Iconic New York City tavern set to open first Philadelphia location in landmark Center City building later this year
Keystone Property Group announced today that construction is well underway on a P.J. Clarke’s saloon and restaurant located within The Curtis – the historic publishing landmark reimagined as a dining, shopping, residential and commercial destination.
P.J. Clarke’s will occupy the corner of Sixth and Walnut Streets, next to The Dream Garden lobby, in a portion of The Curtis dedicated to dining, shopping and other retail options. It is expected to open its doors to the public later this year.
“The arrival of P.J. Clarke’s will mark a new chapter in the ongoing evolution of The Curtis, adding its unique brand of dining and nightlife to an increasingly vibrant mix of retail, office and high-style residences,” said Bill Glazer, Keystone Property Group’s Chief Executive Officer. “We look forward to opening its doors later this year as we continue to transform The Curtis into not just a historic landmark, but a cultural destination for Philadelphians and visitors alike.”
Founded in 1884, P.J. Clarke’s has become a New York icon. Over the years it has earned the reputation of being the ‘Vatican of Saloons’ and owner Philip Scotti, originally from the Philadelphia area, is determined to create the ‘Cathedral of Saloons’ in his home city.
“I’m more excited about this restaurant than any other project I’ve been previously associated with,” Scotti said. “I’m coming home.”
Scotti has appointed an all-Philadelphian management team, and with the help of his partner of another venture, Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto, he believes he has made the perfect choice in hiring fellow Philadelphia-area native Ned Maddock, most recently chef de cuisine at Brigantessa in East Passyunk, as the Executive Chef of P.J. Clarke’s.
The restaurant group’s designer, The Niemitz Design Group of Boston, MA, was encouraged by Scotti to make it a “true Philadelphia establishment” and a unique entity in the P.J. Clarke’s portfolio.
Along with its original location on Manhattan’s Third Avenue, P.J. Clarke’s also maintains two other locations in New York City and another in Washington, D.C.
Built between 1909 and 1920, The Curtis originally housed Curtis Publishing, owner of groundbreaking publications such as the Ladies' Home Journal, The Saturday Evening Post, The American Home, Holiday, Jack & Jill and Country Gentleman. Keystone, one of the Philadelphia region’s premier developers, acquired the building in 2014 as part of a plan to activate the historic property into a dynamic, mixed-use destination amid an increasingly vibrant urban neighborhood.
In addition to its famed 12-story atrium and “The Dream Garden” – one of the largest Tiffany mosaics in the world - the building now includes more than 50,000 square feet of retail space that will include P.J. Clarke’s, wine bar The Cooperage and a variety of other shopping, dining and cultural experiences.
In 2017, Keystone officially opened the doors to Lyndon at The Curtis – a collection of 63 spacious, upscale residences overlooking Independence Mall and Washington Square Park. The 90,000-square foot development comes complete with a host of amenities suited to a cosmopolitan lifestyle, including a fitness center with on-demand classes, dedicated yoga studio and spin area; private dining room with communal kitchen; clubroom and billiards table; dog spa; golf simulator; luxe library space; and an on-site valet parking garage. Residents are also served by a 24-hour concierge desk.
In addition to The Curtis, Keystone’s holdings in the immediate area include 100 Independence Mall West, the historic Dow Chemical building, which has been reimagined with a dynamic indoor/outdoor experience for pedestrians, replete with the popular Independence Beer Garden and a La Colombe coffee café. In 2016, Keystone also acquired The Washington — the former Penn Mutual Tower — which is located within steps of The Curtis. With the area’s growing pedestrian traffic, Keystone intends to implement a variety of property upgrades to The Washington, while repurposing existing commercial space to retail use.
About Keystone Property Group
Keystone Property Group develops and invests in commercial and mixed-use properties, creating inspired work, living and retail spaces that encourage collaboration and cultural vibrancy. With offices located in Conshohocken, Pa.; Miami, Fla.; New York and New Jersey, Keystone operates in well-located urban and suburban locations to build, revitalize, and unlock potential in office buildings designed to meet the evolving demands of the modern workplace.
The company, which also manages a set of real estate investment funds, has been recognized by Inc. 500 magazine, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum and the Wharton Small Business Center, and several of its projects have earned “Best Real Estate Awards” from the Philadelphia Business Journal and BOMA (Chicago). For more information, please visit www. keystonepropertygroup.com.
About The Clarkes’ Group
P.J. Clarke’s has a long and distinguished history that is well documented on its website: pjclarkes.com. However, owner Philip Scotti thinks none of that matters: “The only thing that’s really important is the history being created on day one in Philadelphia.”
