The Top Shelf II at 1433 Arch St., for years an old man's bar across from the Municipal Services Building, is undergoing a quite dramatic transformation into a glitzy seafood grill called Big Bang's.
(Bang happens to be one name of the owner, who so far opts to remain publicity-shy.)
It looks to be about a month from opening.
I think Bang is brilliantly forward-thinking, opting for this location, just off 15th and Arch. A few doors down, at the old YMCA and Distric Attorney's Office at 1421 Arch St., construction proceeds on the 202-room Le Meridien hotel. Around the next corner will be the new western end of the Convention Center.
Comments (1)
Top Shelf's Cookum's Cafe had the best soul food platter around. The ladies in my old office in Penn Center used to order from there once a week, and then argue over who had to go inside the bar to pick it up. The mac & cheese and fried whiting were sublime, the fried chicken merely to die for. Sigh... One of the last truly seedy, Sam Rappaport-esque corners in Center City is going upscale. Can you still get a slice of pizza for a dollar at Tom & Olga's?
Posted by Rob | June 5, 2008 4:57 PM
Posted on June 5, 2008 16:57