Familiar signs will soon disappear from Walnut Street businesses vacate en masse, making way for a University building project.
After months of contention with the University, businesses on the 3900 block of Walnut Street will begin to vacate the block in the coming weeks to prepare for construction that will begin in January.
University-owned apartments and new retail venues will eventually fill the space.
Leases for the businesses currently on the block end Oct. 31, but the businesses there have set different dates for their closings. And while some will relocate nearby, some, such as College Buffet, are gone for good:
n College Pizza, West Philadelphia Locksmith and the University City Review will be moving to space at 42nd and Chestnut streets.
College Pizza closes Nov. 1, and the others have not yet set dates for departure.
n Last Word Books plans to move next to Ben and Jerry's on 40th Street. The space it will occupy is currently under construction.
It will close sometime next month.
n College Buffet left its location at 3901 Walnut St. on June 30. It is not relocating on Penn's campus.
n Philly Diner will leave its current location at 3925 Walnut St. to fill College Buffet's vacancy.
It will close sometime in October.
n FedEx Kinkos is closing its location at 3923 Walnut St. on Sept. 22. The store does not yet have any space near campus lined up for it to fill.
n Power Yoga, currently at 3925 Walnut St., is similarly without a new home but is discussing a move to the Hub, under construction at 40th and Chestnut streets.
There is no set date for its closure.
