La Terrasse to reopen in May

After an eight-year absence from campus, La Terrasse -- a "true Parisian bistro" -- will reopen its doors on Sansom Street May 14. And with the return of the restaurant, 1981 Penn graduate Bill Hoffman -- who began his career as a busboy at the original La Terrasse -- will find his way back to University City as the restaurant's new owner and operator. La Terrace, which will include an open aired bar and deck, will help make Sansom a "very active and vibrant block," according to Hoffman. He emphasized that the focus is on not only culinary accuracy of the food served, but also on the freshness of ingredients for both food and drinks. "Our chef has arranged for a visiting chef from Paris once a year, which is unique from many of the other restaurants around," he added. Serving both lunch and dinner, La Terrace will offer two price-fixed meals at each sitting. Hoffman said prices will be "very affordable." "It's going to be a very exciting place for students," University Treasurer Scott Lederman said. "And the addition of Sansom Commons and The Book Store in future years will make it even better." At 3432-36 Sansom Street, La Terrasse will add to the attraction of diners who already flock to the block of restaurants, which includes New Deck Tavern, the White Dog Cafe, LeBus and Bucks County Coffee Co. A further addition will come with the Mad 4 Mex restaurant, scheduled to open in September in the former Italian Bistro space of the 3401 Walnut Street shopping complex. When the owners of the old La Terrasse were forced to close in 1988 over a monetary dispute, they sold the restaurant space to the University -- which has maintained the vacant building ever since. According to Lederman, the University considered several lease options with a variety of restaurants, but it was not until the summer of 1996 that Hoffman was finally guaranteed the space. Hoffman, who had moved from busboy to general manager at La Terrace, left the restaurant in 1983 to work at Carolina's -- a restaurant in Center City. "When I was [at Penn], people were much more out and about," he said. "And I am a big believer in the need for Penn in developing night life." By working with neighboring restaurants and the University, Hoffman hopes to "ensure there is no more panhandling" in the Sansom Street area. "I want people to be able to leave [the restaurant] and feel completely safe even at one in the morning," he said, adding that he plans to keep the restaurant open until 2 a.m. And to increase the feeling of safety on the street, "there will be lots of light coming off the restaurant," he said. In addition to the changes that will come with the construction of Sansom Commons, University officials plan to help spruce up Moravian Street -- between the Food Court and Sansom Row -- with alterations such as walling off dumpsters currently in the alley. "It is well lit and waiting for opportunities," Vice President for Facilities Management Art Gravina said. "Moravian Street is part of the University's overall effort to improve the commercial mix presented to the community."

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