Big Dean's Hot Chicken will open at Franklin's Table within the next year.
Credit: Didrik Wiig-AndersenPenn will welcome a new hot chicken restaurant, Big Dean’s Hot Chicken, and a bouldering gym, Philadelphia Rock Gym University City, within the next year.
Big Dean’s Hot Chicken will join other eateries at Franklin’s Table, while PRG University City will arrive in the Shop Penn district.
Big Dean’s Hot Chicken will offer southern staples along with a variety of sides and sauces and locally sourced buns.
The menu will include sides such as “mac-n-cheese, crinkle-cut fries, and house-made coleslaw,” along with house-made sauces such as “BD’s Signature Sauce, Creamy Ranch, Chipotle Honey Mustard, and Tennessee Sunshine BBQ.” The menu will also feature customizable options in which customers pick their desired heat level.
“What we are doing here is recreating the bold, yet soulful flavors of the deep south, with its authentic ingredients, rich history, and unique perspective — but through our own lens,” Peter Howey, founder of Big Dean’s Hot Chicken, said in a statement. “Joining Franklin’s Table marks an exciting chapter for Big Dean’s, and we’re looking forward to serving our signature dishes to the community in University City while becoming part of this vibrant food hall.”
PRG University City, a 17,000-square-foot bouldering gym, is anticipated to open in the spring of 2026 on the corner of 36th and Sansom streets.
“The partnership with the University of Pennsylvania has been crucial in making this project a reality,” Mathew Barnett, a Penn alumnus and CEO of Climbing Collective, said in a statement.
“Together, Climbing Collective and Shop Penn are excited to offer a unique community-based fitness option for its students, faculty and staff and for the surrounding community,” he added. “We look forward to PRG University City becoming a magnet fitness/community location for the neighborhood.”
PRG University City will include over 7,000 square feet of bouldering walls and will offer classes and training programs, which will all be suitable for climbers of all levels.
Shop Penn, which offers a “curated collection of retail offerings,” is located at the heart of Penn’s campus.
These new openings come a few months after the announcement that both Puyero and Gouldsberger’s joined the lineup of Shop Penn stores and restaurants.
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