Spring, mercifully, has sprung.
Before you know it, we’ll be dining under the stars without huddling around heaters.
Still, we’re pretty sure the takeout trend isn’t going anywhere.
Hungry for new places to try? We asked some higher-profile peeps for their go-to Main Line spots:
Lauren Hart, recording artist, Flyers anthem singer and Gladwyne mom

Singer-songwriter Lauren Hart with her husband Todd Carmichael, co-founder of La Colombe, and their four children.
- Ekta (Bryn Mawr): Curry all day long 🙂
- Sontuosa (Bryn Mawr): Great food for the whole family!
- Victorino’s Pizza & Catering (Conshy): Pierogies and Grandma’s Pizza
- Sang Kee Asian Bistro (Wynnewood): Noodles noodles noodles!
I’ve never cooked so many meals in my whole life so it’s a relief to let someone else do the cooking (much better than mine). Plus, I don’t have to hear my kids say, “Mom, are we having…… again?!”
Marian Moskowitz, Chair of the Board of Chester County Commissioners, Malvern

Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz (right) with U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan and a young supporter.
A few of my favorites: Trattoria San Nicola (Paoli), Jules Thin Crust (Wayne & Ardmore), Veekoo Asian Cuisine (Berwyn), Black Powder Tavern (Chesterbrook), Elegance Café (Paoli & Wayne).
Anne Hamilton, philanthropist/civic leader, Bryn Mawr

Anne Hamilton (left) with business partner Anne Henderson at the Little House Shop in Wayne’s Eagle Village.
I’m lucky. We’re in Florida so there are many outside options. I had my second vaccine but am still being careful. We try to support small businesses.
Azie on Main (Villanova): Fried rice and rock shrimp! Conestoga Pizza (Rosemont) for pizza and cheesesteaks. Up-Ryes Bagel & Deli (Bryn Mawr): Great salads and breakfast sandwiches. Angelo’s (Wayne Farmer’s Market): Great sandwiches. Neapolitan Deli (Berwyn) longtime staple for lunch sandwiches. Valley Forge Flowers (Wayne) for salads and croissant sandwiches. Gladwyne Lunch: Feeds me a lot, sandwiches, cheesesteaks, etc. Gladwyne Market: For takeout dinners. Love the meatloaf and chicken pot pies. Countryview Barbecue (Wayne Farmer’s Market): Cooked chicken, turkey breast, ribs and the fixings.
Nancy Amoroso, fashion stylist/image consultant, Wynnewood
- Bluefin Restaurant and Sushi Bar (East Norriton). Chef Yong Kim uses the best ingredients and creates artwork as well as creative rolls and, of course omikase (chef’s picks.)
- Savona (Gulph Mills) for its upscale dining choices and amazing small pizzas, which we love to share as appetizers.
- Coco Thai Bistro (Narberth). We enjoy the shrimp summer rolls, lemongrass soup and Narberth Jungle with fresh veggies and chicken. Their quinoa-and-shrimp stir-fry is killer.
Jessica Kartalija, CBS3 news anchor, Wayne
- Casey’s Pour House (Wayne) for their Old Bay Wings.
- Paola’s (Wayne) for the John Aiken salad with feta, kalamata olives, nuts and fruit.
Love the family-friendly atmosphere at both and so happy to support local!
Alex Vaccaro, MD, president of Rothman Orthopedic Institute, Gladwyne resident
My takeout places in order: Savona (Gulph Mills), Estia (Radnor), Azie on Main (Villanova)
I eat out four days a week due to business. I’m gluten-free so I go for swordfish shish kabob, unbreaded Dover Sole (incredible) and Sushi/Sashimi Combo. All three restaurants are not only great in terms of food but also service. Savona has killed it this year with the outdoor jumbo tent.
Meg Veno, founder of Life’s Patina at Willowbrook Farm, Malvern and (coming soon) Life’s Patina Mercantile & Café, Historic Yellow Springs
Our focus is family-friendly takeout that’s close to home and won’t break the bank. We prefer family meal deals vs. individual entrée ordering so I’ll highlight them first:
- McKenzie Brew House (Malvern). Family meal deals and specials. Something for everyone on the menu. Love their Buddha Bowls, burgers and salads. Love the growler of beer or cocktail with family meal deals.
- Aneu (Paoli). For their daily family meals and to-go salads. Entrées are all delish and portions are nice.
- TJ’s (Paoli). Our faves: wild mushroom quesadillas, falafel or blackened shrimp and couscous salads, ahi tuna salad, and Utimate Fried Chicken Wrap.
- Olive Tree Greek Grill (Paoli).
- Seafood USA (Paoli) has the best fresh portion of sesame- or pepper-crusted tuna sashimi served in a large block.
- Sushi Nami (Paoli).
- Spatola’s Pizza (Paoli) has the BEST Chicken Taco pizza and #7 Gourmet Pizza with spinach and broccoli.
- The Classic Diner (Malvern) has started takeout dinner packages. Their Southern Comfort Fried Chicken is delish.
The Reverend Frank Allen, Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church, Wayne
- Veekoo (Berwyn) for the sushi and Asian fusion dishes. I love making a meal of sushi and appetizers. Always delicious. Easy to order.
- Saffron (Wayne). We love Indian food and the ability to spice it up on occasion. The variety, including vegetarian dishes, are remarkable and the garlic and onion naan are delicious.
- Bua Loy (Berwyn). Interesting take on Asian. The variety (appetizers to Asian salads to entrées) is inviting and makes it easy to try new dishes.
I love to cook and love to eat what I cook. We’re probably only ordering takeout once a week.
Lindsey Schuster, “The Motherchic” fashion blogger, Villanova
- Christopher’s (Wayne): Blackened shrimp salad for me, burgers and fries for my kids. Dining at Christopher’s will be a memory my kids have forever – from the balloons and dum dum lollipops at the hostess stand. We can’t wait to go back.
- Lovebird Chicken (Bryn Mawr). Love that they’re gluten-free. If I ordered a bucket of chicken every night, my kids would be happy campers. The dipping sauces are to-die-for!
- Cornerstone Bistro (Wayne): Where do I begin? The cheese plates, the to-go cocktails, the Nutella cheesecake. Perfect for a date night in.
David Campli, photographer, Malvern
- Christopher’s (Wayne). Salmon for my wife Val. Meatloaf for me. Paired with garlic mash and Brussels, you just can’t go wrong.
- Malvern Pizza. They turned their door into a pickup window complete with doorbell and heater above. Try the Greek salad with a scoop of tuna or any cheesesteak. Pete and the gang are all locals and it shows.
- Anthony’s (Malvern). Always ravioli or lasagna for me. Val loves the Spaghetti alla Granchio (crabmeat). But don’t overlook the meatball sandwiches. The takeout area runs like a well-oiled machine.
- Ristorante Alba (Malvern). When you want to keep it upscale and authentic to the region. Stumbled on the best burger I’ve ever enjoyed. The bun comes in a separate container so it doesn’t get soggy. Now THAT’S service!
- Growing Roots Farmer’s Markets (Malvern and Devon Yard). Meet the actual farmers and taste the difference.
Turns out you can feed yourself healthy or otherwise right here in the borough of Malvern, says the guy who’s been here 60 years…
Debbi Niggeman, owner of Arrowroot Farmacy and Café in Bryn Mawr
I eat a vegan diet and LOVE to cook. But when we order out, I have a few favorites that are good for me and my non-vegan family members, too.
- Nectar (Berwyn). My go-to for vegan sushi and steamed veggies.
- Terrain Café (Devon).
- Cava (Ardmore) is great for a quick meal. I’ll typically get a greens & grain bowl with roasted veggies and hummus on top.
- True Food Kitchen (King of Prussia). I like the quinoa teriyaki bowl.
- Enoteca Tredici (Bryn Mawr). Just had the broccoli and avocado salad. Yum!
Chip Vaughan, custom home builder, Wayne
By far, the best takeout we’ve had is from Cornerstone in Wayne. It’s not easy to have the food warm and not overdone when it has to go from their kitchen to our house but Cornerstone’s takeout has always been perfect. We did their Valentine’s dinner for two. Love the Braised Veal Shank and the Grilled Caesar Salad. Burger is to-die-for as well.
Kim Cuthbert, owner of Sweet Jazmines Bakery, Berwyn
- EmJ’s Café (Berwyn). A weekly breakfast tradition. My son loves Belgian waffles, my husband Chris loves Denver Omelette or Avo Blanco. For lunch, the hot ham and cheese or the Bentley or Skipjack platters.
- Tredici Italian Market (Wayne) for their chicken pot pie, chicken piccata – the most delicious and tender I’ve ever had.
- Sassano’s (Paoli and the Wayne Farmer’s Market ). Favorites are the tomato/fresh mozzarella sandwich with pesto mayo, arugula and the grilled chicken sandwich with red pepper, spinach, lemon and mozzarella.
- La Cabra Brewing (Berwyn). Love their tacos and chips with homemade guacamole. I go back and forth between pulled pork and jerk chicken tacos – so delicious!
Takeout is a win-win for me: it helps our local economy and I get a break from cooking. All of these businesses are run by the nicest, down-to-earth, hardworking people who put out consistently delicious food. It’s no small feat to still be able to be in business during this time.
Michael Smyth, owner Jaguar/Land Rover of the Main Line, Villanova resident
While I love all of the great restaurants in close proximity to our home, I’ve recently felt a strong obligation to support our local restaurants. Each of these has made it easier to get through the pandemic:
- Christopher’s (Wayne). Always friendly service and a menu with lots of options. Love the spicy fried chicken, meatloaf, chicken burrito or brisket enchiladas. Who wouldn’t like a spot where you can pick up a growler of a great IPA or a jug of Margaritas? Love their ice cream sandwiches, too.
- Great American Pub (Wayne). Grilled chicken sandwiches and chips are really good. So’s the chili.
- The Goat’s Beard (Wayne). Love their cocktails, great service, and burgers. If I’m feeling guilty, their fish entrées are always great!
- Rosalie (Wayne). A great bar and wonderful cocktail menu and their pasta specials are great to share.
- White Dog (Wayne, Haverford). Is there a better burger anywhere?
- 333 Belrose (Radnor). Their New York strip steaks and mussels are always great. For lunch, their fish tacos are really good.
Sandi Gorman, founder of T&E Care, Newtown Square resident

Sandi Gorman (center), Judy Huey and SAVVY Main Line’s Caroline O’Halloran (right) at a Paoli Business & Professional Association dinner.
- Tonino’s Pizza & Pasta Co. (Malvern). My all-time favorite for takeout. A very authentic Italian restaurant with amazing pizza, homemade pasta and reasonably priced Italian dishes. It’s also a great place for indoor dining when things open up. Think of it as a restaurant with great Italian food that happens to sell pizza, not as a pizza place that also has great Italian food!
- Fresco Pizza & Grille (Newtown Square). Great outside dining once the weather clears, delicious entrees and great pizza.
- Veekoo (Berwyn) for an Asian treat. The dishes are delicious and the variety is appreciated.
I love my choices but it would be good to see if there are others we haven’t thought of!
Michael Cook, owner of Walter J. Cook Jeweler in Paoli, Easttown resident
We’ve ordered from 333 Belrose (Radnor) and The General Warren Inne (Malvern). Both offered wonderful dining options and the meals were delicious!
Kate Miller, COO of Benner, Theodore and Wade Miller, Berwyn resident
- Neapolitan Deli and Tio’s Mexican (Berwyn) for family takeout. I have three ravenous boys (four if you count my husband, Scott). At Neapolitan, we all love the Real Italian or the Special Italian Hoagies, the Putter Patty Melt, and the cheesesteaks are to-die-for. (I’m also a huge fan of their salads and breakfast sandwiches). At Tio’s, the pastore tacos, burritos and chimichangas are all go-tos.
- The Silver Spoon (Wayne). When Scott and I attempt a date night at home. The menu changes all the time but the mushroom bisque and crispy Brussels sprouts are musts.
Love the idea of getting some great publicity out for our local spots!
So do we, Kate.
Thanks for sharing. Hope y’all are as inspired as we are!
Newest Vaccine Games: Beat the [COVID] Clock, Arm Wrestling and Dialing For Doses

Chester County Commissioners Josh Maxwell and Michelle Kichline phoning folks eligible for vaccine appointments.
With COVID cases on the uptick locally, the mad rush to get shots in Main Line arms has never been more urgent. Here’s our monthly update on on all things vaccine:
- The vax scramble is still maddening but perhaps not quite so mad. Main Line Health just started inoculating folks 65+ (they were stuck on 75+ for months). Penn Med is vaxing 2,000 folks a day in Radnor. And our local counties are slowly chipping away at their waiting lists. Although just last week, Chesco got half the doses it requested and says no way the county can inoculate everyone in Group 1A by March 31 (One caveat: PA’s Group 1A is uniquely huge.) The county is still stuck giving appointments to folks who signed up in late January.
- Gotta love how our Montco, Delco and Chesco commissioners, civic leaders and politicos of all stripes have been fighting like heck to get PA to send more shots to the populous Philly burbs – instead of the state’s hinterlands. Hats off to Inquirer columnist Maria Panaritis for documenting the inequities in the state’s allocations. Give that gal a Pulitzer.
- Human nature being what it is, there are still plenty of folks fabricating health problems (who’s checking?), using shared links to make vax appointments they aren’t eligible for and/or sharing links that weren’t meant to be shared. On the flip side, there are plenty of selfless souls like Vivi Zayas, owner of Lulu’s Casita in Ardmore, who are spending their nights dialing for doses for strangers. Zayas was so grateful to the woman she’d never met who helped her get a vax appointment for her father that she started paying it forward, focusing mostly on Spanish immigrants who’ve been struggling to comprehend the system. Zayas’ work even earned her a shoutout on CNN.
- You just knew those second doses might get dicey. Short on supply, 15toKnow, the company doing quickie COVID tests and Moderna vaccines near the KOP Mall, had to suspend first shots so they could give second doses. The FEMA mass vax site at the PA Convention Center has had similar issues.
- Likely coming soon to a county near you: a mass vaccination site. Chesco/Delco will apparently share one site, location TBA; Montco/Bucks will share another, possibly at the Montgomery Mall. Officials from all four counties had said ‘thanks but no thanks’ to Harrisburg’s plan to open the sites run by the PA Emergency Management Agency and the PA National Guard. The counties argued that they already had qualified staff in place, high-volume locations secured, and a half-million people on waiting lists. All that’s missing: enough vaccines to go around. Once the last school official is vaccinated, PA promises to allocate single-dose J & J shots to the mass vax sites. This week Harrisburg passed a bill that would put large vaccine sites in the hands of local counties. Whether Gov. Wolf will let that one become law remains an open question.
- Meanwhile, 15toKnow has been building, on spec, a 14-lane drive-thru mass vaccination site in King of Prussia. The for-profit company doesn’t even know if PA will allocate enough doses for the facility, planned for the old Babies R Us parking lot. The company hopes to put shots in 3,000 arms each day at the site.
- Delaware County just started a homebound vaccination system. Want in? Call 484-276-2100. (Delco residents only.)
- Chester County has been going old school to reach older folks and people who aren’t online. It’s actually picking up the phone and calling people with the 11 most coveted words of 2021: “Would you like to schedule a vaccine with the health department?”
- Props to you, dear SAVVY readers. In our last issue, we mentioned Surrey needing volunteers to drive seniors to vaccine appointments. And a whole bunch of you answered the call. Surrey tells us the response was “tremendous” and “heartwarming to see.”
- More than half of PA teachers have been vaccinated. Fab news for our local schools, most of which just brought kids back in buildings four or more days a week. (In other good news for in-person learning advocates: The CDC has revised its guidelines to allow three-foot distancing in classrooms.)
- Your vax card isn’t just for celebratory social media posts. Show it at any Krispy Kreme – Havertown is closest – for a free glazed donut every day for the rest of the year. Sweet.

Daylesford Crossing resident Leonard Dagit at the senior living community’s recent “Vaccination Celebration.”
Edge Fitness finally opens next to Wayne Target

Assistant GM Kyle Mitchell, Sales Lead Alexa Goerlach and General Manager Chris Bartas at the new Edge Fitness in Wayne, the chain’s 33rd outpost.
Thirteen months and a lifetime ago we told you that Edge Fitness was edging toward an early spring opening.
What we didn’t know – couldn’t know – was that it would be early spring of 2021, not 2020.
But here we are.
And this giant facility – about half the size of the K-Mart it replaces – is spit-shined, super-sanitized and ready, at long last, for its closeup.
Doors open quietly this Saturday, March 27. No brass bands, no balloons.
“Having lines out the door would send the wrong message,” GM Chris Bartas tells SAVVY.
For a refresher on the offerings at this fitness Mecca, click here for our first story.
Not clicking? Try this: Edge is way nicer than big-box gyms and way cheaper than the Big Boys – Life Time Athletics in King of Prussia and Suburban Square.
With 40,000 square feet to roam around in, alternate machines blocked off, masks on at all times, vertiginous ceilings, a nifty new air filtration system with Big Ass Fans (their name, not ours), not to mention state-mandated 50% capacity limits, we give Edge an early COVID safety score of A.
Edge Fitness, 706 W. Lancaster Ave. in Devon Square, will be open weekdays, 5 a.m. – 10 p.m., Fridays, 5 a.m. – 9 p.m., Saturdays 7 to 6 and Sundays, 7 to 5. Stop in for a tour or call (484) 588-0305.
Your place or ours? At-home hair color giant Madison Reed opens ‘Color Bars’ in Ardmore, KOP
What grew faster than your gray roots during the spring Covid shutdown?
Madison Reed at-home hair color.
Pioneers of DIY salon-quality, low-chemical, precisely-matched color formulas, Madison Reed saw sales explode 12-fold when salons closed last spring..
Now, this industry disrupter is shaking up the in-salon color experience, too, with Madison Reed Hair Color Bars. New “bars” opened in Suburban Square on March 2 and in the King of Prussia Town Center last September.

The Madison Reed Color Bar in Suburban Square has charging stations and Wifi. The company intentionally skips mirrors at chairs because surveys showed women don’t want to see themselves during color processing.
Like blow-dry bars but for hair color, MR Color Bars offer quick (75-minute) touch-ups for $55 and balayage (“painted on”) highlights for $95. Pay another $20 for a salon blowout or blow it out yourself. Need a cut? Go elsewhere.
Long intrigued by Madison Reed, we jumped on a chance to interview founder, CEO and MR media star Amy Errett, who has Philly roots. She grew up in the burbs until her early teens, earned an MBA at Wharton, and remains a “massive Eagles fan.” Here are highlights from our chat:

Madison Reed founder and CEO Amy Errett tells SAVVY she’s bullish on the Main Line and hopes to expand further in the tristate area.
Why did you choose to open on the Main Line?
We knew we had a large online following in the area and KOP and Suburban Square are a great match to our demographic. [Our customer] is busy, tech-savvy and on-the-go. She’s in her late 30s to 70s and like-minded brands are important to her. We wanted to go to places where she can get a lot of things done at once. That’s why we loved Suburban Square and King of Prussia.
Were you worried about expanding to bricks-and-mortar salons during a pandemic?
We had a massive uptick in business in our online side. It became abundantly clear that women are going to color their hair no matter what … We do believe there will be life after this pandemic. We will flourish again … When that happens, we’re going to have the best locations with the best demographics. We believe that a ton of our online customers will want in-person services.
Your face and voice are familiar to millions from your ads. Why are you the face of the brand?
The company is named after my daughter [who’s 17]. It’s a true mom story of a business person who didn’t like what was out there as options in the beauty industry. I’m a real person who has a real life who decided to take a category and disrupt it. … I wanted our imagery to represent all people, ages, diversity and body types. We don’t retouch any of our photos. No one is air-brushed. We have 70-year-olds in our marketing because they’re beautiful. I don’t want my daughter or other children to succumb to media suggestions of how women and men should look. It’s not a good thing for building self-esteem in young people. I’m super proud of what we do.
Madison Reed Hair Color Bars are in King of Prussia Town Center and Suburban Square Ardmore (under the parking garage on Coulter Ave.) Free consults, color checkups and lessons for home applications. Book online or call 484-380-9898 for KOP and 610-553-6122 for Ardmore.
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Struggling to lose weight? Time for Lifestyle Changes LLC

Obesity Medicine- and Family Medicine-certified physician Janine Darby, MD, treats patients from her sunny home office. Online visits are convenient for busy moms and keeps patients accountable. “No excuses about being late or missing appointments due to traffic,” Darby says.
Even physicians make poor choices.
For years, Dr. Janine Darby had put healthy eating on a back burner. With a bustling Penn Medicine family practice in Phoenixville and four demanding kids, who had time to cut vegetables?
Eating on the run – a pizza here, a bowl of ice cream there – and diminutive Darby (she’s 4 ft. 11) packed on 55 pounds.
“Oh, my gosh, I’m huge for my size!” she remembers thinking. Her husband was a foot taller but weighed just 10 pounds more.
Diabetes, cancer and heart disease – all connected to obesity and advancing age – ran in her family. Nearing 40, she knew her luck wouldn’t last forever.
Plus, the mirror was demoralizing.
“I hated how I looked in clothes,” Darby recalls. “I would turn down events because I didn’t have anything to wear. I didn’t feel sexy for my husband. I became a little depressed. For all these reasons, I knew I had to get it together.”
An inner voice, whispered at first, grew insistent: Physician, heal thyself.
And so, she did.
Cutting way back on carbs, Darby dropped 40 pounds in four months.
And kept them off.
Thrilled at her transformation, she pulsed with purpose and newfound energy. She became board certified in Obesity Medicine, wrote the bestseller, Get Your Sexy Back: A Guide to Bouncing Back After Pregnancy, and opened a virtual medical practice, Lifestyle Changes LLC, a full year before the advent of telehealth under COVID.
Darby had changed her own lifestyle; she would help others do the same.

Dr. Janine Darby counsels patients from her serene home office in Montgomery County. Freed from the fee-for-service payment model, she no longer has to rush from one patient to the next. Another advantage to her visits via video chat: she can ask to see the patient’s fridge and pantry.
Focused on weight loss and ongoing weight management, Dr. Darby sees patients via secured video chat and makes house calls if needed.
Her approach is holistic. After a comprehensive evaluation of medical and family history, and lifestyle, she creates a customized program based on the three Ms: mindset, meal prep and movement.
For three months minimum, she monitors her patients’ vitals using a state-of-the-art smartphone app.
Because she’s an MD, she can tweak meds and, when needed, prescribe stimulants to jumpstart metabolisms and suggest supplements that balance hormones and support the sleep that’s vital to weight loss.
She knows which syndromes can cause obesity and which underlying conditions keep the pounds on. She can tune into psychosocial factors that cause stress-, depression- and anxiety-eating. “That’s what makes me special. I’m able to weed out diseases vs. behavioral factors.”
Her typical patient needs to shed 30 to 50 pounds but Darby has successfully treated those who need to lose far less – and far more. Many come after failing to manage their weight on their own. Others come after they put back pounds they lost after bariatric surgery.
Meals aren’t part of the program but meal planning is.
“If you don’t plan your meals, you’re going through a drive-thru or reaching for a candy bar,” Darby says. “You need to plan your week, plan your snacks. You should never be hungry.”
Patients check in weekly, recounting their challenges and triumphs.
In the third month, Darby incorporates movement as a way to tone skin, maintain weight loss and boost cardiovascular health.
But exercise is “a bonus,” she says. “Ninety percent of losing weight is what you’re putting in your mouth.” To cut the confusion over sourcing and quality of vitamins and minerals, she recently private labelled a supplement line.
Years into her new life, Darby’s weight – and her life – are back in balance.
She has time for other passions. She leads the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Task Force she founded after her children shared their experiences of racism in Methacton schools on a Facebook Live post that went viral.
She contemplates her next book, about weight loss for post-menopausal women.
She’s even thrown her name in the ring for township supervisor in East Norriton. If she wins in November, she says she’ll be her township’s first Black supervisor.
After years of frenetic, fee-for-service medicine, the pace of Darby’s practice is blessedly slow. Deliberately, mindfully, she can give patients the time they need to ensure their weight loss journey is a success. “There’s no one-size-fits-all fit with my program. It’s not like Weight Watchers or Jenny Craig. This is a customized program by a relatable doctor who knows what she’s doing and has experienced the same thing.”
For more info, visit Dr. Janine Darby/Lifestyle Changes LLC or call 484-685-0033 or email [email protected] for an appointment.
New Restore in KOP keeps athletes game ready
Ice baths and foam rollers are so 2011. To stay in the game in 2021, you gotta go high tech.
That’s why Wayne chiropractor Danielle Gray, founder of Restore Health and Longevity Center (formerly Restore Cryosauna) just opened a Restore outpost at Competitive Edge Sports in King of Prussia.
The focus here is on athletic performance and recovery for weekend warriors and elite athletes alike. And the stuff they use is positively space age: Whole Body Cryosauna, Normatec compression therapy (moon boots!) and Hypervolt (a deep tissue massage gun).
Gray uses technology to pinpoint, prevent and heal problems like tennis and golfer’s elbow – “all the itises.” Keep those muscles limber and nourished and you won’t be sidelined by a strained hamstring, a tight calf or a frozen shoulder, she says.
Services in KOP are “stripped down” to cater to the athletes – from youth to pros – who train at Competitive Edge, Gray says. To access her full state-of-the-art arsenal – hyperbaric oxygen chamber, infrared sauna, shockwave therapy and local cryo – best visit the full-size Restore in Wayne.
“Athletes used to think they had to work out seven days a week,” Gray says. “What they’re realizing is that recovery is just as important as training.”
Restore Cryosauna at Competitive Edge Sports, 320 S. Henderson Rd., King of Prussia, is open to the public weekdays 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. and weekends, noon to 4. $49 day passes. Restore Health and Longevity Center is at 205 W. Lancaster Ave., Wayne. Call 610-410-0093.
The Main Line Find snags distinctive home goods for a song
Bryn Mawr mom Aly Ricker McBride has always been, in her words, “a thrifter, antiquer and secondhand seeker.”
These days, her hobby has morphed into more: The Main Line Find, an online home décor marketplace where McBride showcases her finds and sources bargains for others.
She makes the rounds almost daily, hitting up local consignment and thrift shops, flea markets, estate sales and auctions. (Her fave haunt: Goodwill in Berwyn.) Then she posts and sells her purchases on Instagram or her website.
“Yesterday, I bought a primitive bread board. In ten minutes, I had ten DMs [on Instagram] from people wanting to buy it.”
McBride says “everybody wins” when you shop secondhand. You’re usually supporting a charity, it’s easier on the environment, and the price is right.
“My mission is to give people who aren’t going to Goodwill, who aren’t scouring the bins, really good stuff for their homes at a great price point. Instead of spending $19.99 on something mass-manufactured at HomeGoods, they’ll spend $19.99 on a piece of artisan pottery with me.”
She says pre-owned stuff is always “more interesting. You’re getting something older, it’s often handmade, and it has a history.”
She frequently posts videos as she shops, showing her followers how to thrift. “You have to train your eye to see quality over junk.”

Wearing cashmere from an estate sale and Mother jeans from Poshmark, Aly Ricker McBride arranges her collection of thrifted and secondhand glass and pottery in her Bryn Mawr basement. Among her home’s many thrifted finds: a Mid-Century Modern chair from Velvet Shoestring in Wayne, a Simon Pearce lamp from Goodwill, and a mirror from the Berwyn outpost of Philly Flea’s Antique & Vintage Market.
McBride learned antiquing from girlhood outings in Maine with her mom. She moved to the Main Line for law school at Villanova. As a student, she stopped in thrift shops near her Ardmore home every day.
“I realized – wow – people really do wear stuff once and then donate it!” she says.
Her law-school wardrobe was always “thrifted but super high end.” She started eBaying clothes, like a Comme Des Garcons shirt, bought for 50 cents – “the church ladies didn’t know what it was” – that she sold for $150. “That’s bar money for a month in law school.”
She left the practice of law after the birth of Molly, 5, and has since had Bella, 3 and CJ, 1.
She says starting The Main Line Find last fall “has been the best thing for me, mentally. Having this engagement with the outside world in a pandemic and a connection with adults – someone outside my kids – has been really fun. I’m grateful.”
A year ago, McBride dreamed of opening her own secondhand shop. While 2020 has squashed those plans, she’s still thinking big. As in bigger pieces. No bricks-and-mortar store but she will need a storage unit. With three kids and a dog, her basement and garage can only hold so much.
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Introducing Wayne 427: Refined, convenient city living in the burbs
By Dawn Warden
The new-home market is starting to heat up in Radnor and one of the most buzzed-about properties around town has to be Wayne 427, the new $20 million luxury condo collection just west of the Radnor Hotel. The first of Wayne 427’s two adjoining 11-unit buildings is already 65% sold out, including one of two penthouses.
It’s the latest venture – and a bit of a departure – for premier Main Line builder, Janiczek Homes, who’s built some beauties at nearby Ardrossan Farms.
Uniquely contemporary, Wayne 427 capitalizes on the suburban-urban trend, echoing the industrial-chic design, high-end finishes and convenience of much pricier Center City properties.
“We’ve always recognized that many buyers appreciate city living but have mixed sentiments about actually living in the city,” company founder Mark Janiczek tells SAVVY. “This project offers the best of both worlds and targets both empty nesters who may not want to be in the city and young professionals, singles and couples who aren’t quite ready to take on the maintenance of a big house.”
Renowned for fine craftsmanship and unparalleled detail, Janiczek raises its own bar by offering customizations and ultra-upscale finishes not typical in multifamily projects.
“There’s nothing else quite like it on the Main Line,” says Berkshire Hathaway’s Robin Gordon, Janiczek’s sales partner on the project (below). Gordon also marketed the upscale 100 St. Georges condos near Suburban Square which sold out in a hot minute.
Gordon calls “the bespoke detail inside and out and the ability to make the interior as upscale as buyers’ desire” the features that set Wayne 427 apart.
Adds Janiczek: “We’re seeing some who opt for ‘on-trend’ and also those who are truly seeking a highly personal look and feel. But ‘timeless’ and ‘sophisticated’ still lead the decision-making.”
Among Wayne 427’s luxe amenities:
- Open floor plans with an abundance of natural light via floor-to-ceiling windows and every unit’s corner placement.
- Recessed terraces on each unit and a lush garden courtyard between buildings with serene water and sculpture features.
- Walking path, small dog run, fitness room, multi-purpose room and mail/package room.
- Storage units and covered, below-grade parking for residents and guests with secure, keyless entry.
- Two-minute walk to the St. Davids train station and a short hop to the restaurants and shops of downtown Wayne and near the Radnor Hotel.
Residences have two or three bedrooms, making it easy to accommodate guests, home offices or dens.
While the project was underway prior to the pandemic, Janiczek acknowledges a shift in priorities and lifestyles, including a desire for greater flexibility and fewer “attachments,” particularly for people without kids. According to Gordon, most buyers have been ages 45 to 75 and were attracted to Wayne 427’s “freedom and flexibility.”
“This is no-fuss, minimal maintenance, suburban living that allows homeowners a new sense of freedom to travel with a sense of safety and security,” Janiczek says. “There’s a lot of value in the ability to lock the door and walk away.”
Wayne 427, 427 E. Lancaster Ave. Wayne. Priced from $900,000. Floor plans from 1,875 to 3,600 sq. ft. Visit Wayne427.com or contact [email protected], 610-246-2280.
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On the market: Two unique, walk-to-Wayne homes quality built by Rockwell Custom
By Dawn Warden
Tis the season for home buying and options are multiplying for Main Line consumers seeking to combine the carefree convenience of new construction with walkable town living.
One stellar new choice: “Rockwell on Bloomingdale,” three, single-family homes on Bloomingdale Ave. in the heart of Wayne.
Quality built by Rockwell Custom – whose founder, Greg Lingo, lives in Wayne – in collaboration with Z Domus Designs, this handsome trio is loaded with special touches and custom finishes like 10-ft. ceilings, wet bars, flex loft spaces and finished basements, exquisite lighting fixtures, gorgeous white oak floors and designer trim work throughout.
But they’re not just pretty faces; these homes perform, thanks to tankless water heaters, dual-zone HVAC systems, Anderson Windows, Smart Home features, bedroom-level laundry rooms, and 10-year structural warranties.
And while they’re new, these three look like they belong in Wayne. “We wanted them to mesh well with the existing community, which is full of character,” says Rockwell VP of Sales Brandi Hogan.
Designs are individual, not cookie-cutter. Styles include Modern Farmhouse, Rustic Victorian Charm and Cottage Transitional. Each was built with a mix of materials – top-rated Hardie Plank siding, brick and stone accents – and each sports a different roofline.

The Modern Farmhouse-styled “Notting Hill” includes a front porch and thoughtful touches like a barn door and wet bar (below) in the spacious family room.
These homes also meet the moment, says Hogan. “We’re seeing more of a need for dual home offices, flex spaces and finished basements for family members to spread out when all are at home.”
The coronavirus has made us all rethink how we spend our time. According to Hogan, fewer working families want to be tied to yard work and fixer-upper projects on weekends.
“Low maintenance’ seems to be a key decision for home buyers, as does being close to public parks and recreation spaces. Getting outdoors is still important, but many buyers don’t feel that is tied to their own backyard,” she says.
And more than ever, location matters. “With available land scarce, these types of development opportunities are extremely rare, especially in such an A+ location,” Hogan notes. “We were fortunate to have this opportunity to build such high-quality, luxury homes in a top school district and near the most popular Wayne shops and restaurants.”
Construction finished in mid-March and two of the three homes are ready for quick delivery. The other one has already sold. No doubt someone will snatch up the four-bedroom “Notting Hill” (priced at $1,279,990) and the five-bedroom “Birmingham” ($1,456,990) in short order. “Interest rates are historically low so more people are deciding to buy new rather than going through a major home renovation to get the home they want,” Hogan says.
Rockwell on Bloomingdale, 210 and 214 Bloomingdale Ave., Wayne. Call Brandi Hogan at 484-889-7469 to schedule a showing. Visit RockwellCustom.com for floor plans and additional details.
Local luminaries to share ‘visions for creative living’ in support of Main Line School Night

Local visionaries Villanova President Rev. Peter Donahue, Natural Lands President Oliver Bass and Mural Arts Philadelphia founder Jane Golden will discuss public spaces, inside and out, at a special evening benefiting Main Line School Night.
Ready for a little spring cleaning for your brain? This event is just the ticket.
On April 26, three community visionaries will share a stage in support of one of the area’s unsung treasures, Main Line School Night.
And for just $10, you can be in the [virtual] room where it happens.
The always charismatic Rev. Peter Donohue, OSA, PhD, president of Villanova U., will give us the lowdown on the building we’ve all been pining for: the university’s splashy new performing arts center on Lancaster Ave. (aka The John and Joan Mullen Center for Performing Arts) – a hub for live theater, special events, and shows for the entire Main Line community.
Oliver Bass, president of Natural Lands, the good folks who’ve gifted us such pandemic havens as Villanova’s Stoneleigh garden and assorted nature preserves, will share his strategies for saving open space and connecting us to the outdoors.
And Jane Golden, the esteemed founder of Mural Arts Philadelphia, will talk about the life-affirming value of public art.
Fascinating, right?
The event’s proceeds benefit a nonprofit group that has long broadened Main Line horizons. Based in Radnor, Main Line School Night offers a mind-boggling array of low-cost day and night classes, workshops and experiences, some in the great outdoors, the rest virtually (for now). [Full disclosure: yours truly is a proud MLSN board member.]
Main Line School Night’s Inside & Out: Visions for Creative Living with Fr. Peter Donahue, Jane Golden and Oliver Bass, is set for Monday, April 26, 7:30 – 9 pm. Digital access tickets start at $10. Corporate and individual sponsorships available.
Crowds welcome DiBruno Bros. to Wayne
Traffic was snarled and parking was scant when DiBruno Bros. opened its much-ballyhooed food hall last weekend.
Hard to say what effect DiBruno’s – the company’s most complete outpost to date – will have on its next door neighbor, the Lancaster County Farmer’s Market. The hope is that the two emporiums will feed off – rather than cannibalize – each other, in effect, nourishing both.
One thing’s already clear: the Main Line is mad for the place.

DiBruno’s Food and Beverage Director Mike McCaulley with bottles of DiBruno’s new private-label wine. The new emporium, modeled after Eataly in NYC, includes a wine and craft-beer bar, a DiBruno’s first.
For a full rundown of what’s in store at the new DiBruno Bros. in Wayne, check out our soup-to-nuts preview.
In a blow to local families, Paoli’s Center on Central calls it quits after 12 years

Center on Central owner Katie Opher and her daughter, Karly, with their dogs, Cooper and Georgie, at the Center’s farewell family soirée.
The Center on Central (TCOC), a cozy hub for youth arts workshops, camps and mommy-and-me classes, has closed up shop in Paoli. It’s homey yellow headquarters was sold March 19. Owner Katie Hartley Opher calls change “inevitable” and will honor off-site contracts through 2021.
To sweeten the loss for local families, TCOC fashion held a farewell Cupcake Truck Party March 14.
Among those joining the send-off was Tredyffrin mom Karen Murray. “My son really enjoyed comic book camp and my daughter greatly benefited from the social skills camps where trained therapists provided a fun summer opportunity for kids with special needs,” Murray says. “Katie and her team will certainly be missed by many local families!”
In the wake of Boulder and Atlanta, the Main Line to remember, march and pray for an end to gun violence

A Memorial to the Lost, shown here At Wayne Presbyterian Church in 2020, will make a return visit to four churches in central Wayne in time for Wayne-Radnor Gun Violence Day April 11.
Could this event be any more timely? (Or dare we say, urgent?)
Four Wayne faith communities – with an assist from Heeding God’s Call – have joined hands to stage Wayne-Radnor Gun Violence Day on Sunday, April 11. This unique day of remembrance and social action will begin with a vigil on the lawn of Wayne United Methodist Church at 3:30, followed by a march down Lancaster Ave. (bring a sign) with stops at Central Baptist Church, Wayne Presbyterian and St. Mary’s Episcopal. The day ends with a chance to write or sign letters urging legislators to enact common-sense gun laws.
A few days in advance, the four churches will erect a “Memorial to the Lost” on their lawns: 400 t-shirts showing the name, age and date of death of a victim of gun violence in Philadelphia in 2020.
All events are outdoors and require masks.
Questions? Contact Bryan Miller at 215-238-8550 or [email protected] .
Takeout Under the Stars and other goodies on tap for KOP Restaurant Week, a benefit for CHOP

Four heated igloos at the KOP Town Center – this one decorated by AVE/ King of Prussia – should be much in demand during KOP Restaurant Week.
Courtesy of COVID, KOP Restaurant Week/KOP Shops for CHOP has a few new wrinkles this year.
Diners can enjoy “Takeout Under the Tents” in lit and landscaped outdoor space at the King of Prussia Town Center. Simply tote takeout to one of 12 individual tents. Even cooler, reserve a heated igloo (with a $50 donation to CHOP) via Open Table.
To make the fundraiser easier for the area’s COVID-clobbered restaurants, King of Prussia District waived the marketing fees it usually charges participating restaurants and took Friday and Saturday nights off the table for discounts.
“Extending restaurant week for 10 days but eliminating Friday and Saturday will allow us to wine and dine even more new customers, while not impacting our two busiest days of the week,”said Mary Keenan, co-owner of Peppers by Amedeo’s.
As usual, participating merchants will kick in a portion of sales to CHOP.
Cut short by COVID in 2020, KOP Restaurant Week/KOP Shops for CHOP still managed to raise an impressive $40,000 for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The campaign has raised $153,500 for CHOP since its launch in 2014.
KOP Restaurant Week runs Sunday to Thursday, April 11-15 and April 18-22. Two-course lunches for $10, $15, or $20 and three-course dinners for $20, $30 and $40 from participating eateries. Live music Thursday nights and Sundays. Family Fun Day for CHOP Saturday, April 17 with games, live music, magicians, balloon twists and carnival treats.
This and That
Got sitter issues? Or just dreaming of the sitter issues you’ll have when you get your social life back? Well, there’s an app for that. Bambino, a new babysitting app, just launched locally.
“It’s hugely popular in many cities across the country and I’m excited to bring it to the Main Line,” Berwyn mom Elizabeth Palko tells SAVVY. Bambino connects families to neighborhood sitters recommended to them via app by their own friends and neighbors. “It’s local, trustworthy and user-friendly,” says Palko, a Bambino Community Coordinator who has three bambinos herself. Download Bambino here.
Central Ardmore’s The Bercy is about to become DePaul’s Table. Yummy details in the next SAVVY. Also on tap for next time, a peek inside the just-opened Landing Kitchen and Lark along the river in Bala Cynwyd.
The Philadelphia Story it’s not – far from it. But A Call to Spy does bring Ardrossan, the Main Line’s most iconic Big House, back to the big screen. And a Gladwyne Montessori/Shipley School product along with it.
Haverford native Sarah Megan Thomas is the film’s producer, screenwriter and star. A low-budget, historical drama filmed in every first-floor room of the Villanova mansion in 10 days, A Call to Spy has received generally favorable reviews and is currently streaming on various channels.
The highlight of the social season, the Academy Ball, has been put on ice indefinitely. But Academy of Music fans can still make some noise for the Grand Old Lady of Locust Street this year.
A new interactive, virtual event “Fanfare for the Future” will stream May 13. Hosted by Whoopi Goldberg, the show includes appearances by CBS3’s Ukee Washington as backstage tour guide, Philadelphia Orchestra maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin on keyboards, soprano Renee Fleming on vocals and plenty more. Tickets are $50 and go on sale April 15.
Taking flight again in Montco. The John James Audubon Center, a birders’ paradise that includes a new museum, a historic farmhouse, nature trails and a bird habitat, reopened March 4.with limited hours.
The whispers are true. Lower Merion developer and GOP rainmaker Jeff Bartos, 48, is indeed running for Pat Toomey’s U.S. Senate seat. For the Dems, Lt. Governor John Fetterman and PA Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta have also announced the campaigns with more candidates, no doubt, to follow.
The Chester County Republican Party has been losing members, echoing a statewide and national trend. Since the dawn of 2021, at least 503 registered Chesco Republicans became Democrats and another 99 became “other.” By contrast, just 49 Dems became Rs and another 49 switched to “other.”
Major belt-tightening at Cabrini. The university just announced plans to cut 48 jobs (about one of every five currently on the payroll) and nix majors in religious studies, Black studies and philosophy, among other programs. Cabrini was running in the red even before the pandemic put an extra squeeze on enrollment and increased costs. One bright spot: Cabrini is in line for up to $5 million in stimulus funds.
The Incredibly Shrinking Devon Center District has all but disappeared. After hours, and, well, years of discussion, Easttown appears to be tabling plans to rezone a section of Devon’s commercial district to “proactively direct development.” First, they carved out the Devon Horse Show, then a church, then some Devon car dealerships wanted out, too.
Talk about marrying into money. Former Harriton science teacher Dan Jewett has tied the knot with Jeff Bezos’ ex, MacKenzie Scott. Jewett has pledged to help his bride give away most of her $54 billion fortune to charity.
Got a few hours to spare each week? The Adult Literacy Program at Chester County Library is swamped. Demand for services has swelled during the pandemic. More than 40 are on a waiting list for free, virtual (for now) help with reading, writing, spelling, ESL, and test prep. For more info about becoming a volunteer tutor, call 610-344-4013 Mon. – Thurs. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or email Deborah Rikess at [email protected].
This one completely stinks. A former Malvern funeral director has been arrested for abusing the power of attorney entrusted to him by an elderly man dying from cancer. Instead of donating the nearly $300K in Keith Jerome’s estate to three charities listed in his will, Kenneth Neeld Jr. spent most of it on vacations, parking tickets and his daughter’s orthodontia, according to law enforcement. Yuck.
For the last several months, we’ve been sharing news about Clark’s Manor, an innovative, homey residence for adults with mental health challenges that’s named for the Conestoga grad, Clark Widger, who lives there. Please note that the correct phone number for Clark’s Manor Director of Operations Art Fastman is 610-675-7669. He can also be reached at [email protected].
And finally, we end on a hopeful note. Ardmore Music Hall is doing backflips over the new $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package. The rescue plan adds an extra $1.25 billion to the feds’ “Save Our Stages” funds. The Music Hall has been surviving, just barely, on PPP2 dollars and says the infusion can’t come soon enough. “Like many, we’re out of cash,” co-owner Chris Perella told the Inky. Hang on, Chris & Co. Main Line music lovers are pulling for the Hall and for your sister location in Wayne, 118 North. We’ll be back dancing with you SOON. Promise.
I enjoy reading your online magazine, but I’ve said it before and I will say it again – we who live in the lower Main Line don’t get enough recognition or press. Maybe there isn’t much to report, but I feel like Wayne is your focus. I realize we don’t have as many stores and restaurants, but I still feel neglected. In the article about where to get takeout you could have included someone from Bala Cynwyd or Merion.
Thanks and I agree with you. We need more spies down your way! We did ask a few people from the Bala area for their takeout pics but didn’t hear back. It’s also true that our survey showed that the bulk of our readers live between Bryn Mawr and Malvern. You can count on extensive coverage of all the new restaurants on the lower Main Line this spring. And we welcome tips about news around town. You can send directly to me – [email protected]. Thanks again.
It is a real shame that plans to redevelop Devon are being basically abandoned. Of course there needs to be a thoughtful plan in place, but I hope one day there can be development that benefits the community rather than an abandoned, rotting gas station and various under utilized properties that are rented as storage for local car dealerships.
I think many bemoan the lackluster nature of central Devon – including some of its notable eyesores near the horse show – and see missed opportunities to create a walkable neighborhood near the train station. We shall see what the years bring…
Agreed! It’s such a missed opportunity to make a really cute (and usable) little town! We lived in Devon until recently and it was so frustrating to drive to Wayne or Berwyn for everything.
Berwyn has even more potential than Devon, and who knows if anything positive will come out of that either. What is being done with the old lumber yard?
Hi Tyler,
The Fritz Lumber yard has been sold to an area developer (Jason Dempsey/DP Partners). Dempsey has received Easttown’s blessing to build a fairly large apartment complex at the site surrounding the Berwyn Tavern, which is staying put.
The shrinking of any plan to develop the Devon Central District is indeed frustrating. Those of us who feel the area has the potential to be further developed yet remain attractive are stymied by those who seemingly appear fearful of any change or have other agendas. Tredyffrin/Easttown in general seems to have this continuing problem.
Passions have certainly run high regarding development, particularly in Easttown, where “density” has become the biggest sticking point. Tredyffrin has approved several developments of late: Airdrie apartments near the Paoli Train Station, the new apartments coming to Swedesford Rd at the old HHGregg, Brightview Senior Living, Atwater off Rte. 29, Life Time Athletic, etc.
what does the reference to LTA mean here?
Not sure what you’re referring to, David. Can you be more explicit?