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Somedays Bakery secures Philadelphia licence for Rittenhouse location

Somedays Bakery secures Philadelphia licence for Rittenhouse location

Rule Changes Philadelphia, PA local

Queens-born croissant shop moves into former Republic Bank space at 1601 Walnut St.

2 days ago: Philadelphia issues food business licence

Overview

Updated 48 minutes ago

Somedays Bakery, the Queens-born croissant shop, received a Philadelphia business licence on September 29 to prepare and serve food at 1601-05 Walnut St. in Rittenhouse.

It's the brand's first location outside New York and New Jersey, planned for the former Republic Bank space. Franchise owner Dino Porfyris will operate the store, which the bakery expects to open this fall.

Why it matters

Whether Somedays' from-scratch croissants can win in a new city tests its franchise model beyond the New York metro.

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Key Indicators

5
Existing Somedays Bakery locations
Three in Queens, one in Manhattan, one in Montclair, N.J.
First
Location outside New York and New Jersey
The Rittenhouse store is the brand's Pennsylvania debut.
2026-09-29
Date licence issued
City of Philadelphia business licence for food preparing and serving.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

February 2026 September 2026

2 events Latest: 2 days ago
  1. Philadelphia issues food business licence

    Latest Licensing

    City records show a food preparing and serving licence first issued to Somedays Bakery for 1601-05 Walnut St.

  2. Somedays announces Philadelphia location

    Announcement

    The bakery says it will open at 1601 Walnut St., the former Republic Bank space in Rittenhouse.

Scenarios

1

Somedays Bakery opens its Rittenhouse store this fall

Likely Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: What Now Philadelphia and Rittenhouse Ramblings, which have tracked the opening

The bakery holds its licence and has been finishing construction. If the build-out and final inspections clear, the store begins serving customers in October as Phillips has planned.

2

Philadelphia opening slips into 2027

Possible Resolves by Q1 2027

Discussed by: Construction-tracking outlets such as Rittenhouse Ramblings

Licence in hand but opening pushes past fall if final inspections, staffing, or permit follow-ups lag. The store would open in winter or spring instead.

3

Philadelphia location proves out, second store planned

Uncertain Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Phillips' stated ambitions for the store and the brand's franchise model

If the Rittenhouse store draws strong demand, the company could add more Pennsylvania locations, consistent with its franchise-based expansion outside New York.

Historical Context

2 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

2024

Republic Bank at 1601 Walnut St. (2024)

The bank branch at 1601 Walnut St. closed in 2024 after a water pipe burst and regulatory action, ending years of operation on the busy Rittenhouse retail corridor.

Then

The corner space sat vacant as crews prepared it for a new tenant.

Now

The vacancy opened the door for a food-and-beverage tenant in a prime shopping block.

Why this matters now

Explains why the prominent corner was available for Somedays Bakery's entry.

As of 2026

Levain Bakery on Rittenhouse's Walnut Street

Levain, another New York-born bakery known for its cookies, operates a shop on Walnut Street in the same Rittenhouse retail corridor.

Then

Walnut Street already draws national bakery brands.

Now

The strip has become a landing spot for NYC dessert concepts expanding to Philadelphia.

Why this matters now

Shows the competitive context Somedays is entering; the corridor already supports a similar NY-born bakery.

Sources

(5)

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