New Louie-Louie restaurant to open next year at Penn

A celebration of Europe’s café culture planned for University City


Media Contact: Jennifer Rizzi, Director, Communications,
Penn Facilities & Real Estate Services, 215.573.6107, rizzi@upenn.edu


Louie-Louie, the newest restaurant by Marty & Sydney Grims of Fearless Restaurants, will open in early 2018 on Penn’s campus, on the ground floor of the Hilton Inn at Penn. Celebrating Europe's great cafes and bistros, the venue will feature traditional menu items found in cafes throughout France, Italy, Spain, and North America.


Building on the success of the iconic and ever popular White Dog Café, Grims is looking forward to opening another location around this campus community. “We [White Dog Café] have been in University City for over 35 years, growing alongside of Penn,” Grims said. “We are really excited to be a part of the vibrant restaurant scene and continued growth in the neighborhood with the debut of Louie-Louie.”


Renovations of the 4,200 square foot space at 3611 Walnut Street are ongoing with plans that include a fully redesigned interior, as well as an expanded outside seating area and new landscaping. The design by Philadelphia-based Rohe Creative, whose award-winning work has been featured in both Architectural Digest and Hospitality Design Magazine, will be art nouveau inspired in look and feel and create a seamless flow from the interior to the outdoor patio. With a large bar area and a seating capacity for 150 indoors and 50 additional seats outdoors, the restaurant will operate seven days a week, serving lunch and happy hour Monday – Friday, dinner and late night dining daily, as well as brunch on weekends and holidays.


“We very much look forward to introducing a new venue that will offer enticing menu options, and through its open concept, bring additional vibrancy to the Walnut Street corridor,” said Marie Witt, Vice President of Penn’s Division of Business Services, who managed the relationship with the previous tenant. “Louie-Louie will be a welcome addition for our campus, community, and hotel guests when it opens next year.”


Located throughout the Philadelphia region and in New Jersey, Fearless Restaurants is an expanding collection of restaurants featuring engaging décor, inspired hospitality and creative menus, and includes the landmark Moshulu Restaurant on Penn's Landing, White Dog Cafe in University City, Wayne and Haverford, Autograph Brasserie in Wayne and on Long Beach Island; Plantation Restaurant, Daddy O Restaurant & Hotel and Tuckers Tavern. Learn more about Fearless Restaurants on their website, fearlessrestaurants.com


MSC Retail represented the University of Pennsylvania in the transaction.


About Penn Retail
Penn’s retail district offers an inspired, contemporary shopping and dining experience, open to all. Spanning ten city blocks from 30th to 40th Streets and across Spruce, Walnut, and Chestnut Streets, the district features more than 75 curated shopping and dining outlets immersed in the region’s most beautiful and historic university campus. The diverse collection of retail offerings—including national brands and independent shops—provides the highest quality options at every price point for the Penn community, surrounding neighborhoods, and beyond. Visit Penn Shopping and Dining website for a full listing of retailers.

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