 block of Aspen Street, Benn was last seen around 4 a.m. on Saturday exiting the hospital with an unknown black male. She has cerebral palsy and a diminished mental capacity, according to police.

Benn is five feet, one inch, 130 pounds with a medium build, has brown eyes, a light brown complexion, and straight, black, shoulder length hair. She was wearing a black hooded jacket, khaki pants, and a black shirt and black sneakers with a silver stripe. The man, who was seen leaving the hospital with her (pictured below), is described as five feet, five inches tall, with a medium build and medium complexion. He was wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and black shoes.

Anyone with information on this missing person is asked to call the Southwest Detective Division at 215-686-3183/3184 or dial 911.