On April 1, The Philadelphia Business Journal reported that the PNC Bank at 101 S. Easton Road in Glenside would be permanently closed by the end of June as part of an ongoing series of PNC shut-downs impacting over 100 branches.
The 102-year-old 6,000 Sf building, which sits catty-corner from Glenside’s SEPTA train station, has been listed for sale on Crexi.com since July 27.
Though the building is mostly empty, businesses have been operating in the upper floors, and a tattoo parlor is awaiting approval to open up shop within that space.
“That entire building is otherwise available, and it has an opportunity to be a huge anchor,” Matt Areman, Cheltenham Township Ward 1 Commissioner, said. “I’d love to see a big-time restaurant or pub to move in there and take advantage of that unique space. It’s in a prominent location, and has the added benefit of a ton of parking. The adjacent parking lot belongs to the building. The building is a gem, and the parking is the cherry on top.”
Township officials are currently putting out feelers, though they haven’t found the right fit just yet.
“We’ve had some interest here and there, but nothing has come to fruition yet or felt like a really good fit,” Areman said. “We’ve poked around for something like a boutique hotel. We’re not letting our foot off the gas. There are places all over the country where restaurants have taken over bank buildings, including Philly. That concept would be really cool.”
Henry Sekawungu, the Township’s Director of Planning and Zoning, agrees.
“We want to fill it with possibly a brewery or restaurant. It’s the perfect space for something like that. We’re going to try to boost our recruiting efforts. With those efforts, you have to have an incentive,” he said.
Sekawungu also noted that businesses applying to the PNC building or elsewhere should check in with the Township before moving forward with plans.
“We want businesses to reach out to the Township to make sure that what they’re proposing will be okay,” he said. “There are sometimes zoning issues and building or sewer issues that need to be resolved. Just because you have a license from the state or the health department doesn’t mean that you can open shop. Each business has to follow up with the requirements as part of our process. The owners are sometimes three months into their lease, but are unable to open because they haven’t met our requirements.”
Photo: Crexi.com
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