It was maybe a few weeks ago that Mrs. Fox’s car started making some funny noises, so we took the car over to our favorite auto garage in town, Sodi Brothers, just south of 22nd & Washington. It was the middle of the day and we were banging on the garage door for a few minutes before a neighbor passed by and broke the news that Sodi’s was gone, and might open again in West Philly. We were bummed, as these guys had helped us out numerous times over the years; here’s to hoping they land on their feet at another location.

Sodi’s is no longer operating out of this location because their lease wasn’t renewed. This happened because their landlord had an opportunity to combine the garage with the industrial building at the corner and rent it out to a single tenant- Dock Street Brewery. And not to pat ourselves on the back, but we told you to expect this situation way back in 2014. At that time, MSC Retail had produced a leasing guide for the property, touting it as a perfect location for a beer garden. Beer garden, brewery, close enough. Already, the facade has undergone major improvement, and interior work is ongoing.

According to Philly.com, the 10K+ sqft location will allow Dock Street to ramp up their brewing operation, and they’ll focus on small batch beers at their West Philadelphia location. They’ll be moving their canning operation to Washington Avenue, freeing up additional space on Baltimore Avenue and ostensibly allowing them to increase canning production as well. Perhaps most excitingly for the neighborhood, the project will also entail a “mess hall,” which we expect will include food and drink options for customers walking in off the street. Will the famous Dock Street pizzas cross the river? We couldn’t tell ya.

This project will be a huge step in the right direction for a changing section of Washington Avenue. In recent years, Washington Avenue has turned over dramatically, with restaurants like Cafe Ynez and Chick’s, a real estate office (we know them well), an axe-tossing place, and other new businesses joining the fray. And of course, there’s more to come. Lincoln Square is approaching the finish line at Broad & Washington and will include a Target, a Sprouts supermarket, a Starbucks, and other retail tenants. Looking a couple years into the future, a ton of retail space is planned between two anticipated apartment buildings at 2101 Washington Ave. and 2201 Washington Ave., sites that have been used for industrial purposes forever. Dock Street will be an excellent addition to the growing business community on the corridor, and will help set the stage for other businesses coming both sooner and later.