Rumor Mill: Is ‘farm-to-table restaurant’ too good to be true for 4th and Cross?

Want us to check in on a neighborhood rumor? Email us at punk@passyunkpost.com with the subject line Rumor Mill and we’ll see if we can get to the bottom of it.


UPDATE: It’s not a rumor. A BYOB called 4th and Cross is headed there.

For those of you who are not familiar with Bell’s Delly at 1527 S. 4th St. (at Cross Street), please don’t adjust your screen, it is indeed spelled “Delly.”

More importantly, there appears to be something in the works for the long-vacant space that’s a stone’s throw from Grindcore House and Dickinson Square Park.

The Delly will be getting a makeover. (Photo: James Jennings)
The Delly will be getting a makeover. (Photo: James Jennings)

Building permits recently hung on the metal security gate state that “interior demo of non-structural interior partition walls, removal of drywall, lathe.” Neighborhood rumors have been picking up recently, including one of a farm-to-table restaurant that we can’t seem to nail down but may have some legs.

Accompanying the permit is a fluorescent yellow L+I sticker that shouts “WORK IN PROGRESS” at the site and the lists the owners of the property as Ann and Larry Gangemi. The sticker also notes that Andrew Michaels is the contractor on the project and that the work is anticipated to be completed on “3/1/15.”

Told you it was bright! (Photo: James Jennings)
Told you it was bright! (Photo: James Jennings)

The exact reason for the work is still unknown. What is rather interesting is that after a quick Google search, Bell’s Delly is listed as having a Facebook page, which doesn’t seem to work. However, the description on the Google link reads “New American Restaurant” and “Our neighborhood bistro, specializing in scratch made, locally sourced and sustainably grown food.”

Just sayin’, there aren’t a whole lot of places out there named Bell’s Delly, especially those with rumors swirling about a possible restaurant.

https://twitter.com/mistertug/status/349569755306401793

(h/t to @bgussoni for the heads up on the signage. Give that man a follow on the Twitter)

– James Jennings is the founder of the blog Pennsporter — a site dedicated to exploring the neighborhood  from Washington to Snyder, the Delaware to Fourth.

7 thoughts on “Rumor Mill: Is ‘farm-to-table restaurant’ too good to be true for 4th and Cross?

  • August 7, 2014 at 10:09 am
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    Yes it’s in the works. It will now be called 4th and Cross (this is the new Facebook page name). Andrew is also the proprietor.

  • August 7, 2014 at 10:45 am
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    This is true. I walked by there the other day and read the signs. I was also told by a real estate agent about the future farm to table restaurant. The facebook page has a picture of the interior demo

    https://www.facebook.com/fourthandcross

  • August 7, 2014 at 1:02 pm
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    Would be great for the area, but good luck appeasing the parking crowd.

  • August 7, 2014 at 1:15 pm
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    Lots of new development on this street. There are the three new houses on the corner across from Grindcore House (can’t say I love the style of these three / similar new homes in the area). There’s also at least 3 other new ones on the block.

    There is still a vacant lot across the street from the new restaurant, one in from the corner house (which is also brand new). Anyone know if there are any plans for this vacant lot? Right now it is an overgrown eyesore.

  • August 7, 2014 at 6:12 pm
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    I wonder if there has been any progress with the Mt. Sinai proposal. I would think if that comes to fruition you’ll see a lot more development along 4th & 5th st.

    The vacant lot mentioned earlier is an eyesore, can’t be long before someone builds there.

  • August 7, 2014 at 10:53 pm
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    CJ, the mt. Sinai project is no more. The developer backed out.

  • August 9, 2014 at 10:41 am
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    This is perfectly in the tradition of New Wave/Dimitri’s on Catherine or Honey’s on 3rd. Those establishments started in what was then a transitioning neighborhood but are now an integral part of the local experience. It may seem an odd location, but the area has seen a lot of work (those three-story monsters are going for $300k+) and new establishments can grow along with the neighborhood while taking advantage of still-low rents. It makes sense.

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