A few months ago, Fairmount Avenue stalwart Mugshots moved out of its ultra-prime location at 21st & Fairmount, directly across the street from Eastern State Penitentiary. Their new home is just a couple of blocks to the east, at 1925 Fairmount Ave., in the still relatively new mixed-use building built by Loonstyn Properties. We can certainly understand the allure of the new construction space and we’re hearing that the relocated Mugshots is doing pretty well.

For the past few months, the space at 21st and Fairmount has sat vacant. Considering that over 250K people toured Eastern State Penitentiary in 2011, it’s kind of a surprise, no? In fact, ever since Mugshots left the space, speculation has run rampant as to who would take over the space.

The building

Taking over this space, with plans to open in time for Terror Behing the Walls, is… OCF Coffee House.

Yes, friends, the very people who sponsor this website are opening a new coffee shop in the 4,200 sqft space where Mugshots used to pull their espresso shots. And demo has already gotten started!

Take a look at these photos, showing the space before demo began:

Where people used to order drinks, etc.

Looking to the west, inside the space

Looking back in the other direction. This place is massive.

Now, for some photos in mid-demolition:

Bar is all gone

Space looks much more open now

OCF Coffee House currently has one location, at 18th & South, but growth is a’ comin’. In less than a month, a second location that we’ve mentioned a bunch of times before, at 20th & Federal, is set to open its doors. The new Point Breeze cafe, a scoatch smaller than the South Street location, will operate in almost exactly the same fashion as its predecessor. The Fairmount Avenue location will be about five times the size and will have beefed up operations, with a legit kitchen in the basement and a hundred seats. Design will be handled by Studio:Christiansen, like the other two stores, though several finishes and details will be different, as you might expect.

18th and South location, today

Another view

We’ll (obviously) have some updates on this in the weeks to come, along with photos, floor plans, etc etc etc.

Full disclosure: OCF Realty is the parent company of OCF Coffee House and Naked Philly.