🍔 Where’s the beef? Inside Ardmore’s burger boom | Inquirer Lower Merion
Plus, Montco restricts ICE cooperation.
Hi, Lower Merion! 👋
Ardmore’s burger scene is booming. We counted at least 16 establishments selling everything from diner- and pub-style offerings to a steakhouse classic. Also, Montgomery County’s board of commissioners has passed a resolution restricting federal immigration enforcement’s use of county property, a celebrated Bala Cynwyd rabbi has died, plus Nike is gearing up to release new Kobe Bryant sneakers.
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You might call Ardmore the burger capital of the Main Line, as two new beef specialists are joining an already sizzling scene.
At Bikini Burger on Rittenhouse Place, owner Mia Robertson aims to keep it simple by offering “a really good burger.” That includes Lancaster County beef burgers, black bean burgers, and surf-and-turf burgers — but never smashburgers, because she’s not a fan.
And Gouldsburger’s on Station Avenue is the latest franchise location of a South Jersey-based hot-sandwich chain, opened by husband-and-wife duo Samantha Sandoz and Mike O’Leary. They say the Gold Standard burger and build-your-own burger are especially popular, and The Inquirer’s restaurant reporter, Michael Klein, recommends the truffle fries.
Read why Klein says Ardmore is so well-suited to host these burger joints and many more.
💡 Community News
Montgomery County’s board of commissioners last week passed a resolution that keeps federal immigration enforcement from using county property or resources for noncriminal investigations. The measure also codifies that the county will not enter into a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But Montco isn’t the only Democrat-led jurisdiction pushing back against ICE’s deportation surge. The Inquirer’s Jeff Gammage explains what’s happening around the region.
Rabbi Andrea L. Weiss, 60, a celebrated Bible scholar at Hebrew Union College who in 2019 became the first woman to ordain rabbis in the Reform movement, died of cancer at her home in Bala Cynwyd on March 3.
Nike will release its latest Kobe Bryant tribute shoe, the Kobe 5 Protro “Lower Merion Aces,” on March 23. The sneaker will feature Lower Merion High School’s maroon and white jersey colors, as well as the basketball legend’s Aces jersey number, 33.
Bryn Mawr College has received a $10 million gift from school alum and trustee emeritus Jacqueline Badger. The gift, which is being named after former college President Kim Cassidy, will support undergraduate student scholarships.
Chris Holloway, the owner of Cork & Candles in Ardmore, is searching for a kidney donor. Holloway was diagnosed in 2005 with a rare kidney disease, and received a new kidney in 2016, but is now in need of another. He spends about 12 hours on dialysis each day, but still finds time to run the shop. He recently shared his story with CBS News Philadelphia.
The Harriton-Lower Merion squash program competed last month against more than a dozen public schools in the U.S. High School Squash Championships in Philadelphia. With over 50 participants, the program has been around for 30 years and was created at the urging of a local family. (Main Line Today)
Naya Campbell, the CEO of Montco-based home care agency ComfortZone Home Health Care LLC, was sentenced to prison and ordered to pay $1.7 million in restitution for her role in a Medicaid fraud scheme, the Pa. Attorney General’s Office said in a news release.
Underage drinking offenses remained relatively flat in Montgomery County in 2024, according to recently released Pa. court data. The county had 247 offenses of individuals under 21 purchasing, consuming, possessing, or transporting alcohol in 2024, up slightly from the previous two years. The most recent offenses accounted for about 4% of the statewide total. It’s among the top 10 counties in the state with the highest percentage of offenses.
Gas prices across the country have been climbing amid the war in Iran. As of Wednesday, the average cost of a gallon in Pennsylvania was $3.66, compared to a national average of $3.58. Montgomery County averaged $3.59.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Reminder for families: There’s no school today or tomorrow for elementary students and no classes tomorrow for middle schoolers. Tonight kicks off Black Rock Middle School’s run of Seussical the Musical. There’s a school board meeting on Monday, and on Wednesday, there’s a college financial planning session for families of kindergartners through eighth graders. See the district’s full calendar here.
Lower Merion School District recently made a policy change to how elementary school students can use their email accounts. With the change, third and fourth grade students can now only email their teachers. They could previously email other students.
Come April, Pennsylvania schools must include cursive handwriting in their curricula, thanks to state legislation passed last month. LMSD is one of a few districts in the Philly area that already teaches the subject. (Axios)
🍽️ On our Plate
Sandwich chain Jersey Mike’s opened yesterday at 20 Greenfield Ave. in Ardmore.
Looking for a spot to get soda bread ahead of St. Patrick’s Day? Main Line Today recently rounded up area bakeries serving the Irish specialty, including The Bakery House in Bryn Mawr.
🎳 Things to Do
🎶 Steal Your Peach: The Allman Brothers and Grateful Dead mashup band takes the stage. ⏰ Friday, March 13, 8 p.m. 💵 $26.91-$61.07 📍Ardmore Music Hall
🍀 The Great Leprechaun Hunt: Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, kids can embark on a themed scavenger hunt to find hidden leprechauns at local shops and restaurants. ⏰ Saturday, March 14, 1-4 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Downtown Narberth
🖼️ Arts & Crafts Show: The Gladwyne Library will showcase a range of works, which can then be purchased after the show ends. ⏰ Monday, March 16-Saturday, March 21, times vary 💵 Free 📍Gladwyne Library
🇬🇷 Cook and Eat Like Greeks: In this cooking demonstration, get a taste of Mediterranean dishes like tomato salad, grilled asparagus, lamb, and halva. ⏰ Wednesday, March 18, 7-9 p.m. 💵 $95 📍Body X
🏡 On the Market
Built in 1910, this updated stone Bala Cynwyd home is on the market for the first time in nearly 50 years. The first floor features a family room with a whitewashed gas fireplace that flows into the dining room, plus another seating area with shelving and exposed stone walls. The kitchen has stainless steel appliances and opens onto a family area. There are four bedrooms on the second floor, including the primary suite, and a fifth bedroom on the third floor. Other features include a patio and a two-car garage.
See more photos of the home here.
Price: $1.425M | Size: 3,088 SF | Acreage: 0.33
📈 Lower Merion market report
Median listing price: $499,900 (down $25,100 from December) 📉
Median sold price: $1.3M (up $601,000 from December) 📈
Median days on the market: 68 (up eight days from December) 📈
This Lower Merion market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for January from realtor.com.
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