Sit back, relax and let the countdown to summer begin! Cheers to a Wonder-ful app, a plan for Picket Post, island-style happy hours and more! XOXO
• Wonder What’s for Dinner?
I’ve got Pinterest boards, cooking apps, old-school recipe cards and DoorDash, and I still can’t decide what’s for dinner. My daughter’s craving steak, my husband’s lobbying for seafood and omg can we just order a pizza and call it a day?!?
Enter Wonder Food Halls, now located in Ardmore and King of Prussia, with future locations headed to West Chester and Newtown Square’s booming Ellis Preserve.
Founded by e-commerce billionaire Marc Lore, Wonder made headlines when it acquired Grubhub as part of the company’s bold vision to shake up dinnertime. To fulfill orders, Wonder partners with award-winning chefs and restauranteurs who teach the Wonder team how to replicate their dishes for large-scale delivery (think steak from Bobby Flay and Marcus Samuelsson’s fried chicken). Launched in New York City, Wonder’s new take on takeout has spread quickly across the tri-state area.
Each Wonder location caters to virtually every craving, from pizza, burgers, BBQ and Mexican to steakhouse classics, Middle Eastern flavors, poke bowls and Thai. Seeking something sweet? Wonder even offers a selection of treats from iconic bakeries and chocolatiers.
Customers can mix and match dishes from as many restaurants as they like in a single order using the Wonder app or in-store kiosk (dine-in is also available). Wonder aims to have your food ready for pickup in minutes—or delivered (for free!) in about 35 minutes.
Wonder Food Halls are currently open at 17 W. Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore and 600 DeKalb Pike in King of Prussia. Hours are 11:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily.
• Villanova Takes on Another Cash-Strapped College
After acquiring Cabrini University last year, Villanova University now plans to merge with Rosemont College. Starting in 2027, Rosemont College will begin its transition into a satellite campus for Villanova, with a full handover expected by 2028.
Rosemont’s financial struggles were no secret; it was one of 13 local colleges flagged as financially vulnerable by the Philadelphia Inquirer last fall, and in 2020 the school borrowed $7 million against its endowment to stay afloat. Still, the announcement sent shockwaves through Rosemont’s tight-knit community.
Founded in 1921 as a Catholic liberal arts college for women, Rosemont went coed in 2009 to boost sagging enrollment, but the challenges proved insurmountable. The school enrolls less than 800 students.
Current Rosemont students have until June 2028 to complete their degree. After that, they can transfer to Villanova’s School of Professional Studies. (Rosemont will stop accepting new applications after September 2025.) Following the transition, Rosemont College will be officially rebranded as “Villanova University, Rosemont Campus.”
• Books Back in Radnor High Library
After a firestorm over banned books rocked the Radnor community earlier this year, the Radnor Township School District Board of Education has officially reversed course. Last month, the board voted to return three graphic novels—Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic by Alison Bechdel, and Blankets by Craig Thompson—to Radnor High School library shelves. The books were removed after a parent filed a formal complaint about explicit content.
In late February, after the complaint was received, an anonymous, ad hoc committee quietly voted 5-1 to remove the books, deeming them “not age-appropriate” for students. The district did not publicly disclose the challenges or the committee’s verdict at first, leaving many parents and students confused and blindsided when news about the book bans broke in early March.
Since then, heated public comments have dominated Radnor school board meetings. Students and parents alike denounced the bans, arguing that the removals—particularly two titles featuring LGBTQ themes—made certain groups feel marginalized.
The uproar culminated at last week’s board meeting, where, after a spirited two-hour debate, the nine-member board voted 6-0 to reinstate the books, with three members—Lon Rosenblum, Clare Girton and Liz Duffy—abstaining.
While many celebrated the return of the graphic novels, concerns remain about the district’s 2008 policy that led to the removals in the first place. The three board members who abstained from voting say the policy needs to be reexamined and possibly rewritten.
• Township Picks Up Picket Post
Tredyffrin Township supervisors voted unanimously last month to seize the old Picket Post swim-and-racquet facility in Chesterbrook via eminent domain.
The vote clears the way for the township to purchase the deteriorating property from its current owner, developer Dave Ludin.
Seven years ago, Ludin bought the financially strapped swim club for more than $1.2 million, banking on a zoning change that would allow him to build townhomes. But after years of legal wrangling—and no final ruling—the site remains a vacant eyesore.
Though many residents support the township’s takeover, critics say the township could spend far less (about $300,000) to install new pickleball courts at nearby Wilson Farm Park instead.
So far, township supervisors have only revealed estimated repair costs: between $250,000 to $300,000 to drain and fill the pool, restore the pickleball and tennis courts and clean up the restrooms. The cost to purchase the land from Ludin? Expect that figure to be MUCH higher.
• Settantatré Pasta & Provisions
From local gluten-free pasta whiz Matt Gentile and his wife Genna Curcio comes Settantatré Pasta & Provisions —an Italian food haven designed to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. After a year spent renovating the old Candelario’s Pizza in Berwyn, the couple finally debuted its culinary mecca last month. Here’s what to expect:
• Retail/Coffee Shop: Sip fresh-brewed coffee, snack on pastries and paninis and stock up on house-made breads, pastas, sauces and more.
• Cooking Classes: Sharpen your skills every other Wednesday ($95/person) with hands-on lessons centered around pasta and Italian sauces.
• Prix Fixe Dinners: Enjoy multi-course magic every Thursday with gluten-free options available. BYOB!
• Osteria Nights: Featuring a laid back, family-friendly a la carte menu.
• Dining Club: Join the “73 Club” ($73/month) and get $60 back in monthly gift cards, early access to cooking classes and special dinners, discounts on private events and other tasty perks.
Settantatré Pasta & Provisions is located at 802 Lancaster Avenue in Berwyn. Check the website for hours.
• It’s 5 O’clock Somewhere…
Tommy Bahama is attempting a tropical oasis in King of Prussia Mall of all places. Located in the mall’s “connector” section next to Savor Food Court, the brand’s sprawling 10,000-square-foot bar-restaurant offers “upscale counter service,” which allows diners to be in and out in about 45 minutes.
On the menu: crowd-pleasers like coconut shrimp, blackened mahi mahi tacos, sliders and Key Lime pie. There’s also a full lineup of rum drinks, martinis, wine, beer and spirit-free cocktails. “Island Time” happy hour takes place 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM daily, with live music most nights. Prefer a staycation? Online ordering is available too.
To help you dress the part, pop into the attached Tommy Bahama retail store.
Got a scoop for In The Loop? E-mail kate@mainlineneighbors.com
