Center City Café Lotus’s proprietor Chris Gabello’s photography studio has been on the rise lately. He’s been a photographer on Obama’s campaign trail, snapped the Queen of England and become a regular contributor to Andy Warhol’s Interview magazine- so it’s been tougher for the man to balance his beans business and his studio.

As such, he’ll be leaving behind his 15th and Moravian Loftus location to focus on his photography work. In his place, West Philly’s Green Line Café will expand to its fifth location, according to a statement on their website. Gabello has maintained a relationship with Green Line proprietors since he operated a cafe in West Philly once upon a time, which made this transaction very comfortable for all parties, according to the website.

Turning Green (Line)

Only minimal renovations are planned. Loftus, located at 136 S. 15th St. was already serving Green Line’s signature grab-n-go sandwiches. The main product change will be a shift to brewing certified and fair trade organic coffees roasted by Equal Exchange, including an expansion of the food menu in the coming months.

The first Green Line location opened nearly 10 years ago in January, 2003 at 4239 Baltimore Ave. It was featured in a 2009 movie, which featured mainstream America’s high school sweetheart Jennifer Love Hewitt. They have since expanded to two other storefronts (4426 Locust St. and 3649 Lancaster Ave. in Powelton Village) as well as into a coffee kiosk at the Penn School of Veterinary Medicine.

Seems our parent company’s OCF Coffee House isn’t the only shop in town that’s growing. Hopefully, there are plenty of hungry and thirsty patrons for Green Line’s excursion across the Schuylkill, even with the recent opening of the new Elixr location just a block or so away.

–Lou Mancinelli