On May 24, 2011, at 8:11 AM, [email protected] wrote: > From Monday's DP: > > Another example of the best laid plans of mice (the Penn Real Estate Dept) > and men going awry. Penn's criteria for pricing and finding tenants for their > retail spaces have created a revolving door in many cases. This, on top of > providing an example for the impressionable undergrads of that venerable > institution about the types of businesses worthy of their patronage. Townies > trying to bootstrap themselves into business by the sweat of their brows need > not apply. > > Well, one can hardly expect anything worthwhile from planners in general and > from the wonderful folks who tried to bring the neighborhood the "extended > stay hotel" at 40th & Pine in particular. > ------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Alan Krigman > KRF Management, ICON/Information Concepts Inc > 211 S 45th St, Philadelphia PA 19104-2918 > 215-349-6500, fax 215-349-6502 > [email protected] or [email protected] > Marathon Grill at 40th and Walnut closed > > by Grace Ortelere | Monday, May 23, 2011 at 6:34 pm > > > Many students may be sad to learn the University City location of the > restaurant Marathon Grill and its lounge MarBar closed their doors on Monday. > The Marathon Grill located at 200 South 40th Street decided not to renew its > lease due to declining business over the last few years, Penn’s Executive > Director of Real Estate Ed Datz said in a statement. > > The University City Marathon Grill opened in 2004, replacing a Burger King. > “When they came to this location, they brought a renewed vitality to the 40th > Street corridor, improving the economy, the activity, and safety of the area > in conjunction with other neighborhood development in West Philadelphia,” > Datz said. > > According to Datz, the University is in the process of searching for a > proprietor to replace the retail space. > > Marathon Grill has five other locations throughout the city which will stay > open, Datz said. Its restaurant at 929 Walnut Street has an affiliated > lounge, Upbar.
I don't know what Penn's Real Estate department has to do with Marathon's failure as a business. It is my understanding that Marathon has been busted several times in the past couple of years by LCB agents. Fines can have a devastating impact on a bar/restaurant's bottom line. But ignoring that issue -- Marathon opened at Penn when the only competition they had was from McDonald's across the street. Today, they have a HUGE number of competitors, from Distrito to the Greek Lady to Manakeesh to Blockley Pour to Local 44 to Dock Street ... not to mention the ones in the Radian across the street from them. It does not surprise me that their business is off as Karen Mentioned. Marathon's menu has nothing to offer a Philadelphia Foodie -- and there are far more of them today on Penn's campus than there were just 5 years ago. Their menu is an overpriced and not particularly good version of "deli-food." I don't see them offering anything to appeal to the current tastes of Penn students, let alone neighborhood residents. Personally, I haven't found anything worth eating there for the past (at least) 2 or 3 years now ... the "new" Greek Lady wins hands down for price, service and quality. Why bother with poor food and mediocre service when you have two Iron Chefs' facilities a block away! You will also note that the "12" inside the adjoining Rave theater has not yet "re-opened" even after securing a Liqueur license this past December. William H. Magill Block Captain 4400 Chestnut Street [email protected] [email protected] 4428 Chestnut Street Philadelphia, PA 19104-2914 (267-402-0529) ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>.
