UPDATE, 1/8/14, 9:15 a.m. According to Shaban Kabab and Curry owner Mohammad Sajad. A, who reached out to West Philly Local after our story went live, the restaurant is “very close to opening” within two weeks, although he does not have a fixed date.

Already known for its variety of African and Middle Eastern flavors, Chestnut Street between 41st and 45th Streets will soon claim a South Asian eatery as part of its budding restaurant strip: Shaban Kabab & Curry is set to open its doors soon at 4145 Chestnut Street. The restaurant already has a website and Facebook page and is even featured on GrubHub (although, not taking deliveries yet). Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to get in touch with the owners to ask them about the opening date. We’ll let you know when we have more info.

Shaban Kabab & Curry’s extensive menu offers locals authentic South Asian cuisine based heavily in tandoori and curry-based flavors. Traditional meat and vegetarian dishes like Dal Makhni, Kadhi Pakora, Chicken Tikka, Goat Biryani, Gola Kabab and Kathi Rolls stand out among the crowd, while a weekend specials list offers a peak into the region’s delicacies (think lamb brain cooked with butter, onions, tomatoes and authentic spices). Four versions of naan are also sold as part of Shaban’s freshly baked breads, which include tandoori roti, aloo paratha, and onion kulcha. Price points for these items range from $1.50 to $19.99.

And, if you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten path of South Asian cuisine, Shaban will also prepare four different types of 10-inch pizzas from $4.80 to $7.40: plain, one topping (choose from onion, green pepper, hot pepper, black olives, spinach, mushroom, chicken tikka, seekh kabab, buffalo chicken, juicy pineapple, broccoli, cauliflower or garlic; additional toppings are a $1 each), a vegetarian special, and the Shaban special (chicken tikka, seekh kabab, black olives, mushrooms, onions and green peppers).

According to Shaban’s website, the new restaurant will be open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays through Wednesdays, and 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays.

–Annamarya Scaccia

Here’s information on holiday hours for some local shops, cafes and restaurants. If you want to add your business hours, please do so in the comments below.

We wish happy holidays to all our readers!

Cafe Renata (43rd & Locust)

Dec. 23-Dec. 28 – Closed
Dec. 29 – Open for brunch
Dec. 31 – 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Jan. 1 – Open for brunch

Honest Tom’s Taco Shop (44th & Spruce)

Dec. 24-26 – Closed
Dec. 30-Jan. 2 – Closed

Mariposa Food Coop (49th & Baltimore)

Dec. 24: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dec. 25: Closed
Dec. 26: 9 a.m.-5 p.m
Dec. 27: 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jan. 1: 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Milk & Honey Market (45th & Baltimore)

Dec. 24 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Dec. 25 – Closed
Dec. 31 – 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Jan. 1 – Closed

Supreme Shop ‘N Bag (43rd & Walnut)

Dec. 24 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Dec. 25 – 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Dec. 30 – 7 a.m.-12 a.m.
Dec. 31 – 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Jan. 1 – 8 a.m.-8 p.m.

VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave)

Dec. 24 – 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Dec. 25 & 26 – Closed
Dec. 27 & 28: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Dec. 29-Jan. 1 – Closed

Good news for locals missing Philadelphia Community Acupuncture: come early January, PCA’s Sarah Lefkowich, who left the West Philly clinic before it closed its doors in October after six years of service, will open West Philly Community Acupuncture at 4636 Woodland Avenue, in the same building that hosts Four Worlds Bakery.

The new acupuncture clinic, which is a member of the People’s Organization of Community Acupuncture (POCA), will offer treatments on a $15 – $35 sliding scale, with no first time appointment fee. In celebration of its grand opening, though, treatments at the clinic—based on the community acupuncture model—is running a $10 per treatment promotion for the month of January.

Once opened, West Philly Community Acupuncture’s hours of operation will be Tuesday and Thursday, 3 p.m. – 7 p.m.; Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. The clinic will be closed Sundays and Mondays; however, according to the website, it will open on those days “when you demand it!”

–Annamarya Scaccia

Photo by Annamarya Scaccia / West Philly Local

When West Philly Local profiled Rebels Closet in May, it seemed as if the excitement around the project was contagious. The street wear—meets—counterculture clothing store that took over True Planet Vintage Boutique’s former home at 4501 Baltimore Ave was going to breathe fresh air into the neighborhood—and tap into the West Philly underground not only through major brands like Mighty Healthy and G.E.E.K (Good Energy = Quals Kreation) Clothing Inc., but through in-store events like spoken word nights and a rolling art gallery.

Over the few months since its soft opening, though, Rebels Closet’s doors were rarely open during its stated operating hours, and—at least twice from what we observed—the store was completely emptied of any product or display, only to return a few days later. There was some hope that maybe it was just growing pains, as all businesses have their ebbs and flows, but that hope was soon dashed. As of about two weeks ago, Rebels Closet has been added to 4501 Baltimore Avenue’s “Previous Tenants” list. Around that time, a large group of people began gutting the corner store, carrying mounds and mounds of trash bags out of its doors. Drapes and brown paper material now cover its windows—a “Coming Soon” sign alerting that Zed’s Last Minute Gift Shop will make 45th Street and Baltimore Avenue its new home.

West Philly Local reached out to Takiya Lipscomb, manager of Rebels Closet, to find out what had happened to the clothing store, but she has yet to return our request for comment. As for Zed’s, we’ll update you with more information once we get in touch with the owners.

–Annamarya Scaccia

True to the holiday spirit of helping and giving, some local businesses and politicians are leading efforts to support various charitable causes this month. Here are more details on who’s doing what and how you can help.

Holiday Food Drive at Mariposa Food Co-op (49th & Baltimore)

Mariposa Food Co-op is accepting donations of canned and packaged non-perishable food items through Dec. 31. You can drop your donation into the donations box at the store. All donations will be taken to Pathways PA, an organization providing services for women, children and families in the Greater Philadelphia region, or to State Representative James Roebuck’s office for redistribution to neighbors in need. For more information please email outreach@mariposa.coop or stop by at the store.

“ACCT Out For The Holidays!” Holiday Supplies Drive at Baltimore Pet Shoppe (4532 Baltimore Ave)

The Chester Avenue Dog Association and Baltimore Pet Shoppe are organizing the “ACCT out for the holidays!” holiday supplies drive in the neighborhood. Baltimore Pet Shoppe will be accepting donations until Dec. 20 for the Animal Care and Control Team of Philadelphia (ACCT) to help the homeless cats and dogs that will be staying in the shelter over the holidays. ACCT is in need of many items on their wish list. Baltimore Pet Shoppe is offering a 10 percent discount on all mylar balls, canned pate cat food, stainless steel bowls, and Kong L & XL dog toys that are getting donated to the shelter. The shop has a donation bin where you can drop off any items from ACCT’s wish list. You can also purchase these items online. For more information, visit Baltimore Pet Shoppe’s Facebook page.

Cafe Renata (43rd & Locust) donating a portion of all gift card sales to local charities

Katie Steenstra, the co-owner of Cafe Renata, which opened at the beginning of the year at 43rd and Locust Streets, has let us know of her business’s effort this month to give back and “help keep West Philadelphia as vibrant as ever.” Through Christmas, 15 percent of all Cafe Renata gift card sales will be donated to local West Philadelphia charities. The cafe owners also want to hear from you and let them know, on Facebook, Twitter, or right in the shop, where you think the donated funds would be most needed. On Christmas, they will announce where the raised funds will be donated.

December 13 – Support Kingsessing Library with The Gold Standard Cafe (48th & Baltimore)

Friday the 13th has a bad reputation, but Roger, Vince and Joey of The Gold Standard Cafe decided to “buck tradition by putting our bucks where our words are,” and make it a lucky day by donating a full 1/3 of their total proceeds on December 13 to their neighborhood (Kingsessing) library. Your donation will go to serve the reading and educational needs of the library.

Roebuck’s office a ‘Socks for Seniors’ drop-off point

The office of state Rep. James Roebuck, who currently serves as Democratic chairman of the House Education Committee and represents the 188th Legislative District in West and Southwest Philadelphia, is serving as a drop-off point for the “Socks for Seniors” drive. Residents are invited to bring pairs of new adult socks for nursing home residents by Friday, Dec. 13 to Roebuck’s office located at 4712 Baltimore Ave.

If you are spending Thanksgiving Day in the neighborhood, here’s the hours for assorted local stores, cafes and restaurants. And here’s our story on what to do and where to stay in West Philly for the holidays in case you missed it.

Aksum (4630 Baltimore Ave) – Thursday: Closed; Friday: Open for dinner.

Cafe Renata (4305 Locust St) – Wednesday: 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Thursday: Closed; Friday, Saturday & Sunday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. By the way, Cafe Renata will be serving complimentary mimosas with brunch on Black Friday and begin offering seasonal specials like: pumpkin french toast, cranberry chutney turkey club sandwiches and roasted butternut squash soups.

Earth Cup Coffee (45th & Pine) – Thursday: 7 a.m. – noon.

Green Line Cafe (all locations) – Wednesday: Close at 5 p.m.; Thursday & Friday: Closed.

Mariposa Food Co-op (4824 Baltimore Ave) – Wednesday: 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Thursday: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Milk & Honey Market  (4435 Baltimore Ave) – Thursday: Closed; Friday: 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Supreme Shop n Bag (43rd & Walnut) – Wednesday: 7 a.m. – 12 a.m.; Thursday: 7 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Fresh Grocer (4001 Walnut St)  – Thursday-Sunday: Open 24 hours.

VIX Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave) – Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.; Thursday: Closed; Friday & Saturday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.