Ralph Lauren en route to Radnor? A novel choice for new T/E school; Yuletide postmortem; Life’s Patina’s new digs; Café Pom Paoli; Ardmore’s boozeless bar; Bulldog Yoga & more

New Ralph Lauren-style restaurant, bar, ballrooms and gardens en route to Radnor

The front of the Radnor Hotel won’t look like this much longer. The façade and most common indoor spaces are getting a radical facelift, too.

A swell new spot to sip, sup, schmooze and wed is heading to a hotel near you – thanks to another partnership between two of the Main Line’s biggest players in restaurants and real estate.

Fearless Restaurants (owners of White Dog, Autograph and Rosalie et. al.) has again joined hands with SW Bajus, owner of the Wayne Hotel, Haverford Square, and, pertinent here, the Radnor Hotel.

The two are reinventing Radnor Hotel’s entire first floor – gutting Glenmorgan Bar & Grill and ballrooms, radically overhauling the front façade and rear gardens, even bumping out the front of the building facing Lancaster Ave. by two-and-a-half feet.

Fearless is handling the banquet space, gardens and the restaurant renovation – and will run each. Steve Bajus’ company is doing the rest.

It’s a multi-phase re-imagining of the 54-year-old hotel and its first major renovation since 2003.

As shown in this vintage postcard, Radnor Hotel opened as a Treadway Inn in 1960, the Main Line’s only full-service hotel at the time. SW Bajus bought it in 1990.

The first space to open – on April 1 for a wedding – will be a sparkling new flex-walled ballroom for seated events for 20 to 300, or 275 with a dance floor.

The vibe: the “timeless elegance of Ralph Lauren” with “lots of plaids, sages and florals” all mixing together,” reveals Sydney Grims, an EA/Cornell grad who lives in Wayne and runs Fearless Restaurants with her father, Marty Grims.

A CGI rendering of the ballroom as designed by Villanova’s Barbara Balongue.

Weddings won’t just look different at the Radnor Hotel. They’ll taste different, too, Grims tells SAVVY.

“It’s not going to be salmon, haricot vert and mashed potatoes. We want to disrupt the notion that you’re having a wedding here for ‘banquet food.’ Food will be “well-executed contemporary American fare of higher-level quality. That doesn’t mean fancy. It just means simple done right.” Banquet menus are already finished and reservation lines are open, Grims says.

While Rosalie and Autograph can handle smaller gatherings, only Fearless’ shipboard Moshulu can take large parties, hosting 100 weddings a year, according to Grims.

Fearless is spending $1.5 million on the banquet space and $100K on AV equipment. Grims promises it will be “state of the art” and “not fuddy-duddy.” Picture integrated screens, speakers and podiums; no creaky equipment wheeled like an afterthought.

She admits the corporate event business isn’t what it was 20 years ago but insists it’s rebounding. “Instead of companies throwing $100K parties four times a year, they’re maybe throwing them once a year.”

Radnor Hotel Manager Lou Prevost confirms corporate bookings have been off since COVID but says the hotel’s wedding business has stayed strong at about 50 weddings a year.

The restaurant redo comes next.

Sometime in spring/summer, the Glenmorgan Bar & Grill (below), the nearby Garden Room and the hallway between them will be closed and demolished.

Only one table at the Glenmorgan was occupied at noon on a recent weekday. “There have been dramatic changes in the hotel business since COVID,” says Radnor Hotel owner Steve Bajus. “There’s been a lot of shrinkage.”

Taking their place some months later: Triple Crown, a horsey-handsome 175-seat restaurant with a “big, big bar” in a new location with 30 stools, says Grims. Triple Crown’s equestrian theme should draw Devon Horse Show devotées, the Radnor Hunt crowd and anyone who aspires to the refined Ralph Lauren-ish lifestyle. Fare will be contemporary American, like the banquet menus.

“We also want to get that corporate breakfast back,” says Grims. “We’ll definitely have a brunch menu and hopefully, that will be seven days a week to capture an early crowd.”

Radnor Hotel’s award-winning brunch never returned after the hotel’s six-month COVID closure, mostly due to staffing issues.

Fearless’ general contractor, David Semerjian, will have his hands full. He’s knee-deep in a fifth White Dog Café in Chester Springs (at the historic Vicker’s Tavern) and Fearless’ new casual Italian concept, Testa Rossa, at the old Ruby’s Diner in Glen Mills.

Sometime this year, the hotel’s lobby (below) and exterior facade will be overhauled, Bajus tells SAVVY.

The Radnor Hotel lobby is getting a facelift to match the new restaurant and ballrooms.

At press time he was entertaining bids from designers, including one from Barbara Balongue, the whiz behind Will’s and Bill’s Brewery in Berwyn and The Pullman in Bryn Mawr as well as Autograph and Rosalie in Wayne and White Dogs in Haverford and Wayne.

Plans are also in place for the rear gardens, a lush spot for wedding ceremonies. “The gardens will be f-ing fantastic,” Grims enthuses.

“It’s the snappiest part of the deal,” adds Bajus.

Grim says the chance to update the outdoor spaces “was a large selling factor for why we wanted to take over this space.” And it’s not a cosmetic overhaul, she says. Multiple permits will be needed for exterior work.

According to Grims, Bajus was first to float the possibility of a joint venture at the Radnor Hotel.

“Marty and I have a long business relationship,” Bajus says, referring to Fearless’ owner Marty Grims. The two “pulled off” putting a tent in the Haverford Square parking lot, helping Grims’ White Dog survive COVID. And the two have a proven partnership at the Wayne Hotel. “What he created at Rosalie has been really, really successful,” Bajus says.

The two are of like mind. “We’re both here to do a good job and to make money,” Bajus says plainly.

Adds Sydney Grims: “When it comes to the operation of his facilities, he’s really topnotch. It’s just been a seamless relationship over at Rosalie.”

Joining hands has worked so well for Fearless Restaurants and SW Bajus real estate, they’re practically moving in together. This week Fearless is relocating its headquarters to space near Bajus’ offices at the Radnor Hotel.

A cozy collaboration indeed.

Yuletide at Devon: Exclusive intel on what worked, what didn’t and what’s ahead

A first for the Devon Horse Show: winter crowds at the fairgrounds.

The Devon Horse Show looks like … the Devon Horse Show again.

As of last week, the twinkle lights, the Christmas trees, Santa’s Chalet, the giant nutcrackers, tents and warmers are all back in a King of Prussia warehouse. The keys to the equestrian kingdom have returned to horsey hands.

What, then, to make of Yuletide, the Main Line’s first-ever holiday market/entertainment spectacle? Will it be back? Will it be different?

Here’s what we learned from our recent debrief with Jes Bickhart, who co-founded Yuletide with his father, Rob.

1. Yuletide loves the venue and wants to return. Yuletide’s parent company, Spectacle, signed a three-year lease with the Devon Horse Show but had only a one-year OK from Easttown Township. Bickhart tells us he’s meeting with Easttown, Tredyffrin and Radnor officials to discuss “key learnings” re: traffic and security. All three townships provided police and canine support. There were no security issues in Year One, he says. Smart money says Easttown will greenlight a second year.
2. Assuming Yuletide returns, there will be significant changes. “Nothing is off the table,” Bickhart tells SAVVY. His team will review everything: pricing, parking, concerts, length of show, concessions, its no-cash policy and more. Having one point-of-sale system – for ticketing, concessions, vendors – should pay off. “We captured an immense amount of data and can optimize a more efficient show,” Bickhart says.
3. They heard you: a second year could include ice skating. A skating outfitter has already evaluated the site. Spectacle envisions a skating trail through the Enchanted Forest but is open to a rink if need be, Bickhart says.
4. The mammoth concert stage in the Dixon Oval likely won’t be back. National musical acts didn’t draw the expected crowds. Visitors suggested they’d like to see more local talent, possibly performing inside additional tents.

A crowd watching the main stage in the Dixon Oval.

5. That string of rainy Sundays hurt. “We were destroyed by rain. We had hundreds of thousands of dollars in lost revenue on days we had to close or opened but had lackluster attendance.”
6. The show might not run as long. “We marketed Yuletide as Christmas thing. Getting people back on Dec. 26 was a challenge. Not many market shops saw significant sales after Christmas. One thing we’ll talk about is potentially shutting down after Christmas … About 6,000 came on New Year’s Eve but we were expecting much more.”
7. Ticket prices might be adjusted. “We opted for Disneyland pricing: one price and you get everything for free. But we could reduce the tickets and go a la carte for the rides and Santa visits.” Weekday fees – when many came to shop – might be lower than weekend prices when families came to enjoy the rides and visits with Santa.

The Himalaya was a popular ride at Yuletide ’23.

8. You won’t see $50 parking again. (After an outcry, that price was slashed.) “We knew what the horse show charged (for the lot across from the venue) and assumed wrongfully that people would spend the same amount of time at Yuletide. But they didn’t hang around for five hours like they do at Devon; they stayed for two or two-and-a-half hours.”
9. Clydesdale’s Corner – the horse show’s rough-and-ready watering hole – will look like Kringles this spring. “We were able to keep all the décor, wallpaper and chandeliers in place so Clydesdale’s is getting a much-needed refresh.” Some “hundreds of thousands of dollars” were spent building out Bergey’s Brauhaus and Kringles Whiskey Bar. “It broke our hearts to restore the Hospitality Room to its original look. We had to remove Bergey’s faux walls, the faux fireplace and the faux wine barrels and bring it back to cinderblock.” In general, Yuletide’s bars were bumpin’, Bickhart says.
10. Food service was a challenge and will be re-evaluated. “Strothers did a great job catering this event and have raised their hand for a second year. But the weather made it hard to keep food hot and lines moving and there were issues with WiFi. On a cold night, the point-of-sale system would freeze up.” One solution: more food trucks, Bickhart says.

Yuletide had anticipated 100,000 to attend the five-week festival but got 80,000. Bickhart calls that number “in the ballpark” and “strong for the first year” but admits “there’s definite room for improvement there.”

Still, he’s bullish about the future. “Overall, we had a really good time and we think the venue and the community are happy … We’ve proven that Yuletide does work but it requires a lot of effort from a lot of people to pull it off every year. Hopefully, we get the chance to keep it going.”

Easttown police officers pose with country rocker Chris Lane, a national name who drew about 6,000 people to Devon on New Year’s Eve.

T/E School District alights on novel site for a new school

Tredyffrin-Easttown School District has put money down on this office building, Southpoint III, in Tredyffrin, hoping to convert it to an elementary school. The building is owned by Brandywine Realty Trust.

The powers that be in T/E have been talking about a sixth elementary school for years.

Not only was it time to move forward with full-day kindergarten, but Valley Forge Elementary was overcrowded.

The numbers of special ed students had exploded – from 12 classrooms in 2017 to 23 classrooms in 2024. And the overall student population –  at least in some neighborhoods – wasn’t projected to decline anytime soon.

This heat map of student population hot spots was included in the administration’s presentation to the school board and public. The yellow arrow points to the Swedesford Rd. site.

The administration studied – and so far has rejected – two options: redistricting to better balance schools and building on district-owned land, either in Chesterbrook or near Easttown Library.

And that’s when T/E got creative.

It hired a broker who found a well-located office building for sale in a corporate area of W. Swedesford Rd. Might it be turned into a school?

1200 Swedesford Rd. is in red. The district has said the $15.95M purchase would be financed by reserve funds, bond(s) and bank loans. (Google maps)

Its size – an 86,000 sq. ft. building on 15.2 acres – was about right, the layout and access road were suitable, the topography was flat enough for playgrounds and a gym addition. Hey, it even had a circle (hello, buses) and flagpole out front.

The lobby of 1200 Swedesford Rd. The office building is partially occupied.

With the school board’s blessing, the district this month signed a tentative agreement to buy the property for $15.95 million and put down 2 percent.

It’s far from a done deal, however.

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TESD has 60 days of due diligence to determine if 1200 Swedesford Rd. makes sense. How much would retrofitting the building and adding a gym/cafeteria/kitchen wing actually cost? The district’s preliminary price tag for the purchase and renovation is nearly $65M but it says it could go higher.

Aerial views of the site with and without a possible rear addition (shown in yellow).

Are the building and grounds as suitable and structurally sound as they seem?

What does the community think? Dozens attended a public meeting on the project Wednesday night.

Might the price go down in a year or two?  One commercial real estate pro we consulted thought it might. With so many working from home at least part time, he anticipated that the glut of underused or vacant suburban office buildings would only grow in the next few years.

But can T/E afford to wait out the market? District officials say their needs are urgent and the wheels for a new school need to start turning ASAP.

Are there equity issues? 1200 Swedesford was built in 1994 and renovated in 2007 and looks rather grandiose compared to T/E’s low-slung elementary schools, which date back to the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Worth noting: the building may be bigger than T/E needs right now. Officials have talked about leasing the third floor – perhaps to the IU  – or possibly moving district offices there. TESD is currently headquartered in an office condo and could presumably sell it.

Soooo, lots for TESD to ponder here.

If the district ultimately determines the site is unusable as an elementary school, it does get its full $319K deposit back. If it pulls out of the deal for any other reason, it stands to lose $100K.

An interesting sidebar: SAVVY has learned that TESD had a serious competitor for the site.

The Grayson School, the private school for only gifted kids that operates in a wing of Archbishop Carroll (we wrote about Grayson in 2022), thought it had a deal in hand for the same property. We have a copy of letter to parents from last fall in which Grayson’s head of school announced its future new home at 1200 W. Swedesford Rd. Grayson was sending that letter to prospective parents as recently as early December. Because his child attends Grayson, TESD school board member, Ken Hong, recused himself from the vote that greenlit the project.

TESD solicitor Ken Roos confirms that eminent domain was not exercised but wouldn’t comment on the district’s negotiations.

We asked Grayson School’s communications director Nancy DeBellis for comment and received this reply: “We remain in an active search for a suburban Philadelphia location that can meet the needs of our growing school community.” Clearly, the region’s only gifted-only school has caught on and needs more space.

But back to T/E. We’ll get its verdict on the site by early March.

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A long time coming, Life’s Patina Mercantile & Café charms in Chester Springs

Neglected no more, the historic Jenny Lind House now shines as Life’s Patina Mercantile & Café, an expansion of the company founded in 2011 by Malvern’s Meg Veno.

By Emily Ryan

Sunlight streams through windows of wavy glass, reflecting off plaster walls as Meg Veno sits at a bistro table at her new outpost, recalling “five long years of challenges … There were so many throw-in-the-towel moments here, but I wanted to see the project to the end because I believed it was valuable to the community.”

When she first floated the idea of turning a neglected Yellow Springs landmark into Life’s Patina Mercantile & Café, “everybody said, ‘Don’t do it!’” Veno remembers with a laugh. But since its grand opening in December, “we’ve been overwhelmed by the support.”

A former elementary school teacher and fashion model with an eye for design, Veno is no stranger to historic renovations. Her own home, Willowbrook Farm, a two-time Vassar Show House, dates back to 1710. She shored up the farm’s stone barn and in 2011 repurposed it as Life’s Patina, an event venue and pop-up shop selling vintage furniture, architectural salvage, home decor, unique gifts and more.

The original Life’s Patina hosts seasonal sales at a barn at Meg Veno’s home, Willowbrook Farm. (Photo by Maggie Nelson)

“I have a passion for bringing the history together with the art, the restoration and experiences,” she says. “Our tagline is celebrating the beauty of life, past and present.”

Life’s Patina’s seasonal barn sales grew by word of mouth, leading to a feature in Country Living magazine, among other magazines, and an appearance on TV’s “Stone House Revival” with Chester County carpenter Jeff Devlin.

“I feel drawn, like a physical drawing, to old homes.” Veno explains, She grew up in one and raised her five children in another. “These buildings are so often razed instead of renovated. And it’s happening up and down the Main Line.”

Meg Veno calls renovating old houses “an absolute labor of love because if you do not like to labor, you will not love it.” (Photo by Brenda Carpenter)

Like the Main Line, Yellow Springs boasts a rich history and its old boardinghouse spoke to her. Built when it was a spa village, it was named the Jenny Lind House for the Swedish soprano who likely stayed there in the 1850s. But the eight-bedroom behemoth needed much more work than the Venos expected.

“My husband, Chris, and I have done a whole-house restoration but this was above and beyond. We never anticipated having to put in steel beams and re-plumbing and re-electrifying the entire building.”

Another curveball: Black mold meant re-plastering everywhere.

Black mold lurked beneath this 1980s wallpaper. (Life’s Patina photo.)

But with setbacks came surprises: original parlor doors tucked away in the basement and a forgotten fireplace (below left) walled up in a commercial kitchen from its days as the Yellow Springs Inn.

Work on the café area revealed one of these fireplaces with now restored murals, likely painted by different artists in the 1920s when the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts owned Yellow Springs.

Bringing “new eyes and new energy into the village,” Veno kept her social media followers in the loop, posting updates on the project’s trials and her own.

“People have a tendency to think, ‘Wow, you have this great big farm and this wonderful home, life must be perfect,’ but nobody’s life is perfect, and we all have challenges,” she admits. “I have my own health issues, and two of our sons do.”

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She opened up online about having brain surgery to treat the cause of her severe headaches and about her two sons’ chronic illnesses: POTS and EDS. Short for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, they cause heart palpitations, brain fog, pain, fatigue, dizziness and other “invisible” symptoms. She’s also blogged about her oldest son’s journey with learning differences and ADHD.

“I say this to my kids all the time: You often can’t change what happens to you in life, but you can change your response to it. We are in control of our attitude, our thoughts.”

Veno hopes sharing personal stories, such as a son’s serious bike accident shortly before her daughter’s wedding last year, “might help others who are going through the same thing” because “you don’t know what people are carrying around with them.”

One of those people is close friend and employee Julie Niness whose husband, Mark, died after shoveling snow in January 2022. He was 52. Part of the proceeds from each barn sale goes to charity. Last fall’s benefited Mark G. Niness Foundation scholarships for Conestoga seniors.

In 12 years of preview parties and barn sales, Meg has raised more than $200,000 for local nonprofits, including Greener Partners, the Chester County Food Bank and Valley Forge Park Alliance, where she and Jeff Devlin support historic preservation.

Back at the Mercantile, wide steps lead to a spacious front porch with two doors. A portrait of “Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind — the Taylor Swift of her time, Veno jokes — greets guests in the foyer.

A portrait of soprano Jenny Lind found on Facebook Marketplace is nestled among items for sale at the Mercantile.

Twin staircases, possibly for male and female boarders, lead to the second floor.

The main rooms showcase Veno’s favorite finds. Alive with customers, the building is singing again.

Natural light fills the Mercantile’s restored rooms, where Veno and her team group merchandise in creative vignettes.

“I think it’s wonderful,” says Cindy Clark of Birchrunville who came to shop with a friend. “A lot of atmosphere and warmth.”

The Café features locally sourced and seasonal soups, salads, sandwiches, sweets and specialty coffee drinks.

Executive chef Beth DeBruyn, the former owner of Cakezilla, pivoted from finance to frosting, attending culinary school after becoming an empty nester. Pastry chef Lindsay Robinson worked at Éclat Chocolate in West Chester.

A countertop case displays baked goods. A grab-and-go section stocks salads, sandwiches and yogurt parfaits. Made-to-order items include bacon-egg-and-cheese biscuits and avocado toast.

“The Mercantile is an escape from the hurry of everyday life, where the environment helps you to feel like you’re slowing down and you’re enjoying conversation with your coffee,” Veno explains.

And remember those parlor doors in the basement? “They’re going to become the headboards of the beds we’re going to make,” she says, resolute and undaunted, already dreaming of the bed and breakfast she’ll create upstairs.

Life’s Patina Mercantile & Café, 1657 Art School Road, Chester Springs, is open Wed. -Fri. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekends 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Soups ($7), quiche ($8), salads ($13), sandwiches ($12-$14).

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Villanova’s Bulldog Yoga stands out in the pack

Bulldog GM Michelle Baldino and manager Nikki Rowinski get playful in one of Bulldog’s two studio spaces. “Everybody know everyone when you walk in the door,” says Baldino. “We just want everyone to have a good time and get stronger together.”

By Rebecca Adler

Motivated to get fit (hello, 2024), but wary of a new workout?

Intrigued by the mental and physical benefits of yoga but intimidated by poses you can’t pronounce?

Bulldog yoga gets it.

The Villanova-based boutique studio built its brand on the idea that fun, friendly fitness classes keep clients coming back.

Celebrating eight years this February, Bulldog’s accessible yet challenging offerings stand out among the pack of yoga studios along the Main Line.

Why?

For starters, this rebooted style of yoga sheds the Sanskrit – and with it, the seriousness – of traditional yoga. Teachers, known as “leaders,” use English terms and physical cues to help “guests” set up safe and strong poses.

Happy “warriors” at Bulldog in Villanova.

“We want people to come in the door and feel welcomed,” says general manager Michelle Baldino. “Sticking to English names like Warrior II instead of Virabhadrasa helps keep people at ease. They’re not overthinking it.”

Instead, they’re able to keep up with the flow of poses while teachers pump carefully curated playlists (think 90s, 2000s hip hop, Philly Tailgate), which you can find on their Spotify channel. At Bulldog, music is brain food.

“It’s like a party on your mat every single time,” says manager Nikki Rowinski, who promises tunes for every taste echoing through Bulldog’s two airy studio spaces with high ceilings and plenty of natural light.

Bulldog also takes the guesswork out of classes. No need to Google the principles of Hatha yoga or the founders of Iyengar. Here, you can choose between four class styles: Activate (a gentler flow), Invigorate (a whole-body power flow), Mat Pilates Fusion, and the newer, increasingly popular hybrid, Yoga Sculpt.

“Our regulars like a hard workout,” says Rowinski. “So it was time to give them that extra push.”

Yoga Sculpt classes use three-, five- and eight-pound weights mixed with cardio, and have quickly become a favorite with Bulldog’s large student population from Villanova.

“A lot of our guests are doing various types of workouts or training for an Iron Man,” adds Baldino. “[With Yoga Sculpt] they don’t need two memberships to get weights in.”

But even beginners feel at home at Bulldog. Staff members greet guests by name, mic-ed up teachers give shoutouts (for mastering a pose or attempting an arm balance) to students during class and the well-appointed common areas – including a tea bar and retail shop – make for easy conversation.

GM Michelle Baldino in the retail corner that sells Bulldog-branded gear as well as cult favorites like Splits59 and P.E. Nation.

“We want you to feel like you came to your friend’s house for an evening hang,” says Baldino.

And a fun, killer workout.

Bulldog Yoga, 775 Lancaster Ave. in the Villanova Center. To book classes visit bulldogyoga.com. New to Bulldog? Get two weeks of unlimited classes for $50.

New Café Pom fills a flavor void in Paoli

By Anne E. Hill

Armenian food lovers, rejoice!

In an area dominated by pub grub, Italian joints and sushi spots, there’s a new flavor in town: Café Pom, an American/ Mediterranean café, market and event space.

When the 50-year Broomall mainstay, Armenian Delight, closed after the passing of its owner, Asdghig Kazanjian, loyal customers and friends Anita and Tory Torcomian were devastated. Within months, they decided to honor Kazanjian’s legacy with a similar concept on the Main Line, finding a happy home in Paoli Village Shoppes.

Café Pom owners Tory and Anita Torcomian. “From what we had been hearing from the local community, they wanted a little more diversity in the restaurants in the area. We’re glad we could add to their palate.”

The Torcomians received an “overwhelming amount of support” when Café Pom opened in mid-December, Anita Torcomian tells SAVVY. Within hours, the choreg, Armenian sweet bread, was sold out. (Having tried it, we understand why.)

Other popular dishes include the lahmajoun, a savory Armenian flatbread made meatless or with meat ($5); yalanchi, vegetarian stuffed grape leaves (3 for $7.50); and grab-and-go or create-your-own Mediterranean bowls ($13-$15). On Saturdays, Anita and her kitchen crew whip up traditional Armenian breakfasts ($11- $15).

Anita Torcomian brewing Armenian coffee. She named her café and market for her favorite fruit and an Armenian staple – pomegranates.

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Dry January? Ardmore’s new Wallace Dry Goods reimagines cocktail hour

A new kind of corner store is now open at Lancaster and Anderson Aves. across from Maido in Ardmore.  (Photos by Gab Bonghi)

Dry for the month or dry forever, a new bottle shop/tasting room in Ardmore has you covered … and then some.

Introducing Wallace Dry Goods, the Main Line’s first storefront devoted entirely to the dry lifestyle, which is 100% on trend and for multiple reasons. (At Wallace Dry Goods, nobody asks.)

Owner Robin Cummisky sets the bar high: her shelves are laden with super premium mocktails and zero-proof wines and beers; her tasting bar pours only top-drawer boozeless beverages.

Ardmore native Robin Cummisky sips a craft mocktail at her new business, Wallace Dry Goods.

Fancy a zero-proof Guinness? A phony Negroni? An Italian Rosé Brut sans alcohol? A botanical and adaptagen-infused Prickly Paloma – all agave, no hangover? They’re all here – and some may be coming soon to local spots like Twenty-One Pips. Cummisky tells us she’s hoping to partner with area bars and restaurants.

And because everything tastes better in a pretty package, Wallace also sells barware, cocktail glasses and cheeky cocktail napkins.

Want to up your boozeless bar game? Sign up for one of Wallace’s mocktail-making workshops. Mr. Zero Proof, the sober sommelier himself, aka Jesse Andreozzi, was set to lead the first one this week.

Wallace Dry Goods, 1 West Lancaster Ave, Ardmore, is open Wed. thru Sat. 11 a.m. – 7 p.m., Sun. noon to 5.

New year, new SAVVY … PODCAST!!!

You read us… now you can see and hear us! We’re beyond pumped to announce SAVVY Main Line: The Podcast.

Check out this fun, 20-second intro:

Episodes start with quick hits from This and That. Then we get down to some serious … chitchat. (OK, not always so serious.)

Our first show should be here within days. (We’ll be breaking some local entrepreneurial news on this one.)

Watch your inbox and social feeds for word of its arrival on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. If you don’t already, NOW IS THE TIME to subscribe to SAVVY’s email blasts and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.

But here’s the rub: Podcasting is pricier than we thought. We’re using a new, state-of-the-art studio in Bryn Mawr and paying crackerjack editors and producers, which means we need underwriters.

Huge thanks to our first sponsor, Austin Hepburn Installs Windows and Doors, but we need more advertisers to make this work. If you’d like Caroline to personally sing your company’s praises on our shows and promos, email [email protected]. We’d be over the moon.

A bowl full of goodness with little soul on the side: Lentil & Co. brings ‘Modern Mediterranean’ to Ardmore

Lentil & Co. partners and dear friends Alia Sobel and Leann Delvescovo with Leann’s daughter Lilly.

“Nourish your body; feed your soul” – that’s the telling tagline at Lentil & Co., a newish, little gem in downtown Ardmore.

Make and sell lentil & quinoa bowls, farm-fresh salads, fresh-pressed juices and immunity shots – sounds like a straightforward business plan, no?

Not for spirited – and highly spiritual co-owner – Alia Sobel who tells us she “heard in meditation: You have to share lentils with the world.”

A Reiki Master Healer and, per her Instagram profile, a “clairvoyant” of Jordanian descent, Sobel grew up loving lentil bowls for their energy and health-boosting benefits. “The vision got stronger but knew I needed a partner.”

Small Talk: 2023 design honoree Michele Plachter dishes on home décor trends in ‘24.

Editor’s Note: SAVVY Small Talks are Q-and-As with local luminaries edited for brevity and clarity.

Michele Plachter Design has created artful interiors on the Main Line and Philadelphia since 2012, specializing in luxury residential and boutique commercial design. She was just named to Luxe Interiors + Design’s 2023 “Faces of Design,” one of 10 designers honored in the U.S.

What can we expect to see in home design in 2024?

Environments that exude a welcoming charm through the fusion of contemporary design elements with a touch of the organic.

In color, a strong shift toward warmer neutrals like ivory, taupe and terracotta and the vibrant resurgence of shades like chocolate browns, chartreuse, lavender, deep greens, robin’s egg blue and mint green. Earthy palettes foster a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Custom-designed range hoods as focal points in kitchens.

Murals are back with a twist of subjects and/or colors.

Lots of texture. Think plaster walls and soft and natural fabrics. Quiet luxury reigns in fashion as it does in interiors.

Sculptural art is making a powerful debut, further elevating the visual and tactile experience of interior spaces.

A timeless kitchen in Villanova created by Michele Planchter.

Which trends from the last few years are still going strong?

Modern design continues to lean warm and inviting vs. cool and clinical. This is achieved through the artful use of soft colors, seamlessly blended with luxurious textures and curated found objects, infusing each space with a distinctive soul.

Traditional and Transitional design are finding ways to stay fresh with unexpected color and textures. Classic shaped furniture with an unexpected pattern or colorful fabric as well as wallcoverings that are classic in style with a different color story prevail.

The colorful study in a Haverford home designed by Michele Plachter.  (Photo by Rebecca McAlpin)

An emphasis on softer edges is an ongoing trend, evident in the prominence of curved furniture, walls, and arches.

Is there a generational divide about the use of color in home design? We ask because a popular home on the recent Surrey Holiday House Tour was throbbing with vibrant color. Some older tour-goers thought it was too much and preferred more restful neutrals. But younger tour-goers loved it…

Great question! As I stated above, color and unexpected color is back and yes, it’s a more youthful take on the expected color palettes. We call it “New Traditional.” At every age, we need to stay open to new ways of seeing a room.

What do you think of Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2024? Do designers actually use those colors once they’re so anointed?

Honestly, “Peach Fuzz” was an interesting pick. I’m on the fence about it. It’s a happy, soothing, and sunny color. I think we’ll see a lot of it in beach homes and in summer fashion. We haven’t used much peach but I’m always open to having fun with color even if it’s a bit unfamiliar.

What’s the most common mistake you see in interior design?

This and That

Hillary White Jean, the faux riche Wayne shopkeeper who stiffed landlords and vendors, used different names, and declared multiple bankruptcies per our story, was just sentenced. Radnor Police last year charged Jean with assorted criminal counts, including theft and passing bad checks. After multiple delays and no-shows in court, Jean entered a negotiated guilty plea at her January 8 trial. Delco judge Richard Cappelli ordered Jean to:

• pay $18,000 in restitution to her former landlord, Reuben Tehrani.
• pay roughly $5,000 total in court costs and fees for her dealings with Tehrani and fashion designer Nancy Volpe-Beringer (whose clothes she was selling but wore herself)
• serve probation – two and seven years to be served concurrently.

Jean has been spotted occasionally in Wayne but has generally kept a much lower profile. (Thanks to blogger Carla Zambelli for sending us the dockets.)

After six years in Haverford – and many more before that at Ardmore Farmer’s Market, Argyle Floral, Home and Garden is calling it quits. Lower Merion’s cozier version of Terrain/Valley Forge Flowers announced its decision to close on Instagram this week. The decision “wasn’t easy” and came “after much deliberation,” wrote owner Heather King and team. A 25% off liquidation sale on everything but florals and plants is already underway. Up for grabs: furniture, rugs, artwork, jewelry, clothing, gifts, home décor and more. Shop through Sunday, Jan. 21, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Any future hours are TBA.

Main Line Tavern is replacing the Great American Pub, which went dark in October. No not THAT one. The Wayne spot isn’t going anywhere. The GAP we’re gabbing about was on King Rd. in Paoli and no longer owned by the Hemchers. Husband-wife proprietors of Chadds Ford Tavern, Philip and Kate Ferro, bought the 5,000 sq. ft. Paoli watering hole for $1.25 million and are putting $300,000 into a refresh. They’re crossing fingers for a spring opening.

Never the hit Urban Outfitters had hoped for at Devon Yard, its Italian restaurant, Amis, has struck out for good, closing shortly after the holidays. Part of it will become The Atrium at Terrain Gardens this spring, a new skylit event space for 50. Makes sense; Devon Yard’s charming Terrain Gardens venue, which hosts 150, has been a home run from Day One. The rest of Amis will be subsumed by neighboring Pizzeria Vetri, a pandemic popup that became permanent.

Chocoholic? May we suggest moving to Wayne?  Teuscher Chocolates of Switzerland will soon open shop next to Capri Water Ice. That’s on top of Ardmore staple, Delice et Chocolat, opening a second French pastry shop, confectionary and café due east, next to Duncan Donuts. Can’t wait that long? There’s always Nancy’s Candy Corner at the Lancaster County Farmer’s Market. Oh, and the Sugaree on North Wayne and …

Batter up. The old D’Amicantonio shoe store in downtown Wayne has been gutted and will become a boutique baseball and softball training facility. Radnor Middle School dad Nate Parkyn tells us his 3,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art academy should open in early spring. Name is TBD.

Duncan’s Farm, longtime purveyor of pumpkins, produce and petals on North Valley Forge Rd. in Devon, has a new owner. The farm’s neighbor, Boy Scout Troop Devon 50, bought the 2.3 acre property and farmhouse for $850,000 following the 2022 death of Stephen Duncan. “Generous alumni facilitated the purchase,” Devon 50 Troop Committee Chair Bill Kline tells SAVVY. There are no immediate plans for the property which abuts Devon 50’s 10-acre Camp Jarvis, Kline says. A 501(C)3 nonprofit, Devon Troop 50’s boy scout troop dates back nearly 100 years. Some 400 Eagle Scouts, among them three girls, have passed through its doors.

Overrun with critters and cobwebs, its roof in tatters and its timber rotting, the circa-1890 barn at the former Picket Post Swim & Tennis Club outpost on Chase Rd. in Chesterbrook is no more. Its owner brought in a barn salvager to demolish the post-and-timber structure late last fall. All that’s left are the stone foundation and stone walls along with usable beams, paddock gates and other historical items salvaged for sale or display, owner Dave Ludin of Green Bridge Development tells SAVVY. The barn is on the 4.5-acre tract that Ludin bought from Picket Post for $1.2 million with the hope of getting a zoning change that would permit him to build townhouses on the site. After Tredyffirn denied his zoning request, Ludin appealed to county court and is still awaiting a judge’s decision.

No takers yet for the former Asiana Garden building on W. Wayne Ave. Listed for $1.2 million in December, it’s mixed use: a kitchen-equipped retail at ground level with two apartments above.

Meanwhile, Asian sensations are popping up everywhere. Newest ones on our radar:

• Nan Xiang Soup Dumplings is taking over the old Outback at the King of Prussia mall. The casual New York-based chain is Michelin-recommended but not Michelin priced. Ownership is connected to Takumi, the new Japanese spot near the Whole Foods in Wayne.
• And Hiramasa Japanese is heading to Newtown Square Shopping Center in the fall.

Looks like hearts may be pounding and legs pumping at Mill Road Park in Tredyffrin as early as next year. PA Rep. Melissa Schusterman just announced a $112,000 state grant to help fund a bike pump park at the 56-acre tract. Valley Forge Middle School 8th grader Dom Pecora, Stoga freshman Ronan Lynch and Chesterbrook resident Authur Zadrozny have led the charge to bring a bike skills pump park to the area. The balance of construction dollars – at least another $100K – will come from fundraising.

Wayne dentist James Godorecci is free on $25,000 bail after his arrest on indecent assault and harassment charges. A patient reported Godorecci, 56, to Tredyffrin police, claiming he fondled her breasts without permission during a Jan. 3 visit. Godorecci practices at Main Line Dental Aesthetics on Chestnut Rd. in Paoli. At the arraignment, District Judge Lauren Holt ordered the dentist to report his arrest to the PA Board of Dentistry and to have no further contact with the alleged victim.

Sisters before misters at Autograph Brasserie in Wayne’s annual Galentine’s Day girlie-fest. A $30 ticket buys you a Harvest Vodka Valentine’s cocktail, a chance to win vendor prizes, and shopping at two dozen pop-ups. Think fashion, jewelry, food, skin care, beauty and self-care items. The fun runs from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6. Limited tickets sold here.

Music to our ears: the suburban premier of the No Name Pops (once the Philly Pops) on Saturday, Feb. 17 at 3 p.m. at Immaculata. A benefit concert, “Broadway in the Burbs,” will features toe-tappers from Gypsy, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof and more, conducted by Broadway’s Evan Roider and Immaculata maestro Joe Gehring. Suggested donation for general-admission tickets is $50.

Suburban Square is leaning into its female-focused lineup. Super upscale fashion boutique Pilot/Powell just opened and three more women’s shops are en route: Gorjana jewelry, comfy fashion purveyor Jenni Kayne, and teen clothier Brandy Melville, known for its one-size styles.

In time for Black History Month: a talk about slavery on the Main Line and beyond. That’s right. Records show that landowners of tracts in Chesterbrook, Valley Forge Park and at least a few Main Line-area homesteads bought and sold slaves. The scholar who assembled those records is Lower Merion Historical Society intern Colin McCrossan, who just received a master’s in history at Villanova and is currently enrolled at its law school. McCrossan will present “Learning about Slavery in the Greater Philadelphia Area” via Zoom Tuesday, Feb. 20, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s free but you must preregister here.

A gold rush at Merion Mercy Academy. First, the school gets a record-setting donation – $9.1 million! – from The Howley Foundation, which will fund annual Howley scholarships, a new center for applied biological and health sciences in a revamped science wing, and a new academic support center. (Howley girls graduated from MMA in ‘76, ’80 and ’82.) Then, MMA announces huge fundraising strides in its campaign to install a multi-purpose artificial turf field – the first step toward a whole new sports complex. For the record, it will be safe and durable faux grass – not the nasty Vet Stadium variety. Full disclosure: Yours truly is a proud alum.

A shot of Main Line Swiftie Trivia and Swiftie-adjacent Eagles news: Taylor’s uber-supportive dad, Scott Swift, 71, was born in Bryn Mawr. And Ed Kelce, aka Donna’s ex, lives in Ardmore near his son – you know, the one NOT dating TIME’s Person of the Year. Jason Kelce has reportedly been buying up adjoining properties to expand his home base in Haverford Township. Good to know everyone’s fave local athlete isn’t going anywhere, right?

Thanks for stopping by, Main Line. For breaking news that can’t wait, discounts, giveaways and special invites for SAVVY readers, follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Send story ideas and whatever else is on your mind to [email protected]. We’re all ears!