-Courtesy of Aversa PR & Events
FCM Hospitality and owner Avram Hornick are proud to announce that Walnut Garden at 1708 Walnut Street is now open in Center City. Just in time for summer, the new urban oasis will bring new life into the property that formerly housed McDonald’s and Vans but was destroyed in the fire of 2020 during civil unrest. The 11,500 square feet space will feature seating and community space for up to 500 guests, plus lush landscaping, beautiful flowers, a children’s playground, bench-style seating, two bars, and a soft serve ice cream station. From the kitchen, look for a menu of Asian-inspired street food.
From the bar, look for summertime sips with cocktails, beers, seltzer and wines. For programming, look for daily events, movie nights, sports viewing, entertainment and family-friendly experiences. Walnut Garden will be open on Wednesday’s for Center City SIPS. Walnut Garden will be open Monday to Sunday, seven days a week, Noon to Midnight. Walnut Garden joins the ranks of FCM Hospitality’s other outdoor restaurant and hospitality concepts, such as Lola’s Garden, Harper’s Garden, Morgan’s Pier, Parks on Tap, Liberty Point, Rosy’s Taco Bar, Craft Hall, The Garden at Cherry Street, Concourse Dance Bar, Noche, The Dolphin and others.
“We’re excited to bring Walnut Garden to life,” said FCM Hospitality Owner Avram Hornik. “This pop-up experience is not just another beer garden. It’s a trendy and community friendly space that will embrace summer in Rittenhouse. It’s been fun to talk to neighbors who are equally as eager to see this space turned into something that will benefit this entire community at-large.”
“We are so excited Avram is bringing this vision to life in our space,” said Brookliv Real Estate Owner and Founder Ari Weber. “We had a number of ideas of what would come next in this space and when presented the idea of a garden, many people told us that Avram and his team [at FCM] were the perfect people to contact. As a developer and investor, sure, we could have made it more shops and boutiques to fit the area, but this gives the community a place of their own. To me, that’s important.”
With 11,500 square feet of space, Walnut Garden can hold up to 500 guests. Much of the material used for construction has been reclaimed from various sites situated among a $60,000 investment in plants, trees and flowers to offer a real garden oasis. The space will host a series of shipping containers featuring two bars, a kitchen serving Asian street food-inspired menu options and soft serve ice cream station.
A 40’x60’ canopy tent will offer a reprieve from hot summer days while guests relax at a number of communal benches and tables throughout the garden. Families are encouraged to bring their little ones to enjoy the children’s play area, which will house an additional garden area with benches, planters and a wooden Jeep complete with a slide. A jumbotron featuring a sound system will showcase sporting events, host movie nights or even be used for special events.
THE LOCATION
Walnut Garden serves as the revitalization of an area left blighted following the 2020 civil unrest. The building, which once housed a Vans shoe store and McDonald’s franchise was destroyed by fire during the near weeklong demonstrations. Through this pop-up, Hornik wanted to create a space in which the community at-large could have to breathe vibrancy from the tragedy.
“We wanted to make sure that in creating Walnut Garden we provided an authentic space to host a variety of different events and experiences,” said Hornik. “But it was also important to just create a space for the community to have and feel proud of.
“Rittenhouse Row is thrilled to welcome Walnut Garden,” said Corie Moskow, executive director, Rittenhouse Row. “We are so grateful to Avram Hornik and his team for having the vision and energy to bring this important project to fruition. The hole in the 1700 block of Walnut will now be filled with a vibrant community gathering place, and will bring energy, excitement and vibrancy to a key address.”
“Walnut Garden is an exciting step forward for West Walnut,” added Paul Levy, founding president of the Center City District. “Retail and restaurant occupancy has almost fully rebounded in Center City, but this gap on the 1700 block of Walnut has been a break in the continuity and momentum for full recovery. By creating a vibrant and attractive setting for both adults and families with children, Walnut Garden will boost vitality in the entire area.”
THE FOOD
Green Papaya Salad, $10 (GF)
Herbs, garlic, bird’s eye chiles, fish sauce, peanuts.
Option: mild or spicy.
Add grilled chicken skewer $4 per piece – add chilled marinated shrimp $7, 3 pieces
Marinated Cucumber Salad, $9
Pork cracklin, chile crisp, fried garlic, radish
Add grilled chicken skewer $4 per piece – add chilled marinated shrimp $7, 3 pieces
Cold Sesame Udon Noodle Salad, $10 (V) (VG)
Local mustard greens, red onion, sesame dressing
Spicy Tuna or Salmon Tartar, $16
Szechuan mayo, cucumber, avocado, shrimp chips, lettuce cups
Option:tuna and salmon combo
Korean Spicy bbq Pork Slider, $12
Cucumber, spicy mayo, scallion
2 per order
Korean Bulgogi Beef Slider, $12
Cucumber, Asian Pear, ginger, mayo
2 per order
Japanese Fried Chicken Karaage, $11
Wasabi mayo, kimchi
Option: Gluten free
Charcoal Grilled Sate (GF)
Pork Belly $12, chicken $12, or fried tofu $10 (V) (VG)
Marinated, skewered and grilled on charcoal, all served with a peanut dipping sauce. 3 pieces per order
Fries, $6 (VG)(GF)
Sea Salt, Szichuan mayo, ketchup
Crispy Scallion Pancake, $9 (V) (VG)
Sesame, soy, kimchi
Kid’s Menu
French Fries, $6 (V) (VG) (GF)
Served with ketchup
Fried Chicken Bites, $8
Served with ketchup and bbq sauce
Hot Dogs, $6
All beef hot dog served with ketchup and yellow mustard on the side
For the complete Walnut Garden food menu, visit walnutphl.com.
THE DRINK
As an urban cocktail destination and beer garden, Walnut Garden will offer a variety of created, draft and canned cocktails, to non-alcoholic varieties, there’s a host to choose from.
Signature cocktails include:
Flying Melons, Union Forge Vodka, Red Bull Red, Melon Liqueur, Watermelon, Lime, $13
Federal Cucumber, Stateside vodka, cucumber, lime, club soda, $12
Center City Tropic, Bluecoat Gin, Guava, Pineapple, lime, $12
Munchkin Land, Holla lollipop vodka, cranberry juice, line, $12
Draft cocktails include:
Orange, Mango Margarita, Tequila, Orange, Mango, Lime, $11.00
Rittenhouse Sour, Whiskey, Fresh Citrus, $11.00
Hibiscus Lemonade, Vodka, Hibiscus, Fresh Lemonade, $11.00
Summer Sangria, Peach White Sangria with Seasonal Juice, $11.00
Frozen Daiquiri, Rum and Lime – add Strawberry, Watermelon, or Guava, $11.00
Cocktail Cans include:
High Noon Seltzer Peach, Vodka Seltzer, 4.5%, $11.00
Stateside Seltzer Black Cherry, Vodka Seltzer, 4.5%,$11.00
Stateside Seltzer Orange, Vodka Seltzer, 4.5%, $11.00
Surfside Tea, Vodka Tea, 4.5%, $11.00
Yardley Distillery 50/50, Bourbon, Iced Tea, Lemonade, 8%, $11.00
Top Dog Cocktails Blood Orange Margarita, Tequila, Blood Orange, Lime, 12.5%, $16.00
Top Dog Cocktails Greyhound, Vodka, Grapefruit, Rosemary, Elderflower, 12.5%, $16.00
Klyr Pineapple Smash, Rum, Natural Flavors – Non-Carbonated, 6.5%, $8.00
Guests can also select from a selection of local beers on draft and by the can including our signature Walnut Garden Lager, a refreshing pilsner at 4.5% ABV. There are also a number of wines from around the world, including two on tap in an organic unoaked French chardonnay ($11/$44 carafe) and a refreshing Rose varietal as well ($11/$44).
Walnut Garden is walk-up only with first come, first served seating. Hours are seven days a week, Monday to Sunday, from Noon to Midnight. For more information visit walnutphl.com, follow on Instagram via @walnutphl.
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