Taking care of business: New stores hit U.

It seems that anyone trying to keep up with recent storefront changes on campus would need a score card -- and a pencil with a good eraser. In one of the many recent examples of real estate musical chairs, Cinemagic 3 at Penn opened in June, replacing the AMC Walnut Mall 3, which closed down last November because it could not keep up with competition from larger theaters in the area. And nearby Mega Video, which was scheduled to re-open this month, will not be returning to campus due to "other business concerns," University Real Estate Director Chris Mason said. He added that he has contacted other video stores about taking over that site. The video store shut down in February after a fire tore through the Convenient Food Store next door, completely gutting the convenience store and causing smoke and water damage to Mega Video and some of its neighbors. College Pizza, which also fell victim to the fire, reopened this week with a new menu. In the weeks following the fire, the store reopened at half-capacity, but then closed down again in the beginning of August in order to repair the space most seriously damaged by the fire. Mason said the Convenient Food Store might return after sufficient repairs are made to the location. In addition, Dunkin' Donuts joined the The Shops at Penn at 34th and Walnut streets in July. Owner Vincent Lee said he is happy to be a part of the University community. "The number one reason we picked this location is students," he said. The store replaced Perfect Pretzel, which closed down in the spring of last year for economic reasons. The second campus Bucks County Coffee House is also set to open soon, at 40th and Locust streets. The move is scheduled to be complete by October 15. Mason said the opening is being delayed because of problems obtaining construction permits from the city. Two of the stores in the garage at 38th and Walnut streets have already opened, and the other three are set to open in the near future, according to Mason. Both the Commerce Bank and Joseph Anthony Hairstyling moved into the garage August 21. The Commerce Bank has been celebrating its grand opening all week by giving out gifts to students. Yesterday, a robot entertained students passing by on Walnut Street. And today, the bank will be giving out free water ice. Tony Voci, owner of Joseph Anthony Hairstyling, said moving across the street into the garage has allowed him to expand the services he offers. Mail Boxes Etc. is also set to open in the garage next week, and Campus Copy Center and Thrift Drug will open new locations next month, Mason said. Finally, West Philadelphia Locksmith will be moving one block from its current location on the 4000 block of Walnut Street. It will fill the space on the 3900 block of Walnut which was left vacant when Galaxy Entertainment closed down in April. The move should take place next month. Phil Paul, owner of West Philadelphia Locksmith, said the new site is preferable because it is larger and has a parking lot close by. Mason said he thinks West Philadelphia Locksmith "is a very good use for that space." He said he does not know what will replace the store because it is moving from a building which is not University-owned. There are still no replacements in The Shops at Penn for the Italian Bistro, which closed down last July, or for The Lodge, which went out of business last spring, Mason said.