Restaurants hungry for Center City space

A little more bustle is apparent along some Philadelphia commercial corridors.

In some areas, 25 percent of the new business is due to one industry.  

Research in new business startups shows one group taking up a big portion of the field in Philadelphia, said City Councilman Alan Domb.

“In Center City last year, one out of four leases were restaurants, one out of four,” he said. “So what does that tell us? A lot of people are buying on the internet. It also tells us in these corridors, we have to find what businesses are successful, we have to nurture them.”

Domb, who has a successful real estate business, said eateries will always need bricks-and-mortar locations.

“Every successful business corridor needs restaurants, needs coffee shops, because you cannot eat over the internet,” he said.

Small businesses and restaurants can improve neighborhoods, he said.