Back in business: Penn awaits new stores

Following the closing of a series of local businesses, the University neighborhood will soon see an influx of new stores, offering a wide range of food and services. Out of Time Comics will open on the 3800 block of Walnut Street, followed by the Cool Peppers Mexican Grill on 40th Street, the Market Street Market on Walnut Street and a second campus Bucks County Coffee Company at 40th and Locust streets. According to University Campus Housing Reality Group representative Ed Datz, Out of Time Comics will open "between now and Christmas break" at the former site of Joseph Anthony Hairstyling at 38th and Walnut streets. Joseph Anthony recently moved across the street. Third-year Law student Allen Oh was an avid comic book collector for six years in his home town of Troy, Mich., but said he has not purchased comic books since he came to Penn. But he said he may now replenish his "X-Men" comic book collection once the comic store opens on campus. "There's a comic store downtown, but it's not worth the walk," he said. Vibes Music, located around the corner from the future Out of Time Comics location, also sells comic books, but does not expect to loose business from the new store. "I don't view it so much as competition as another good traffic draw," Vibes manager Phil Hilf said. Penn students also said they plan to frequent the soon-to-open Cool Peppers Mexican Grill Restaurant at 40th and Locust streets. College sophomore Melissa Wu said she would give Cool Peppers a try once it opens after Winter Break. "I totally miss Mexican food," she said. "I haven't had any Mexican food on the East Coast. I've been afraid to try it." Engineering freshman and Mexican native Fernando Lopez Gomez said he would eat at Cool Peppers "if it is real Mexican." So far, Lopez Gomez said the only Mexican food he has eaten in Philadelphia was in the Hill House dining hall. He added that he hopes Cool Peppers' food will taste better. Unlike Cool Peppers and Out of Time Comics, which have little competition in the University City area, the soon-to-reopen Market Street Market on the 3900 block of Walnut Street will join a handful of other local convenience stores. Associate University Treasurer Christopher Mason said Market Street Market will be similar to its predecessor, Convenient Food Mart, which was destroyed in a fire last February. But the store now has a new owner and should reopen by the end of the year, according to Mason. Students can also anticipate the relocation of West Philadelphia Locksmith into the former Galaxy Entertainment arcade site on the 3900 block of Walnut Street by mid-December. Mason said renovation and construction on that project was "more complex than we expected," delaying the opening of the store. Daily Pennsylvanian reporter Amy Lipman contributed to this story.