Freshgrocer, Papaya King delayed again

While 40th and Walnut streets have both seen their fair share of construction over the past several months, the area won't be able to celebrate any grand openings for at least another week. Penn's real estate officials had expected to complete three new retail projects -- the Freshgrocer supermarket and the El Diner and Papaya King restaurants -- by the end of this month, but various obstacles have led to even more delays. The 24-hour El Diner is slated to open by the end of January, while Freshgrocer will not open until February 21. Papaya King anticipates opening its doors sometime in February. "It's a very complicated project... we are trying to build under a garage," said Pat Burns, the owner and operator of Freshgrocer. "And the work force in this economy is so tight, we had to wait for the best workers." Tom Lussenhop, the University's top real estate official, said the delay in Freshgrocer's grand opening is also due to recent snowstorms that halted construction temporarily. College senior Audrey Reichman said she is excited for the supermarket to open, but impatient with the delays. "If they eventually open before I graduate, I am sure I will shop there," she said. Still, some students say they will not shop at Freshgrocer. "I am not that excited about the grocery store because I think it won't be good price-wise," Nursing senior Beth Mattucci said. Officials had originally predicted a summer 2000 opening for the supermarket, but have continually pushed the date. El Diner will fill the vacancy left by the departure of the 50's-themed restaurant Eat at Joe's from the 3925 Walnut Street slot, and was originally expected to open yesterday. Gary Farmer, who is overseeing the El Diner project for Goldman Properties, said it will open during the week of January 22. "We had a short amount of time to plan this whole thing," Farmer said. "I am very proud of us." The construction and the majority of the redecoration process is almost complete. The wood tabletops, however, are still being made by the manufacturer, which Farmer said is the reason for the delay. Although the operators of Eat at Joe's left an obtrusive, decorative convertible in the middle of the restaurant, El Diner's general manager and head chef Clark Gilbert said they also left a full kitchen and plenty of cooking supplies. Gilbert stressed, however, that his establishment will not be a traditional diner. "Most diners have two guys in the kitchen opening up packages and dumping and dumping into a fryer," said Gilbert, who is trained in French cooking. "El Diner is very much the anti-diner. [Our objective is] to put fresh things in front of people." The operators of El Diner are also waiting for a liquor license to be approved. They plan to have a lounge area with couches near the bar. Mattucci, the Nursing senior, said El Diner is a necessary addition to campus. "It is too far to walk to Wawa at night," Mattucci said. "I think [El Diner] is a good place to hang out instead of on the streets." Papaya King, a New York fast food chain famous for its hot dogs and fruit drinks, is opening its first store outside of the Big Apple. The new 40th Street location is beside current restaurants Bitar's and Izzy and Zoe's. "We're going to be open probably early- to mid-February as everything is rolling along smoothly," Papaya King Chief Executive Daniel Horan said. "I don't foresee any more snags." The store was originally expected to open by the end of January. But some remain skeptical of the new restaurant. "I am not a big fan of hot dog and fruit juice places," said Michelle McGettigan, a neighborhood resident. "Health juice and hot dogs?"

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.