Cheers to warm days ahead, sweet treats and swell shops. Keep reading for all the latest…
• Donut Sleep on This!
Deep-fried fav Federal Donuts and Chicken will open a 1,500-square-foot shop in Radnor, at 200 Radnor Chester Road (near Estia Taverna and honeygrow, in the old HipCityVeg). Locations are also planned for Willow Grove and Conshohocken’s Plymouth Square as part of a broad expansion effort for the Philly-based chain.
Since opening its first café in Pennsport in 2011, Federal Donuts has perfected the art of salty meets sweet. Customers flock to its bustling cafes for bites of deep-fried joy, from the piping-hot, spiced-cake donuts to the crispy, hand-battered fried chicken. And don’t sleep on the freshly brewed coffee, especially the Donut Latte, made with steamed milk steeped with donuts and warm spices.
Coinciding with its brick-and-mortar expansion, Federal Donuts has also expanded its menu. Additions include the LTO Fried Chicken Sandwich, chicken tenders with house-made dipping sauces, the Early Bird Breakfast Sandwich (egg sandwich with a hand-battered chicken tender nestled in a potato roll) and a Chicken Caesar Sandwich. A three-piece chicken dinner meal and new donut flavors will debut soon. Yum!
• Mall Call
Who said malls are dead? Several premier brands will open locations in King of Prussia Mall soon, including:
• Neuhaus Belgium Chocolate – The world-famous chocolatier and inventor of the Belgian Praline will peddle its sweet treats across from the Apple store.
• Rothy’s – This will be the first Philadelphia-area location for the sustainable brand that specializes in chic, washable bags and shoes (Meghan Markle and Gwyneth Paltrow are fans!).
• EVEREVE – The rapidly expanding women’s boutique offers a curated collection of clothes, shoes and accessories from over 150 brands, including 7 For All Mankind, Birkenstock, Bombas, Dolce Vita, Free People, Rag & Bone, Sam Edelman and Vince Camuto.
• Vuori – Seems like everyone is sporting pieces from this California-based activewear brand known for its buttery soft fabrics.
• Game On in Ardmore
Two years after opening, Ardmore’s Twenty One Pips will up its game, starting with a swanky new gaming “parlor” boasting bright and cheery sofas and more space to spread out and play. Owner Matt Hendricks also purchased hundreds of new games, many of which are for sale, so guests can keep the good times rolling at home.
“Gametenders” are stationed throughout the space as well to help patrons pick a game to play and learn the rules. (Hendricks found that left to their own devices, some groups spent more time deciphering a game’s rules than actually playing, a definite buzzkill.)
On the food front, Hendricks partnered with Chef John Taus of JET Hospitality to debut creative takes on small plates, like mushroom “calamari,” crab and chili flatbreads, Korean chicken sliders, raclette grilled cheese and fried cauliflower. New and familiar favorites are available at the bar too, including plenty of savory mocktails (try the Lavender Pop and Hidden Gem!).
Twenty One Pips is located at 24 Cricket Avenue in Ardmore. Hours vary daily; check the Web site for details.
• TESD Purchases Site for Sixth Elementary School
It’s official; Tredyffrin/Easttown School District purchased a 15-acre property on West Swedesford Road last month to serve as a much-needed sixth elementary school. TESD paid $15.95 million for the former office building and grounds and will spend the next three years transforming the site to accommodate students. (The school’s projected opening date is fall 2027.)
One of the top districts in Pennsylvania and the nation, TESD has been under major pressure for years to address increasing enrollment and overcrowding. Purchasing an existing building wasn’t initially part of the plan, however. At first, school officials proposed addressing the issue through redistricting or building on district-owned land in Chesterbrook or Berwyn, but those options were rejected. The 86,622-square-foot Swedesford Road building is located on a flat lot with ample room for an addition if needed and easy access for cars, buses and delivery trucks. It also offers enough space to offer full-day kindergarten (finally!) and accommodate the district’s growing special ed population.
Parents have LOTS of questions, naturally, like which neighborhoods the new school will pull from, whether upper elementary school students will be allowed to remain at their existing school, and most importantly, what will the new school be named?? In a letter to families and staff, TESD Superintendent Dr. Richard Gusick pledged to share more detailed information and timelines with the community in the coming months.
• Super Wawa Prevails
Everyone loves Wawa, just not in their neighborhood. For years, Wayne residents and Radnor Township fought the opening of a 24-hour Super Wawa at the corner of Aberdeen and Lancaster Avenues. Now, the battle is over. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court refused to hear the township’s latest appeal, allowing plans for the mega convenience store to proceed.
Neighbors claim a Super Wawa will cause major traffic woes along with safety issues for students at nearby St. Katherine’s School and Radnor Middle. (At a Radnor Planning Commission meeting in 2018, a Wawa traffic engineer admitted traffic would increase by 24 percent, with 84 to 113 new trips at peak hour.) In 2019, Radnor commissioners sided with residents and vetoed the project, citing zoning code violations. The landowners sued the township, Radnor appealed, and residents hired an attorney.
With the Supreme Court refusing to hear the case, the project shifts to the final approval phase. Radnor isn’t the only township to resist a Super Wawa; the company has faced similar battles in Conshohocken, Berwyn and Northampton.
• Shore Thing
No more pedaling to Avalon for soft serve! Avalon Freeze will open a location in Stone Harbor called (wait for it)…Stone Harbor Freeze. The new shop will be located across the street from Island Water Sports, in the former Alex’s Market space. Looks like Kohr Brothers has some competition!
Got a scoop for In The Loop? E-mail kate@mainlineneighbors.com
