If you’re anything like us, you enjoy Philadelphia sports teams, real estate development, and an occasional cold beer. Today we have a story that speaks to two of those passions, as we turn our gaze to the northwest corner of 17th & Fairmount. You might have some familiarity with this location, as it’s been home to the Stone’s beer distributor for as long as we can remember. While we’ve always been fans of Stone’s, we’ve never been fond of their building. Let’s agree, a one-story commercial building on a nearly 10K sqft parcel on Fairmount Avenue is neither the highest nor the best use of valuable real estate.

Back in 2017, we told you, excitedly, about a proposed project to demolish the Stone’s building and replace it with a four-story, 22-unit building with ground-floor retail. Years passed, and nothing happened. Then, in 2022, we came back and told you that MM Partners would be taking a crack at this property, slightly modifying the plans to expand the unit count to 24. We also confirmed that Stone’s would be relocating during construction and returning afterward.

Indeed, all of that has come to pass. The new building, designed by Marshall Sabatini Architecture, has arrived on the scene. The building looks terrific, with an industrial vibe and an unexpected angle on the 17th Street facade adding visual interest. And Stone’s has made its return to Fairmount Avenue, in a dramatically upgraded retail space.

Not only are we loving the new building, but we are also greatly appreciating the context of the building with its newish near neighbors. You may recall, MM Partners also redeveloped the former AF Bornot Dye Works, just across the street, into a 17-unit mixed-use building back in 2016. Further down the 1700 block of Fairmount is another mixed-use building at 1720 Fairmount, which is also home to the terrific Bar Hygge.

As it is, Fairmount Avenue is a solid, if somewhat underrated, commercial corridor in greater Center City. Additional density along this corridor really helps existing businesses stay afloat and encourages other businesses to open up in the area. Now, with 1701 Fairmount Ave. joining the mix, the corridor has gained a bit of additional vibrancy, even as it still has room for a few more mid-sized mixed-use buildings to join the fray at some point down the line.