Penn plans force 2 Walnut stores to close

Plans are under way to relocate businesses on the 3900 block of Walnut Street, but some of the shops will be forced to close for good.

The changes are a result of Penn's plan to bring University-owned off-campus housing to the 3900 block of Walnut Street.

The University's housing initiative will affect Kinko's Office and Print Services, The Last Word Bookshop, Philly Diner, College Pizza, University Micro Center and West Philadelphia Locksmith.

Of these, College Pizza and West Philadelphia Locksmith will be shut down.

The University will announce a developer for the plans next month, and it is still unclear exactly when the shops will have to move.

According to Assistant Vice President of Community Relations Glenn Bryan, the University is currently in the process of finding alternate locations for several of the stores.

"We're trying to locate as many businesses as we can within the area, but student housing is really paramount to help develop the core of our campus," Bryan said.

Of the shops, only Philly Diner said it knows its new location -- the corner of 39th and Walnut streets, which currently houses the College Buffet, according to manager Najib Walali.

"It's a big inconvenience," Walali said. "The other place is smaller and it's going to need a lot of changes and remodeling."

While employees at Kinko's and the Last World Bookshop said that they were currently working with the University to relocate close to campus, College Pizza, West Philadelphia Locksmith and University Micro Center have not been as successful.

And though many Penn students are enthusiastic about the arrival of the housing, several are outraged that College Pizza will be forced to leave its current location to allow for the development.

"I love College Pizza, and I think that those guys really deserve to be there," Wharton senior Ansh Agarwal said. "I don't know how the University can just force them out of the location. ... They've been around for a long time, they're good people and they have great pizza and great prices."

College freshman Mike Glennon also expressed his disappointment.

"If you're closing all the small independent businesses in the area and putting up University housing for students, it defeats the whole point of community outreach," Glennon said.

Others said the benefits of the new houses would outweigh the loss of College Pizza.

"It's a great location to be living in -- I know I'd live there if it was available," College sophomore Jordan Grossman said. "Every year, it seems that people have trouble finding housing, and many of my friends have been unsatisfied. I think this is a much bigger concern than College Pizza."

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