As students return to campus this week, they will find less cereal and more chocolate.
Chef Jose Garces, of the downtown restaurants Amada and Tinto, opened the doors to Distrito, his newest restaurant. The Mexican tapas restaurant opened on July 21 in the University City Hub, located at 3945 Chestnut St.
Owner Adam Baru said he will be interested to see how the "constituency" of people going to the restaurant changes with the arrival of more students.
A few blocks away, the Mediterranean restaurant Hummus opened on Aug. 11 at 3931 Walnut St.
French-born Israeli owner Fabrice Saadoun said there was "no place in the city" offering good falafel and shawarma.
Having never opened a restaurant - he previously worked as a real estate developer - Saadoun and his business partner hired someone to teach them the cuisine.
"I don't have a law degree, and I'm not a doctor," Saadoun said, "so I need to do something, you know?"
Next door in the Radian, Chipotle Mexican Grill, CVS Pharmacy, Capogiro Gelato Artisans and Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches plan to open in the coming year.
Chipotle will begin construction in two weeks but may not open until 2009, said Chipotle's director of development for the region Carl Behler.
Behler said he is not concerned about the proximity to other Mexican restaurants like Qdoba, located at 40th and Locust streets, because Chipotle's food is the "very best quality," and "organic."
Jimmy John's franchise owner Brett Weinheimer, a 2000 Wharton alumnus, said he has been trying to open a Jimmy John's at Penn for three years. He said he hopes to start construction in mid- to late September and to open in early November.
Construction on the space occupied by CVS will begin in late fall, and CVS will open in spring 2009, said CVS spokesman Mike DeAngelis.
Capogiro's gelato is drawing excitement from future Radian residents.
"Capogiro is pretty much one of my favorite dessert places in the city," said College sophomore and future Radian resident Sabrina Benun.
A few blocks to the east, Cereality closed its doors at 3631 Walnut St. in mid-July. Facilities and Real Estate Services is actively marketing the space, said executive director of real estate Ed Datz.
Naked Chocolate Cafe will open at the former site of University Jewelers around Oct. 15, owner Tom Block said.
And students don't need to look any farther than Houston Hall for new retail.
Video Vault and Scoops DeVille were closed and replaced by Reel Scoops, a DVD rental and ice cream store, which opened Aug. 20.
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