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The Blockley Coming To University City

Posted by Foobooz on February 17th, 2009


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A tipster pointed us towards a Craigslist ad for the Blockley Pourhouse, a “beer garden/gastro pub” looking to open March 12th at 38th and Ludlow in University City (former home of everything from Brownie’s 23 East to Koko Bongo). We don’t have much more information yet but if you’re interested in working there, they’re having open calls tomorrow, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

The name Blockley comes from the William Warner Estate of Blockley, the area that is now known as University City. But as the University City Historical Society notes, the name Blockley (like Koko Bongo) was “a synonym for misery, sordidness and suffering.” Much of that associated misery came from the Blockley Almshouse which met with an awful demise (PDF) in 1864.

But hey, now a new chapter in Blockley lore is about to be written and we hope it will be a better one.

The Blockley Pourhouse [Official Site]
New Bar/Restaurant Open House (University City) [Craigslist]

The Blockley Pourhouse
3801 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA

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    This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 17th, 2009 at 10:12 am and is filed under Opening Soon. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

    • Bruce

      “. . . the name Blockley (like Koko Bongo) was ‘a synonym for misery, sordidness and suffering.’”

      That’s not mere journalism; it rises to the level of art!

    • http://philadelphiawilldo.com dmac

      When I was in college, we found an old copy of 34th Street that had an ad for a show at whatever bar was there at the time (1991 maybe?): Nirvana opening for Red Hot Chili Peppers.

    • Heather

      That building is cursed. Its been a bunch of things a bunch of times and failed. Miserably. Who knowns maybe this concept will work.

    • Bill W.

      Ross Essner, formerly of Django will be the chef is what I hear.

    • http://www.beerlass.com suzanne

      He’s not at the taproom on 19th anymore?

    • Bill W.

      Doing both.

    • Charels H. W.

      Who is Mary Oaks?

    • Weis B III

      That is so strange that you’ve heard of Mary Oaks! I grew up in Redding and my Aunt used to scare me and my brother with the story about Mary Oaks who used to haunt West Philly. Something about she was a nurse at this mental hospital and she got locked in one of the sound proof rooms so no one heard her screams for help and she died in there. My aunt used to tell us that she would haunt the hospital and punish all the staff that mistreated the patients when they wouldn’t answer their cries for help. That shit was so scary as a kid!

    • Nedt

      Dual concepts under one roof… Live music returning to West Philly ala Chestnut Cabaret at the Blockley Pourhouse; Ross Essner will be the executive chef at the restaurant, Mary Oaks… sounds exciting. And again, WHO is Mary Oaks?

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