Borromini Hoping to Bring Italian Elegance to Rittenhouse Square

A Philadelphia dining icon has plans to breathe new life into an historical building. Celebrated restaurateur Stephen Starr has submitted paperwork to open a new Italian restaurant, tentatively named Borromini in Rittenhouse Square, reports The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The sprawling eatery will offer indoor and outdoor dining at 1805-09 Walnut Street. The three-story building formerly housed a Barnes & Noble, and Starr intends to dedicate the first two floors to Borromini, while the top story will be used as storage and office space.

The Philadelphia Historical Commission has raised concerns regarding some of the alterations proposed for the building, including the demolition and replacement of the current metal and plate glass storefronts with modern wood and glass. Stokes Architecture + Design, the firm responsible for the redesign, have submitted extensive justifications for the changes, which will be discussed by the Commission at their next meeting.

Should the Commission give Borromini the green-light, Starr and his team hope to open the restaurant in early 2025. The eatery will be a trattoria, similar in nature to Parc, Starr’s beloved French restaurant.

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