Tired Hands reenvisions Ardmore Brewing Company | Inquirer Lower Merion
Plus, where Lower Merion ranks among the region’s wealthiest spots.
Hi, Lower Merion! 👋
Tired Hands Brewing Company is making some changes to one of its Ardmore locations. Here’s what to know. Also this week, we’re following the latest on a fatal shooting yesterday morning in Bala Cynwyd, we look at how much snow blanketed the area earlier this week, plus a look at where Lower Merion ranks among the region’s wealthiest spots.
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Tired Hands Brewing Company, the owner of Ardmore Brewing Company, has transformed the 16 Ardmore Ave. spot into a private event space for the time being.
Despite rebranding the space, previously known as BrewCafe, having two Tired Hands locations just a short distance apart in Ardmore was confusing for customers, the owner says. Paired with changes to the brewing industry landscape, additions to Ardmore’s food scene, and construction in the area, owner Jean Broillet decided it was time for a change.
While he says the location will be open to the public again in the future, he hasn’t specified in what form, The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner reports.
Read more about what prompted the change to Ardmore Brewing Company.
💡 Community News
A former part-time police officer in Delaware County was fatally shot by Lower Merion police yesterday morning after exchanging gunfire with officers near Old Lancaster Road and City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd. When LMPD officers confronted Francis Connell Collier, 38, who was wanted on charges of rape and other sex crimes involving children, he shot at them, police say. Read more about what we know about the incident.
The region saw widely ranging snowfall totals from the storm earlier this week thanks to heavy banding. Penn Wynne saw 10.5 inches, according to a figure reported to the National Weather Service. See a map of how much snow fell near you.
Hair stylist Artur Kirsh is opening a salon in Narberth in April after Saks Fifth Avenue’s parent company announced it would be closing the Bala Cynwyd location, where he had long operated. Artur Kirsh Hair Studio will be located at 948 Montgomery Ave. and have what he described as a “fun and intimate” vibe. Kirsh also plans to open a second location at Boyds in Center City this fall.
Lower Merion is among the top 25 wealthiest spots in the Philadelphia area based on median household income between 2020 and 2024, according to the latest U.S. Census American Community Survey, which compiles self-reported income data. Township residents reported a median annual household income of $176,500, which puts it at No. 21 in the region. That’s more than $20,000 higher than the prior survey that looked at data from 2010 to 2014. Narberth comes in at No. 109 with a $124,000 median household income.
Two men have been arrested for allegedly breaking into the Lululemon in Suburban Square last month and making off with nearly $11,000 in goods. Quran Harmon, 23, and James Jordan, 49, both from Philadelphia, are accused of using a sledgehammer to break into the store and then fleeing with merchandise.
After an initial decision earlier this month to maintain pool fee pricing this year at the Ardmore Avenue and Belmont Hills pools for both residents and visitors, the board of commissioners last week approved a motion to increase fees 6.5% for non-residents this summer.
The former headquarters of Bryn Mawr Trust at 801 W. Lancaster Ave. is going to be converted into a financial literacy center. Real estate investor and developer Michael Karp said the project to convert the roughly 46,000-square-foot property will take 18 to 24 months and he envisions it including classroom and exhibition space where local students can learn. A WSFS bank branch in the building will remain there. (Philadelphia Business Journal)
The community is mourning the death of longtime former Wynnewood resident and local culinary pioneer Charlotte Ann Albertson, who died earlier this month at the age of 90. Albertson taught fifth and sixth grade English at the former Wynnewood Road School, before launching Albertson Cooking School, where she recruited high-profile chefs like Georges Perrier of Le Bec-Fin fame to teach. As the school grew, Albertson gave back by supporting philanthropic organizations like the Ronald McDonald House and Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Lower Merion School District is hosting the fourth and final community meeting about its 2026-2031 strategic plan on Tuesday from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lower Merion High School cafeteria.
Registration opens tomorrow for new students entering second through 12th grade in the 2026-27 school year. Find more information about registration here.
Tonight is the Lower Merion High School Black Student Union’s fourth annual “Shades of Black” showcase, featuring dancing, singing, and spoken word performances.
Spring sports start on Monday, there’s an emergency bus evacuation drill on Tuesday, and on Wednesday, Black Rock will host a special education parent information meeting. Penn Wynne Elementary School is hosting its “Taste of Penn Wynne” event next Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m., when families will showcase different cultures through displays and cuisine. See the district’s full calendar here.
🍽️ On our Plate
Joseph Amrani, an owner of Delice et Chocolat, which has locations in Ardmore and Wayne, appeared on PHL17’s Positively Philly recently, showcasing some of the French shop’s pastries and chocolates, including the “crookie,” a cross between a cookie and a croissant. He was joined by Alec Hersh, executive director of Downtown Ardmore District, which recently rebranded from The Ardmore Initiative and Destination Ardmore. See the segment here.
🎳 Things to Do
🦁 The Lion King: Catch a screening of the 1994 animated Disney classic. ⏰ Saturday, Feb. 28, 11 a.m. 💵 $6.75-$7.75 📍Bryn Mawr Film Institute
🖨️ Community Scanning Day: Have older documents or photos you want to digitize? This event will convert up to 10 files and provide attendees with a flash drive. Registration is required. ⏰ Saturday, Feb. 28, noon-3 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Ardmore Library
✡️ Purim Fest 2026: Celebrate the Jewish holiday at this family-friendly event that includes games, crafts, and other entertainment. ⏰ Sunday, March 1, 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. 💵 $40 per family in advance, $48 at the door 📍Kaiserman JCC
🎨 Holi Crafternoon: Celebrate the colorful Hindu festival by making themed crafts at this drop-in event. ⏰ Wednesday, March 4, 3-5 p.m. 💵 Free 📍Gladwyne Library
🏡 On the Market
Built in 1925 and updated in recent years, this classic stone Merion Station home has multiple amenities like a pool, a home theater, a temperature-controlled wine cellar, and an elevator that stops at each floor. The first floor features formal living and dining rooms, a sunroom, and a kitchen with an island, black soapstone countertops, and stainless steel appliances. The home has six bedrooms, including a primary suite with its own dressing room and a bathroom with a whirlpool tub. The third floor has an additional bedroom, plus living space, while the basement features the home theater, a wine cellar, and a rec room.
See more photos of the home here.
Price: $3.33M | Size: 8,169 SF | Acreage: 1.01
🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:
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