Location Report - Delaware County, Pa

Visit Delco

www.visitdelcopa.com

The Millstone Cottage at The Inn at Grace Winery in Glen Mills, PA; photo courtesy: Visit Delco, PA

FOOD & DRINK

Restaurateurs have been busy opening in Delco in 2022. There’s variety all over the county, from burger spots to beer halls, coffee shops to a food hall, plus a variety of ethnic specialties.

Vittles Food Hall is the collaboration of a contingent of Philly chefs who first took to the streets, then made a home in Delco, to work to defeat food insecurity. Their nonprofit, Everybody Eats, is doing just that from an enchanting and inclusive food hall. It’s comfort-food-central, from burgers to soul food, salads to seafood.

Bierhaul is a lagerhaus and new American kitchen serving pub grub favorites plus elevated large plates, a solid beer list featuring plenty of local stalwarts, wine by the bottle and glass, and a diverse cocktail list.

Roz and Rocco’s features family recipe-inspired Italian-American classics. Save room for olive oil cake!

On campus at Villanova University, a popular restaurant and private events space, The Refractory.

Celebrity Chef Jose Garces's famed tapas-styled Amada Restaurant will be opening in Radnor in early 2023

2SP Tap House, a 2SP Brewing Company venue, and Delaware’s Two Stones Pub opened in the old La Pina Mexican Restaurant location with a menu of elevated pub grub.

O’Sheas at Harrah’s Casino, a Las Vegas-style party pub, allows guests to partake in casino games plus arcade games, darts, and trivia while listening to live music. There’s a full bar, and food can be delivered here from any of Harrah’s restaurants. Guests can participate in karaoke, too.

Two Fourteen is another Loïc Barnieu creation, who, along with chef Michael Hackett, turned the old Diego’s into casual, but elevated, location for seasonally-inspired food and cocktails.

Dom & Mia’s offers upscale casual fine dining and classic cocktails with a nod to “family past and present,” in the old PNC Bank location.

Buona Sera Ristorante is a BYOB that features a menu with gluten-free and whole wheat pastas, as well as a selection of Italy’s best.

Ardour Bakery and Coffee Shop serves up European-style baked goods, plus sandwiches and hand-pulled hot and cold beverages. Signature items sell out fast, and some glutenfree items are available.

Nifty Fifty’s has opened a new location in Delco serving up burgers and fries along with plenty of other options, sides, and shakes. There are even more venues on the horizon, including: Buena Onda Baja Taqueria from Chef Jose Garces in Radnor; Blue Elephant by Win Restaurant Group in Wayne; and Mercato Ristorante and Bar in Newtown Square.

WHAT'S NEW

Centered around a state-of-the-art outdoor skating rink, Flight on Ice Entertainment is bringing two family fun locations to Delco this holiday and winter season. Food and beverage vendors, Instagram-worthy experiences, and festive lights and décor are just some of the offerings you can expect at the Flight on Ice locations.

According to breweriesinpa.com, Artillery Brewing soon will open a second location called The Arsenal in Drexel Hill with seating for about 115. The building dates back to 1948. Artillery will occupy the first floor, while a banquet facility is on the second. This will be a taproom only, with all brewing still being done at Artillery’s original location, The Barracks, in West Chester. For food, a full-service kitchen also is being built. Additional seating will be available on their covered outdoor beer garden.

In early October, the Philadelphia Union and WSFS Bank made a major announcement regarding development along the Chester Waterfront. Chester soon will be home to a world-class, state-of-the-art sports complex that will span 32-acres between Subaru Park and the Union Power Plant office building.

The WSFS Sports Complex will include a 100,000-square foot facility that includes a turf field that can be used for soccer, football, and lacrosse, two basketball courts, a performance center with a weight room and sprint track, locker rooms, and a café for athletes and guests. This will be a world-class venue for housing tournaments and other events.

This $55-million project marks a significant step in the development and revitalization of the Delaware River Waterfront. An example of the continued commitment and partnerships that lead to extensive positive changes for the Chester community and sparking exciting and positive changes for the Chester waterfront.

Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience is currently on view at the Tower Theatre in Upper Darby, so popular that it has extended its run through November (and likely December). This one-of-a-kind experience allows viewers to step inside a 20,000-square foot light and sound show with two-story projections and features a virtual reality experience.

After making several updates, the Willows Mansion is now able to host events and programs throughout its first floor. Managed by Peachtree Catering and Events, the property's renovations, restoration, and improvement efforts are ongoing.

The Inn at Grace Winery in Glen Mills features The Millstone, a new rustic, yet elegant cottage with a front-row view of the trickling millstone fountain.

Brandywine River Museum of Art celebrates 50 years of the Brandywine Railroad with model trains running on (610) 519-8000 | theinnatvillanova.com

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Arasapha Mobile Events; photo courtesy: Visit Delco, PA

Flight On Ice Fire Pit Lounge Area in Newtown Square, PA; photo courtesy: Visit Delco, PA

2,000-feet of track and more than 1,000 pieces, including locomotives, passenger and freight trains, and trolleys that pass through a small village, a farm, factories, a drive-in movie theater and even a carnival. Interactive components are also incorporated into the display.

Arasapha Farm is a new outdoor event space in Glen Mills, offering 80acres of land, a small pond, dock and fountain, as well as a covered pavilion area. The venue can accommodate up to 350 people, features a preferred vendor list for food and beverage, and plays host to Mobile Adventures for events and team building such as axe throwing, escape rooms and laser tag.

LOOKING AHEAD

"In-person meetings are coming back," observes Lou Marrocco, Director of Meetings and Events for Visit Delco, PA. "While they are still a little smaller, the interest and desire to meet in person is showing a steady growth. The 'Industry' reports all are saying the same, that 2023 is going to be better, especially the second half and third quarter, and that 2024 will be almost full return to meetings, as we once knew them."

Guest and attendee experiences are atop requests for meetings and events, Marrocco adds. For some, the “experience,” whether an activity like a hike or yoga, shows an emphasis on wellness and group participation. Others are looking to add a game or game-type activity in addition to the meeting or event.

"It is no longer that attendees stay in a meeting room all day. The clients want the attendees to leave with the desire to attend the next meeting they are planning," he asserts.

Delco has these added value features, from making a clay memento of the meeting to incorporating a culinary “hands-on” experience to enjoying a walk in nature. Delaware County has multiple locations and venues to satisfy the request - with even more on the way.

"The new addition to Subaru Park with WSFS and the plan for the waterfront are a small example of the growth and emphasis on building for the future of meetings, but also for the community overall," says Marrocco.