Hi, Lower Merion!
The local restaurant scene is buzzing with new and forthcoming openings. Here are the ones to know about. Also this week, a Penn Wynne man has been accused of defrauding investors in his cannabis start-up, Pep Boys is planning dozens of local layoffs, plus the community is mourning the death of the former Phillies owner who helped bring the Phanatic to life.
In other news: A man testified about fearing for his life during a recent township road-rage incident, and Villanova’s mascot has scored an NIL deal.
— Lisa Dukart (lowermerion@inquirer.com)
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New restaurants to put on your radar
Dozens of new restaurants are opening throughout the region this fall and winter, including a few in and around Lower Merion.
Alessandro’s Enoteca is targeting an October opening at 915 W. Lancaster Ave. in Bryn Mawr. The brainchild of Alex Fiorello will dish up pastas, pizzas, and dry-aged meats in the former Enoteca Tredici space.
Bala Cynwyd will get a new Southern Italian eatery, Bruzi, in the former Aldar Bistro space, which will serve Calabrian dishes and have an opening list of about 100 Italian wines.
And in Ardmore, South Philadelphia’s Taco Heart is expanding to the Ardmore Farmers Market. It’s joined in Ardmore by the just-opened Vintner’s Table, which has a wine bar, salumeria, and lifestyle boutique.
Elsewhere nearby, Fearless Restaurants will grow its footprint in Wayne, adding Southern Italian eatery Martini & Roz. First-time restaurateurs (and Harriton High alums) Larry Kagan and Chas McFeely will open Old Friend, a contemporary American grill, in the Apartments at Wayne Station.
And the former La Jonquille and Shiraz spaces in Devon are expected to get new life, with Korean barbecue spot Salt opening in December, followed by sushi joint Yugo next year.
See all 60 new restaurants on tap in the region.
🍽️ In other food news …
- Village Cafe opened at 1422 Manoa Rd. last week. The new Wynnewood spot serves a selection of coffees and pastries.
- Bryn Mawr’s The Bakery House opened its second location over the weekend at 35 W. Lancaster Ave. in Paoli. It sells a selection of goods such as custom cakes, pastries, and pies, as well as the viral dot cakes.
- Wednesday is the last day for the Bala Cynwyd Farmers Market this season. It will return in the spring.
💡 Community news
- A Penn Wynne man has been charged with securities and wire fraud after allegedly defrauding investors of $8.8 million through his cannabis start-up, KindManage, LLC, over the course of nearly a decade. Prosecutors say David Dinenberg, 54, allegedly used hundreds of thousands of dollars of company funds for personal use such as his sons’ college tuition, social club memberships, and a luxury home rental in California.
- A man who was stabbed last month during a road-rage incident on a section of I-76 in the township testified at a preliminary hearing this week about the chaotic event and how he feared for his life. The alleged perpetrator, Samuel Marquez, is expected to be arraigned in county court next month.
- The first phase of Lower Merion’s gas-powered leaf blower ban ends today and won’t resume until Jan. 1. The ban resulted in hundreds of complaints during the initial phase, putting extra strain on staff.
- Former Phillies owner Bill Giles died last week at the age of 92. He passed at his Gladwyne home, according to Fox 29. Giles was known for his inventive ways to fill stadium seats and his involvement in creating the Phillie Phanatic.
- Pep Boys is laying off 169 people at its Bala Cynwyd corporate offices amid its planned merger with Mavis Tire Express Services.
- The Montgomery County District Attorney and the board of commissioners have teamed up on a new consumer protection initiative, which they launched with a pair of lawsuits against cash-advance apps MoneyLion and Dave, The Inquirer’s Erin McCarthy reports.
- A Powerball ticket worth $1 million was sold at Babis Pharmacy on Montgomery Avenue in Merion Station for last Wednesday’s drawing.
- The township is hosting a cleanup weekend on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., when residents can dispose of household goods at the public works complex for $20 per vehicle.
🗺️ Other nearby news
- A group of Bryn Mawr College alums signed an open letter calling on Haverford College to “preserve the rights to free speech and academic freedom” after the neighboring school settled a lawsuit alleging it allowed antisemitic speech on campus.
- Villanova University’s mascot Will D. Cat has inked a name, image, and likeness deal with Friskies that will see the cat food brand donate meals to area pet shelters every time the Wildcats score during this football season.
🏫 Schools briefing
- Thirty-three district seniors have been named 2027 National Merit semifinalists — 17 from Harriton and 15 from Lower Merion. In addition, one student from Mesivta High School of Greater Philadelphia, 12 students from The Baldwin School, five students from The Shipley School, one student from Merion Mercy Academy, and four students from Friends’ Central School were also named semifinalists.
🎳 Things to do
🧚 Gnome and Fairy Festival: Narberth Park will be transported into a wonderland replete with gnome and fairy houses. Attendees are encouraged to dress up. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. (rain date: Oct. 17) 💵 Free 📍 Narberth Park
🍂 Shiverfest: Kick off spooky season at this family-friendly event that includes food trucks, live entertainment, crafts, and animals. ⏰ Saturday, Oct. 3, 3-8 p.m. 💵 $37.05-$42.39 📍 Riverbend Environmental Education Center
🛍️ Clover Market: Browse a curated selection of over 90 vendors, hear live music, and grab a bite to eat from a food truck. ⏰ Sunday, Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. 💵 Pay as you go 📍 7 N. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr
🍷 Wine and Wander: Explore Stoneleigh after hours while sampling four types of wines. ⏰ Thursday, Oct. 8, 5:30-7:30 p.m. 💵 $65-$75 📍 Stoneleigh
🏡 On the market
A French manor home with a pool and gardens
This four-bedroom, French manor-style home sits on over 3.5 acres in Penn Valley, giving it plenty of privacy. The front entry features twin staircases leading to the doorway. Inside, there are formal living and dining rooms, a kitchen with a breakfast room, and a family room with a fireplace and brick accent wall. The large primary suite has a fireplace, two bathrooms — including one with a soaking tub — and a dressing area. There’s also a sauna on the lower level. Outside, the home has an in-ground pool and gardens.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $3.5M | Size: 5,938 SF | Acreage: 3.54
🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:
- Opinion: We need to find the words for Trump’s madness before things blow up
- Did Philly restaurants get more expensive after Michelin recognition? We checked the checks.
- She was just a kid when a strange man tried to abduct her in 2009. This week, she learned it was Raymond Horsch.
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