Retail buzz: New jewelry store to open in Chestnut Hill

What’s in store: moves and new businesses on the Avenue

Chestnut Hill

With the recent announcement that a planned Rita’s water ice will not happen this year, Chestnut Hill’s retail recruiter  Some of the most recent developments are happening with existing businesses relocating.

“It definitely feels sometimes like a tile game,” said Chestnut Hill Retail Recruiter Eileen Reilly of trying to find the right spot for a business to relocate.

“It’s so hard to place businesses in the bigger square footage,” she said. “When you can get a smaller retailer to slide into something big, it frees up space for something great that might not have been able to come into the Avenue in a bigger space.”

 

Relocating in 19118

Bone Appetite, currently located at 8505 Germantown Ave., will be moving a few doors down to 8517 on July 1. Owner Betsy Olix said she’s relocating the store to a bigger space so she can offer grooming, a self-serve dog wash and more merchandise. She also hopes to have a vet in the future.

Chestnut Hill Yoga also recently moved from 8524 Germatown Ave. to 15 W. Highland Ave. Greene Street Consignment will open in its place any day now, Reilly said.

Balance Chestnut Hill’s plan to move from 5 E. Highland Ave. to 18 W. Willow Grove Ave. may take a little longer than expected. The Chestnut Hill Community Association’s Board tabled a vote to support Balance after board member Richard Snowden raised concerns he has with Willow Grove Ave building owner.

 

Coming soon 19118

Farther down the Avenue at 7904, Modern Bird Studio and Gallery—a jewelry store that’ll also host workshops and classes in the back room—is moving in. Owner Laura Fladin said her new 550-square-foot store will open at the end of April or beginning of May.

Fladin said Modern Bird’s classes will offer residents the opportunity to make their own clasps and hooks for jewelry. “There’s a lot of people [who] love handmade jewelry and want be a part of the process,” Fladin said. “This will be more for the hobbyist who wants to learn basic metal-smithing.”

Children of America daycare is scheduled to open this summer at the old Borders building at 8701 Germantown Ave.

 

Pop-up strategy

Besides a recent flood of new businesses, Reilly also said she’s had a lot of pop-ups temporarily move in on the Hill this year. In addition to filling in the empty spots and drawing attention to an open retail space, Reilly said it gives people who are thinking about opening a business in Chestnut Hill an opportunity to test the waters.

“I’m not sure our market is here for them,” she said. “So I challenge them to think about maybe a month.” She added: “the last thing you want is someone to come in and go out in less than a year.”

Reilly also said business owners should let her know if they’re planning on retiring or moving, so she can find a business to fill the spot before they leave.

 

Mt. Airy

There has been some turnover on Germantown Avenue in Mt. Airy. Mt. Airy USA’s Elizabeth Moselle will is heading up the soon to launch Mt. Airy’s Business Association to better assist the needs of local business owners’ needs.

 

Coming soon to 19119

Moselle said so far, she knows of a hat store coming to 6511 Germantown Ave.

Doc C Custom Clothier, located at 7510 Germantown Ave., is a custom-made men’s clothing and footwear store set to open on June 1.

 

New businesses for 19119

 

Ground Zero Salon, which will be the seventh location for the salon, opened at 7119 on Tuesday, where One Salon used to be.

Co-owner Wendy Weinstein said she chose Mt. Airy as a location because she used to have a Chestnut Hill location about two years ago, and several of the area’s customers have since been traveling to her Center City location to get their hair done.

The salon offers services such as cuts, color and up-do’s. It’ll be open from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

As far as recently opened businesses, Private Plates By Perry, located at 7122 Germantown Ave., had its grand opening on Saturday. Owner Perry Shaw, who is resident of Germantown, said he opened in Mt. Airy because he likes to keep things local. “It’s just a nice place to be,” he said. “I’m local, and people that are here with me they’re all local Germantownites.”

Shaw said his breakfast and lunch restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Tuesday through Saturday. He also caters and rents his space out for small business meetings. Sunday, he said, will be his first brunch, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. He’ll be featuring things like eggs Benedict and eggs strada.

Pet salon Uptown Dog, located at 7151, opened in October.

 

Recently closed in 19119

Avenue Bistro, located at 7220 Germantown Ave., recently closed.

Divinity Salon at 7201 Germantown Ave., also has gone out of business.