Chefs Lease Historic Barclay Pharmacy for New Restaurant
Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp plan to open a new dining venue at the former Rittenhouse Square pharmacy site.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Dining Out
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Chefs Amanda Shulman and Alex Kemp have signed a lease for the former Barclay Pharmacy at 1736 Spruce Street in Philadelphia. The couple filed for a liquor license on October 22, 2026, to begin developing their new restaurant in the space.
Why it matters
The project allows the restaurateurs to maintain their commitment to keeping their business operations within a 15-minute walk of their home. It also breathes new life into a prominent mid-19th-century Italianate townhouse following the closure of the longtime local pharmacy in 2023.
The new restaurant site is located at 1736 Spruce St., a mid-19th-century Italianate townhouse that housed the Barclay Pharmacy until 2023. The chefs are operating this venture through their company, Libbie Loup Hospitality.
The players
Amanda Shulman
She is a chef and business owner who operates multiple restaurants in Philadelphia alongside Alex Kemp.
Alex Kemp
He is a chef and business owner who partners with Amanda Shulman to manage their restaurant group.
Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board
This state agency oversees the issuance and regulation of liquor licenses for establishments across Pennsylvania.
The details
The couple intends to transform the historic property into their latest culinary destination, utilizing a liquor license formerly held by Le Pain Quotidien. This location is part of their broader expansion efforts managed under the Libbie Loup Hospitality group.
Timeline
1924 marks the year Arthur Sussel purchased the property.
1939 represents the year Barclay Pharmacy originally opened.
2023 is the year the pharmacy permanently closed.
October 22, 2026, is when the liquor license application was filed.
Culture Shift
The expansion follows the successful precedent established by the 2021 opening of Her Place in the city. It signals a trend of independent chefs revitalizing historic Philadelphia properties to anchor their growing local hospitality portfolios.
Residents in the Rittenhouse Square area can anticipate the transformation of a vacant historic landmark into an active dining space. The project continues the trend of concentrated, walkable hospitality options favored by the neighborhood's local business owners.
The takeaway
This new venture highlights how restaurateurs are increasingly focusing on hyper-local growth to simplify their daily operations. By repurposing vacant commercial spaces, they contribute to the ongoing preservation and revitalization of historic city architecture.
Further reading
For more on the local food scene, explore the Philadelphia Dining Out section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Do you generally welcome the opening of new restaurants in historic neighborhood storefronts?
