Partners Opened Second Cocktail Bar in Rittenhouse Square

Owners of the award-winning Almanac bar are expanding into the former Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. space.

Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Cocktails

Partners Opened Second Cocktail Bar in Rittenhouse Square

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Partners Vy To, Victor Ng, and Rob Scott have announced plans to open a new two-level cocktail bar at 112 S. 18th St. in Philadelphia. The project aims to increase capacity in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood after their success with the 23-seat Almanac bar.

Why it matters

The partners intend to scale their operations to provide more guest accessibility and build a more durable business model that supports long-term career growth for staff. By utilizing a larger space, the team hopes to accommodate higher volumes of visitors without the need for reservations.

The new site occupies the space at 112 S. 18th St. that has been vacant since 2021. The partners are collaborating with the Drexel Food Lab to develop a small-bites menu and Behind Bars Agency of Oslo to design the infrastructure.

The players

Vy To

Vy To is a business partner who co-founded the 23-seat cocktail bar Almanac in 2024.

Victor Ng

Victor Ng is a partner who manages operations for the Philadelphia-based beverage ventures.

Rob Scott

Rob Scott is a partner who is working alongside To and Ng to expand their cocktail business.

Drexel Food Lab

The Drexel Food Lab is an academic research group focused on food product development and menu design.

Behind Bars Agency

Behind Bars Agency is an Oslo-based firm specializing in the architectural and system design of hospitality spaces.

The details

The upcoming bar will be split across two levels, each featuring distinct themes and branding. To ensure efficiency and speed, the team plans to prepare drink components before service begins to streamline pouring and garnishing for guests.

The former Franklin Mortgage & Investment Co. space became vacant in 2021.
The partners opened Almanac and began working together in 2024.
Almanac was named a James Beard Award semifinalist in 2026.

Culture Shift

This project reflects the current shift in the local hospitality sector where operators are moving away from intimate, appointment-only models toward higher-capacity venues. It signals a departure from the exclusivity of small-format bars toward models designed for long-term staff retention.

Residents in the Rittenhouse Square area can expect more seating availability compared to the limited 23-seat capacity of the partners' previous venture. The move aims to reduce wait times and allow for walk-in visits without requiring advanced reservations.

The takeaway

The expansion demonstrates that successful small-concept beverage owners are increasingly prioritizing operational scale to stabilize their business models. Visitors should look for higher-volume service environments that prioritize speed without sacrificing the quality found in smaller craft venues.