The Midtown II Restaurant closed up shop at 11th and Sansom in 2016 after 32 years in business. The owner blamed the publication of health code violations for a steep drop in business, which forced the diner to close. This closing was definitely a loss for old Philadelphia. The Midtown II’s 24-hour service and retro interior have been dearly missed by many. Spots like this are slowly disappearing from the Center City dining scene. The buildings at 122-124 S. 11th St. were sold in December of 2016 for $3.85 million. In 2018, the iconic marble first floor facade and retail signage were stripped from the building.
In February of 2019, permits were issued for the erection of an 86 room hotel with a restaurant at the base of the structure. Demolition permits were pulled later in the month. We will not mourn the loss of the corner building. However, the 4-story structure at 124 S. 11th St. will be missed. The new use will definitely be bigger. You can decide for yourself if it is better.
A health-focused hotel called Blue Ivy will rise on the 3,520 square foot CMX-5 zoned lot after demolition is complete. The development is being undertaken by the owners of the Philadelphia restaurants Estia and Pietro’s. Anthos, a new Mediterranean restaurant, will occupy the first two floors of the building and will have room for more than 200 diners. The renderings depict a modern, 14-story tower.
This section of the city is busy during most of the day with pedestrians, hospital workers, and hospital visitors. The new restaurant will definitely be higher-end than Midtown II. It likely won’t be a place to drop in for a cheap lunch or for 4 AM drunk food. However, Estia and Pietro’s are both well-reviewed establishments. We look forward to seeing what the restauranteurs bring to the Gayborhood. We do love Greek food, so we will have to check out Anthos when it opens. How do you feel about this development? Do you think a hotel will do well here? Do you prefer a diner to a Greek restaurant?
Kyle is a commercial real estate agent at Rittenhouse Realty Advisors, a homeowner, and a real estate investor in Philadelphia. Kyle uses his extensive Philadelphia real estate market knowledge to help his clients buy and sell multifamily investment properties, development opportunities, and industrial sites.
Email Kyle@RittenhouseRealty.com if you are looking to buy or sell a property
Instagram: @agent.kyle