Fill This Front: Walnut Nails

1223 Walnut Street

            Ok, this storefront has only been empty for a year so I can't be too mad about it. However, what I can be mad about is that despite its appearance, its not even actually empty! What the fuck is going on here?
           This storefront occupies the remains of an old mansion-sized rowhouse built in the 1830s-1850s. It was first used for commercial purposes in the 1910s, when it became medical offices, while at other times it went back to being a huge-ass residence.

Here it is in 1927. Its the one on the right. PhillyHistory.org

           In the mid 1950s, the building sustained a fair amount of fire damage and the first floor was re-built as a storefront that held a barbershop for 13 years. In 1969, the storefront took on its current appearance under the designs of architect Hans F. Egli. For the next 30 years, the front and the whole rest of the building would be occupied by travel agency Talmage Tours, which didn't close until January 1999.
         In 1999 the storefront became a RPM Records, a music and vintage store. They stuck around for two years. In 2002, the storefront briefly became Male Ego, a Gay Interest store. Finally in 2003, Walnut Nails came along and stuck around for 10 straight years, finally closing in late 2013. By the way, if you want to read some hilariously negative Yelp reviews, read this.

Walnut Nails in 2009 via the Google Streetview Time Machine

          Ever since, the front just sat empty without a "For Lease" sign or anything else going on. Recently, 1223 Walnut along with 1221 next door went up for sale as a package deal. Upon learning this, I figured that the owners of both buildings (the same family that owns Pandora's Lunchbox) were just leaving it empty so whomever bought the two buildings could go about getting it filled. Case closed, right?
        WRONG!! In the last few months, I noticed that the empty front had some of that trademark brown paper up in the windows. I got excited with all the possibilities of what could be coming here. Then, a few weeks later, the some of the paper was getting ripped off the inside of the front door so it became possible to see inside.
        What did I see? Storage. A bunch of food and other supplies piled up all over the place. Therefore, I can only assume that this place is being leased, at least temporarily, by another concern nearby for use as storage. What kind of use is this for a storefront? How the hell do they plan to sell this building while using the empty storefront space as a storage room? Who the hell is storing shit here!?!? Actually, I kind of know who, but I don't want to reveal it without confirmation. There isn't any new permit or anything on their online L & I file, but those can be sometimes outdated. What the shit is going on here?
         Well, whatever is going on, this building and the one next to it are for sale-- though I can't find the "For Sale" sign on the building. Nonetheless, if you've got the means, this is a pretty good place to get. It consists of two storefronts with apartments on the upper floors. This location gets loads of foot traffic, is near the 13th Street restaurant row, and is accessible by nearly every form of public transportation Septa has to offer. Its even near the Patco! The storefront was once able to sustain the same company for 30 years and another for 10. The potential is obviously there, so you'd better get in now while the gettin's good. Here's the listing again. Be that hero-- buy these buildings and FILL THIS FRONT!!