Hold that cab fare - fine dining for the next generation of Penn students is about to move a whole lot closer to campus.
Stephen Starr, a fast-emerging East Coast restaurateur, is planning a new restaurant in University City. Although University officials and Starr are still holding preliminary talks, both confirm that a new restaurant is in the works.
Starr said the restaurant will not open for at least three years, and a concept or location for it is far from being finalized.
University officials say that a new Starr restaurant would be one of many new eateries they hope to attract to campus, part of the retail boom they anticipate will be sparked by Penn's eastward expansion.
Even though Starr has new restaurants in New York and Atlantic City, N.J., as well as 12 highly successful spots in Philadelphia, he is returning to University City because he sees "tremendous growth potential" for the area.
Starr said Penn's commitment to building up the "dead land" to the east of campus and the University's highly diverse student body makes it "one of the only areas in Philadelphia" that can still draw in new businesses.
Penn currently has around 350,000 square feet of retail space on campus. Just how much of Penn's 24 acre purchase will be retail space has not been decided.
Ed Datz, the University's executive director of real estate, said his office's priority is to attract a "healthy mix" of restaurants, with a broad range of prices and cuisines.
Starr, who Datz said is a "trusted tenant in the retail portfolio of the University," approached Penn about a new restaurant on campus a few months ago.
Starr previously worked with University officials to build Pod, a futuristic Asian-fusion restaurant at 36th and Sansom streets.
Penn will lease the land to retail developers, who will then make the ultimate decision about which businesses to bring in. The University maintains a friendly relationship with those developers, according to Facilities officials, and can make recommendations about development choices.
Datz said the University will continue its commitment to providing "incubation" opportunities for smaller restaurants. He cited Metropolitan Bakery and Greek Lady as examples of restaurants Penn helped develop.
Area restaurateurs say a new Starr restaurant in the area can only help their businesses.
Judy Wicks, owner of the White Dog Cafe, said she would welcome another Starr restaurant in University City.
"The more good restaurants in West Philadelphia, the more we become known as a restaurant destination," Wicks said.
New businesses bringing in more people to West Philadelphia will help the area as a whole become more successful, she added.
Although many of Starr's restaurants are known for their elite dining experience - not to mention high prices - Starr said his new restaurant will most likely be "more casual."
This is welcome news for students like College junior Laila Siddique, who frequents Pod and other Starr restaurants.
A lower-priced restaurant, Siddique said, would "allow students to go there more when they want to go out to a nice place."
