>From Monday's DP: Another example of the best laid plans of mice (the Penn Real Estate Dept) and men going awry. Penn's criteria for pricing and finding tenants for their retail spaces have created a revolving door in many cases. This, on top of providing an example for the impressionable undergrads of that venerable institution about the types of businesses worthy of their patronage. Townies trying to bootstrap themselves into business by the sweat of their brows need not apply.
Well, one can hardly expect anything worthwhile from planners in general and from the wonderful folks who tried to bring the neighborhood the "extended stay hotel" at 40th & Pine in particular. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Alan Krigman KRF Management, ICON/Information Concepts Inc 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104-2918 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 krf...@aol.com or _al.krigman@krf.icodat.com_ (mailto:al.krig...@krf.icodat.com) ____________________________________ Marathon Grill at 40th and Walnut closed by _Grace Ortelere_ (http://www.dailypennsylvanian.com/author/grace-ortelere) | Monday, May 23, 2011 at 6:34 pm Many students may be sad to learn the University City location of the restaurant Marathon Grill and its lounge MarBar closed their doors on Monday. The Marathon Grill located at 200 South 40th Street decided not to renew its lease due to declining business over the last few years, Penn’s Executive Director of Real Estate Ed Datz said in a statement. The University City Marathon Grill opened in 2004, replacing a Burger King. “When they came to this location, they brought a renewed vitality to the 40th Street corridor, improving the economy, the activity, and safety of the area in conjunction with other neighborhood development in West Philadelphia,” Datz said. According to Datz, the University is in the process of searching for a proprietor to replace the retail space. Marathon Grill has five other locations throughout the city which will stay open, Datz said. Its restaurant at 929 Walnut Street has an affiliated lounge, Upbar.
