Just a couple of weeks ago, Cafe L’Aube opened a new location on the 2000 block of Washington Avenue, in the lobby of the excellent new NextFab Studio. You may recall, this creperie/cafe/coffee roaster has a home base at 17th & Wallace, and had a storefront for a couple of years on South Street West. But it seems that two locations simply isn’t enough for owner Jean-Luc Fanny.

According to Michael Klein, Cafe L’Aube will be opening a third location in the spring, in the 222 Rittenhouse building on the 1900 block of Locust Street. Rather than occupying the former Tuscany Cafe space, which Optique took over a few months ago, L’Aube will be opening in a smaller commercial space, in the middle of the building.

Former Tuscany, current Optique

Future Cafe L'Aube is on the right side of the building

It’s wonderful to see that this long vacant commercial space will finally be filled. Does anyone else remember when it was a tiny prepared food and grocery store?

We will say though, we’re a little concerned about the size of the “coffee pie” surrounding Rittenhouse Square. La Colombe has been stationed on the northern side of the square for over a decade, and Joe: The Art of Coffee will soon be opening just a hundred paces away. Meanwhile, on the south side of the square, Metropolitan just opened a new cafe next door to their popular corner bakery. And don’t forget the Cosi on Walnut Street, where plenty of people get their morning jolt as well. Can five coffee shops thrive right around Rittenhouse Square? Can five coffee shops survive?