More business on Baltimore Ave.

Vietnam Cafe, a new restaurant on Baltimore Ave., is the latest venue to open in that area.

When deciding where to eat a dinner out, most students head east into Center City. Now there are a few reasons to head west instead.

Several new establishments have opened between 47th and 50th Streets on Baltimore Avenue in the last few months, a movement that has brought new life and positive attention to the area.

The newest addition to the group will be the Vietnam Cafe, a BYO opening just off 47th Street on Jan. 21.

Owner Benny Lai also owns the Fu-Wah deli next door and the popular Chinatown restaurant Vietnam. To maintain consistency in service and quality, Lai said he is bringing four of his staffers with him from the Vietnam restaurant.

Unlike Vietnam, Lai's new Cafe won't serve cocktails like the "Flaming Volcano."

On Baltimore Avenue, Lai is aiming for a calmer experience that brings his cuisine closer to some of his patrons.

"Lots of customers of Vietnam live in West Philly, that's why I'm bringing Vietnam close to home," he said.

Lai and his family - his father opened the deli located next to the Cafe - have been a fixture in the West Philadelphia neighborhood for over twenty years.

Lai said he hopes to bring a low-key, highly tasty atmosphere to the new Vietnam Cafe. He says, "We don't need fast food [here], we need family gourmet."

Neighborhood residents agreed - in four weeks, Lai's neighbors filled pages and pages with signatures in an effort to convince the zoning commission to approve the zoning requisite for opening a restaurant.

He got the zoning.

Rosemarie Certo found a similar amount of support when she opened Dock Street Brewery, located at 50th Street and Baltimore Avenue, last August.

"People got so involved," she said.

According to Certo, neighborhood residents called City Hall, started a blog and signed petitions, all in an effort to help her get the zoning she needed.

The energy from the Baltimore Avenue businesses - new and old - has resonated with students as well.

College senior Chloe Nielsen said Dock Street's beer and pizza is the current reason she travels west.

"It's not like Center City or Old City," she said, even if heading west doesn't always feel as safe.

Prior to opening the restaurant, Certo said she had reservations that 50th and Baltimore was perhaps "a little too far out."

But now, she said, she has "realized what a special place it was," and that crime is an issue in any big city, not just Philadelphia.

Since Dock Street opened, she says, she has only dealt with one problematic incident - in which neighbors were so watchful they scared off the would-be thief.

Comments (9)

I gotta say all this negative talk just troubles me. When you live in any major urban area (NY, Phila, Boston, etc), instead of walking around all willy nilly as if you have a sense of entitlement to the area �? you have to exercise a little caution �? especially if out late at nite. As a WHITE female who has both lived and frequented the area for some years I take offense to such an alarmist stance on the neighborhood. This negative view only reflects the prejudice and ignorance the previous post display. Crime happens in Rittenhouse Square, Northern Liberties, and just recently Old City. The crime stats you report are unusually high all throughout Philly and US, except where money and convenience can afford you more protection.

[QUOTE id="ca7e146d-4b76-47e1-9cda-d29534f01d27"]I mean honestly, these negative comments are enough. You idiots should have sent your kids somewhere else then, and you, should get a grip. I would recommend not trying to undermine inevitable positive change and stick to worrying about your own area of residence. To the students of Penn, you ate the future business and political leaders of America/World, you can certaitly handle getting some vietnamese food a few block from Campus.[/QUOTE] Yes, as you say, "certaitly" ignore the crime stats and lack of police action, and go to 47th and Baltimore late at night, in full confidence!

I mean honestly, these negative comments are enough. You idiots should have sent your kids somewhere else then, and you, should get a grip. I would recommend not trying to undermine inevitable positive change and stick to worrying about your own area of residence. To the students of Penn, you ate the future business and political leaders of America/World, you can certaitly handle getting some vietnamese food a few block from Campus.

[QUOTE id="eebaeb12-4434-4ca7-99a9-4f366d303bc5"]Went to Penn, back when that area of Baltimore Ave was bad, but now it's worse. Note to Penn students: be aware of the increasing crime in your neighborhood. Either don't go there, or go in groups, during the day. For my kid: don't go there![/QUOTE] I'm trying to figure out what era you're talking about. For 27 years I've lived in three places between 48th & 49th, not more than 3 blocks north or south of Baltimore Ave., while being, first, a graduate student and, later, a parent. The neighborhood continues to improve. It would be prudent not to wander around by oneself at night, but your alarmist "don't go there!" message certainly is not how I raised my late-teen, early 20s daughters, who love the neighborhood.

[QUOTE id="2ab71c26-99f6-4d55-94aa-416b5b5a40bd"]Both posters make a point that areas west of campus are pretty dangerous, but I think neither recognize that the presence of new businesses is the beginning of a shift in the area. By encouraging students to stay away from these areas you are abandoning these neighborhoods from those who can help make it safer. If students go in groups and create a presence in the neighborhoods surrounding Penn they will not be as dangerous. Yes, precautions must be taken, but as long as there is an intense fear of the neighborhood, the neighborhood will never get better. Thanks to the DP for notifying the Penn community of these new establishments.[/QUOTE] You're right the new businesses will help but until then don't come here. You're likely to be robbed or shot!

Both posters make a point that areas west of campus are pretty dangerous, but I think neither recognize that the presence of new businesses is the beginning of a shift in the area. By encouraging students to stay away from these areas you are abandoning these neighborhoods from those who can help make it safer. If students go in groups and create a presence in the neighborhoods surrounding Penn they will not be as dangerous. Yes, precautions must be taken, but as long as there is an intense fear of the neighborhood, the neighborhood will never get better. Thanks to the DP for notifying the Penn community of these new establishments.

Went to Penn, back when that area of Baltimore Ave was bad, but now it's worse. Note to Penn students: be aware of the increasing crime in your neighborhood. Either don't go there, or go in groups, during the day. For my kid: don't go there!

Yes, it's horribly dangerous out here past 45th St. Penn undergrads, don't come here!!

My husband went to Penn graduate school, we are choosing to move to 46th street and Osage avenue (which is just three blocks from Vietnam) from our fancy and "safe" neighborhood in Center City. We are working professionals with a toddler and we walk and drive to Vietnam to dine at least once a week. The emails alarming would be studnet diners at Vietnam is ignorant and sad. Please stop spreadying hate and bigoted information about this neighborhood? I would hope one reason you sent your children to college is to help them learn about differences in race and class and to tolerate people who are not just like them?

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