An Irish pub is coming to Downingtown | Inquirer Chester County
Plus, Tredyffrin is trying to get ‘ahead’ of data center proposals with a new ordinance.
Hi, Chester County! 👋
A new Irish pub, complete with a Temple Bar-inspired library, is opening in Downingtown soon. Here’s what to know. Also this week, the West Chester Film Festival returns, Tredyffrin Township looks to get ahead of data center development, plus, a Kennett Square pizzeria is garnering national acclaim for its unique pies.
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After a decade in the works, a homebrewer’s longtime dream of opening an authentic Irish pub will finally come to fruition next month.
When Dublin Brewing Company opens at 137 Wallace Ave. in Downingtown this May, it will serve a Guinness-adjacent Irish dry stout, an Irish red ale, IPAs, a pale ale, as well as Pennsylvania wine and spirits, and bar food.
A native of Ireland, Brendan FitzGerald’s goal is to give area residents an inviting Irish pub experience. Dublin Brewing borrows color schemes from a tavern in Howth, Ireland, and also has a library space that looks reminiscent of the famous Temple Bar in Dublin.
The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz caught up with FitzGerald to learn about his inspiration.
This weekend marks the return of the West Chester Film Festival, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The once-small event looks rather different than its early guerrilla-style days. This year it garnered 300 submissions from 46 countries, which judges whittled down to several dozen short films that will show this Friday through Sunday, mostly at Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center.
More than a festival, it’s a community celebration, The Inquirer’s Brooke Schultz reports.
Read more about some of the films being showcased.
📍 Countywide News
The county reported the lowest number of overdose deaths in nearly a decade last year, marking a 20% decrease compared to 2024. Pending toxicology reports, there were 55 confirmed overdose fatalities last year according to the county, down from 69 the year prior.
Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission and SEPTA are currently conducting research about how county residents and workers get around and are seeking individuals to participate in focus groups. This research comes as SEPTA explores altering its bus service in the suburbs, including parts of Chester County.
There are two public hearings today about the planned merger between Aqua Pennsylvania and American Water, which serve customers throughout southeastern Pennsylvania. The hearings will take place at 1 and 6 p.m. at the Penn State Great Valley Conference Center in Malvern.
💡 Community News
East Vincent Township’s Monday night board of supervisors meeting ended up being a tense one as dozens of attendees packed in for the first conditional use hearing over a proposed 1.9 million-square-foot data center at the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital site. The process is expected to be lengthy as residents continue to push back against the development proposal. Here’s what residents and the board had to say.
The developers behind a proposed 1.6-million-square-foot data center on a Superfund site in East Whiteland said they would agree to downsize the project if the township approves its amended plans soon, otherwise they will move forward with a previously approved larger version. New plans call for building 887,000 square feet across two buildings. The board of supervisors has yet to vote on the proposal and pushed a meeting planned for this week. A new date hasn’t been set.
As data center proposals proliferate, Tredyffrin Township will begin drafting an ordinance to give its leaders more control over potential future development. There aren’t any data center proposals there currently.
Ahmad Al-Azzam, 21, of Downingtown has been sentenced to 8½ to 17 years in state prison for a 2024 assault in which he pleaded guilty to kidnapping, robbery, burglary, and simple assault. Al-Azzam styled himself as a crusader protecting children, hunting down and attacking pedophiles, The Inquirer’s Vinny Vella reports. Among his victims was a 73-year-old West Chester man who Al-Azzam incorrectly identified as a pedophile, Chester County prosecutors said.
A 53-year-old Coatesville man, Neftali Feliciano-Perez, has been charged with third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter after allegedly pushing Moises Galarza-Bermudez through the railing of a second-story apartment balcony, resulting in Galarza-Bermudez’s death.
West Chester-based QVC Group filed for bankruptcy last week, but the popular home shopping conglomerate says business will continue as usual. QVC’s goal is to reorganize and slash a large portion of its $6.6 billion debt.
Kimberton Whole Foods is gearing up to open its latest store, this one at the Eagleview Town Center in Exton. The new 14,000-square-foot outpost, the largest Kimberton location so far, will open Monday at 8 a.m.
Heads up for drivers: A monthslong closure on Bridge Street at the intersection of Nutt Road in Phoenixville is scheduled to begin Monday as PennDot continues roadway improvements. The road is slated to close weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. until Nov. 20. East Marlborough Township is expected to begin paving Cedarcroft Road between Route 82 and the township border tomorrow. Work is expected to take several days. The Yellow Springs Road closure in West Pikeland Township has been extended until next Wednesday. Crews are currently replacing pipes there.
Speaking of roadwork, PennDot is hosting a virtual public meeting tomorrow from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. about the proposed Route 41 bridge replacement in Avondale. The current bridge has been deteriorating, forcing weight restrictions that impact trucks.
Willistown Township is conducting a circulation study to assess how pedestrians, equestrians, and cyclists are getting around. Residents can provide input through a survey, as well as at one of two upcoming workshops. The first is tomorrow at 7 p.m. at the Rushton Conservation Center and the second will be held at General Wayne Elementary School Tuesday at 7 p.m.
A Downingtown couple tied the knot at a nearby hospital two weekends ago after a scary turn of events prior to walking down the aisle. The bride, Melissa Kellogg, suffered a seizure and was rushed to the emergency room at Lankenau Medical Center. There, nurses helped her and Derek Graham tie the knot, decorating her trauma bay for the occasion. The Inquirer’s Aubrey Whelan spoke with the couple about how a scary event turned into the “happiest moment.”
A fundraiser in memory of Garrett Nicholas, the West Chester University student who died last week after being hit by a driver, has raised $90,000 for his family in the wake of the tragedy. The event at Stove & Tap was organized by his fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha. (NBC10 Philadelphia)
Doing some spring cleaning? West Goshen Township is partnering with Goodwill for a collection drive this weekend. You can also recycle select batteries. Learn more here.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Friday is the deadline to submit an application for the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District’s redistricting steering committee ahead of Bear Hill Elementary opening for the 2027-28 school year. Learn more here.
🍽️ On our Plate
A Kennett Square pizza joint is dishing up some interesting pies and gaining national acclaim in the process. Among the menu items at Mezzaluna KSQ? Crispy New York pizzas, crunchy-crusted Detroits, tavern-style pies, and a rotating selection of competition pies and monthly specials — like a shepherd’s pie pizza topped with potatoes whipped with Dubliner cheese. The Inquirer’s Michael Klein caught up with the business founders to chat about their inspiration.
Turks Head Wines is rolling out limited edition red and white vintages tomorrow in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary. The California winery, which has a tasting room in West Chester, is making 250 cases each of The Semi Q wines, which include a red blend that retails for $55 and a white blend for $45.
🎳 Things to Do
🖼️ Yellow Springs Art Show: Browse works from over 200 regional and national artists. ⏰ Saturday, April 25 to Sunday, May 10, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. daily 💵 Free 📍 Historic Yellow Springs’ Lincoln building, Chester Springs
🎰 Monte Carlo Night: The Gathering Place at Kennett will be transformed into a casino for this fundraiser. ⏰ Saturday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. 💵 $75 📍 The Gathering Place at Kennett, Kennett Square
🏡 On the Market
Situated on a large, wooded lot, this South Coventry Township home has lots of privacy and access to the outdoors. The four-bedroom Colonial’s first floor has a formal dining room, a family room with a stone fireplace, and an eat-in kitchen that opens onto an additional sitting area. There are two additional rooms that could serve as offices or flex space. The home also has a first-floor primary suite, complete with a sitting room anchored by a fireplace and two walk-in closets. There are three additional bedrooms upstairs. Other features include an attached two-car garage, a detached three-car garage, and a whole-house backup generator.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $1,299,999 | Size: 3,478 SF | Acreage: 8.11
📈 Chester County market report
Median listing price: $599,000 (up $40,000 from February) 📈
Median sold price: $506,000 (down $4,000 from February) 📉
Median days on the market: 25 (down five days from February) 📉
This Chester County market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for March from realtor.com.
🗞️ What other Chester County residents are reading this week:
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