New York Bagels’ owner vows to return | Inquirer Lower Merion
Plus, new stores are opening, including at Suburban Square.
Hi, Lower Merion! 👋
The owner of New York Bagels is determined to reopen after a second gas oven leak and subsequent explosion badly damaged the shop. For now, he and the fire department are seeking more answers about what caused the blast. Also, Suburban Square will add even more new shops, plus, Ardrossan served as a backdrop for CBS News Sunday Morning’s 2026 “By Design” episode.
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Less than two weeks after a second gas explosion, the owner of New York Bagels is left with a big question: What happened?
On May 10, an early morning blast blew out the windows in the beloved kosher shop near City Avenue, badly damaging its ceiling and cracking drywall at the neighboring business.
The Philadelphia Fire Department has determined that a gas leak in the Haverford Avenue shop’s oven caused the second explosion, but how it happened remains unclear.
As Rayyan Kayyali grapples with the aftermath, he’s determined to reopen, even if it takes months.
The Inquirer’s Michael Klein and Beatrice Forman delve into the latest.
Suburban Square may be nearly a century old, but the popular Ardmore shopping center continues to evolve. In addition to apartments, it’s also added several new shops this year, with more on the way.
Already opened? Stores New Balance, Patagonia, Rhone, Skin Laundry, Sugared + Bronzed, plus the highly anticipated PopUp Bagels.
Next up, the shopping center will add five new concepts, ranging from high-end furniture and bedding to a Swiss sportswear brand.
Here’s a look at all the changes at Suburban Square.
💡 Community News
The race to replace the retiring Mary Jo Daley was still too close to call as of yesterday evening. See the results from the state House and Senate races here and from the governor and U.S. House races here.
Reminder for residents: Trash and recycling pickup will operate on an altered schedule due to Memorial Day. See how your household might be impacted here.
CBS News Sunday Morning aired its popular “By Design” episode this past weekend, and the main location where host Jane Pauley broadcast from was a familiar one. The storied Ardrossan estate in Villanova served as a backdrop for the episode, which also showcased some of Philadelphia’s food scene, in addition to French fashion brand Louis Vuitton and home decor brand Marimekko, The Inquirer’s Elizabeth Wellington reports. See clips from the show here.
Suburban Square isn’t the only spot where new business is blossoming. Home and lifestyle boutique Barizi recently opened at 33 W. Lancaster Ave. in Ardmore.
A new independent bookstore is opening Saturday in Wynnewood. Located at 1418 Manoa Rd., Chapter Two Books will host a grand opening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
And just beyond the township border, new hotel The Brandywine debuted last week. Located at 165 King of Prussia Rd., the $60 million project features a 121-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. One of its two restaurants, Merrick’s Tavern, is now open (more on that below), while the other, Pomelo Rooftop Terrace, is expected later this year.
Preschool Ivybrook Academy is opening at 1 Cynwyd Rd. in Bala Cynwyd. It offers academic programs, as well as summer camps.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Parents on Monday continued to press the school board about the use of technology in the classroom, specifically on whether or not they can opt their children out of district-issued tablets or laptops. The group of parents have hired a public relations firm as they continue to seek change.
Reminder for families: Schools are closed Monday for Memorial Day. There are several events this afternoon and evening, including Merion Elementary School’s fair, Belmont Hills Elementary School’s book fair and ice cream social, Welsh Valley Middle School’s seventh and eighth grade choral concert, and Lower Merion High School’s Spring Fling Food Truck Fest and Battle of the Bands. Penn Wynne Elementary is hosting kindergarten orientation on Tuesday and a new first-grader orientation on Wednesday. Gladwyne Elementary and Welsh Valley Middle are hosting concerts Wednesday evening. See LMSD’s full calendar here.
🍽️ On our Plate
Merrick’s Tavern opened at new The Brandywine hotel on Saturday, offering tavern-style breakfast, lunch, and dinner offerings. Breakfast menu items include pastries, an omelet, and pancakes, while dinner offerings include roasted chicken, flat iron steak, and a burger.
Mango Mango House of Desserts, which began in New York in 2013, is opening a location at 38 Greenfield Ave. in Ardmore. It serves mango-forward desserts such as the mango puree-esqe sago and pomelo with ice cream; cakes, including crepe versions; snowclouds, a fluffy take on shaved ice; and waffles. It also offers tea, smoothies, and coffee. An opening date hasn’t been announced yet.
🎳 Things to Do
🎶 Neighbors Helping Neighbors on the Main Line Fundraiser: Lady Alma and Vertical Current will perform as part of this fundraiser for the local organization. ⏰ Sunday, May 24, 7 p.m. 💵 $23.03-$61.07 📍 Ardmore Music Hall
🇺🇸 Ardmore Memorial Day Concert, Parade, and Ceremony: The township will honor fallen service members with a concert, parade, and wreath-laying ceremony. ⏰ Monday, May 25, 9:45 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Ardmore
🇺🇸 Memorial Day Parade and Block Party: The Gladwyne Civic Association’s 36th annual event kicks off with a flag laying, followed by a parade and a block party. ⏰ Monday, May 25, 10 a.m. 💵 Free 📍 Gladwyne
🏡 On the Market
This century-old Bryn Mawr home blends past and present thanks to its stone exterior and updated interior. The first floor features formal living and dining rooms, an office, an eat-in kitchen with a walk-in pantry, and a sun room with Mercer tiles. The second-floor primary suite has a marble bathroom with dual sinks and a soaking tub, as well as an expansive dressing room. There are five additional bedrooms, as well as a flex space and a family room. The grounds also have distinctive plantings, including a Franklinia tree, which is believed to have been extinct in the wild for over two centuries.
See more photos of the home here.
Price: $2.195M | Size: 6,582 SF | Acreage: 0.46
🗞️ What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:
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