Update on the Shops at Schmidts in Northern Liberties

2nd and Girard will look a little different later this year.

Oh, Pathmark, we can't wait for you. Phase 1 of the Schmidts site redevelopment has been posted and we are excited to finally hear that ground is breaking on the shopping center project tomorrow. At 3:30 P.M., developer Bart Blatstein will make it official.

The plans for the Pathmark Supermarket are sure to make residents of Northern Liberties, Old Kensington, Old City, and Fishtown quite happy: local, sustainable items, two stories, prepared foods to go, and a bank and a hardware store in the shopping center. Blatstein also wants to introduce The Residences at Schmidts, which will include 600 new residential units and a one-acre park. Look to late 2010 for completion.

While we love frequenting the neighborhood delis and markets like Pink Dolphin, the Palm Tree Market, Quince Fine Foods, and Almanac Market, we think that Pathmark will bring even more people into the Northern Liberties area. Sometimes you just can't find everything you need in one spot. We know we'll still head to the Palm for their delicious wraps and sandwiches and nobody can top Almanac when it comes to daily soup. Although Thriftway in Fishtown does well serving that neighborhood, it is simply too far and inconvenient for a lot of Northern Liberties residents. Both Whole Foods locations are even more awkward to get to. It sounds like the Northern Liberties Pathmark will be a great addition to a neighborhood in need.