New York’s Blank Street, a coffee and matcha chain, to open on UPenn’s campus
The Philly location will be one of the largest U.S. cafes on Blank Street’s impressive roster, which includes more than 40 locations in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
New York’s ubiquitous seafoam-green painted coffee and matcha cafe chain is headed to Philadelphia.
Blank Street will open its first Philly location at 3603 Walnut Street, joining UPenn’s retail district. It’s expected to open in late summer.
The six-year-old chain is known for its micro-cafe look and automated espresso systems for customers to grab matchas and lattes. And soon, Penn students, faculty and surrounding neighbors will experience the quick service inside the 3,500 square foot cafe.
The Philly location will be one of the largest U.S. cafes on Blank Street’s expansive roster, which includes more than 40 locations in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
“We’re excited to be getting closer than ever to the UPenn community,” said Vinay Menda, Blank Street co-founder and U.S. managing director in a statement. Giving the company, “the opportunity to invest deeply in design and bring an elevated, hospitality-forward experience to the neighborhood.”
Founded in 2020 by Menda and Issam Freiha, Blank Street quickly expanded with New York’s pandemic-induced surge of lowered rent storefronts and private equity financing. But soon, the rapid growth raised scrutiny from skeptics, who saw “Blank Street as an avatar of gentrification and automation” resenting “the use of Wall Street money to compete with local businesses,” reported the New York Times. The cafe chain also has its fans, who lean younger and see the trendy matcha drinks as fashionable — even leading the brand to London Fashion Week this year.
Blank Street cafe is one of several additions to the SHOP PENN retail district. James Beard Award winner Chef Tom Colicchio’s Root and Sprig will open in the spring. And Korea Taqueria opened a location at Franklin’s Table Food Hall in January.