For many Passyunk Square residents, most of the bars on Passyunk Ave. don’t always feel like home. Especially on weekends, when hipsters from across the city descend onto otherwise wonderful places like P.O.P.E. and Cantina, locals don’t necessarily have the pick of the litter for a comfortable nighttime pint. Enter 1601, a neighborhood bar that lit up the corner of 10th and Tasker Sts. for the past several years, a secret hiding spot for folks in the neighborhood. Unfortunately, the bar went dark this past spring.

A look at 1601

Side view, with liquor license app

According to rumors on a thread on Philadelphia Speaks, the bar is being taken over by the folks who own Kite & Key. Presuming the rumors are true, if the new spot is anything like their other bar, neighbors will be in for a treat. Known for an outstanding beer selection and tasty food, Kite & Key has been satisfying customers in their neighborhood for about three years now, so the owners will bring an experienced hand to this new venture.

With Watkins Drinkery just a couple of blocks to the south and this new establishment on the way, people in the neighborhood are could soon have a choice of a couple of worthwhile neighborhood bars. Not that they’ll be saying Passyunk shmassyunk anytime soon though- Marra’s is just too darn good to ignore. So is Stogie Joe’s. And Lucky 13…