Philly’s P.J. Clarke’s Is Set to Open This Summer

Construction on "The Cathedral of Saloons" at 6th and Walnut Streets is well underway.


The Curtis/Google Maps

After a few years’ delay, the Philadelphia outpost of P.J. Clarke’s is scheduled to open at 6th and Walnut Streets sometime in summer 2018.

The original location of the iconic New York bar and restaurant on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan — known as “The Vatican of Saloons” — has been in business since 1884. There are two other P.J. Clarke’s locations in New York, plus one in Washington, D.C.

The Philly outpost was originally set to take up residence in the newly renovated Curtis Building back in 2016. Owner Phillip Scotti, a Philly-area native, is going all out on the Philly location, which will be located next to The Dream Garden Tiffany glass mosaic in the building’s eastern lobby.

Construction on “The Cathedral of Saloons,” as Scotti is calling it, is currently in progress. The restaurant and bar is set to occupy 11,000 square feet on the ground floor of the Curtis, with sidewalk dining on Walnut Street.

Scotti and his business partner, Barbuto chef Jonathan Waxman, have hired an all-Philly management team to run the restaurant. Former Brigantessa chef de cuisine Ned Maddock is attached as executive chef.