The Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Everybody was talking about the cupcakes. By everybody, I mean the dozens of working folk and shoppers who walked in and out of the 17th Street side entrance of Liberty Place.

The buzz was all about Brown Betty Dessert Boutique's newest cupcake outlet, a small slice of heaven in a jam-packed Center City location.

"Brown Betty is the best," gushed one woman to her curious friend.

"Is this all of the cupcakes that they have?"

"Oh, no, honey, they usually sell out by now. This is what's left," explained a girl who had been here twice already this week.

Even men were gawking, hoping that there would be a red velvet left to take home to their girlfriends, and secretly an extra one for themselves.

I stepped up to the counter and found out that they have been trying to figure out the correct number of cupcakes to order for this location.

"We had 300 the other day and they disappeared in hours. We tried 400 and that still wasn't enough. We'll work it out," the cupcake counterperson promised. "We're also figuring out which items we'd like to sell here." Her bright blue-green eyeshadow was as pretty as the frosting on the cupcakes.

It was only 1:30 and there were just a few of those hot cakes left. The "petite" shop was decorated in a similar style to the Liberties Walk location with antique photos hanging on a chocolate-colored wall, and the words "A Modern Vintage Bakery" announcing itself on the window.

If you're in Center City and need a sweet pick-me-up, well, best to get there early!

Brown Betty Petite

Liberty Place at 1625 Chestnut (17th Street entrance)

215-988-1888

Mon-Fri: 10 - 7pm Sat: 10 - 6pm Sun: Closed

Workers are keeping busy at the soon-to-open Philadelphia Chutney Company, which is taking over the old Remedy Tea Bar space at 1628 Sansom Street in Center City. Will the green paint and black awning be the next changes?

What will set this Indian restaurant apart from others is its focus on organic ingredients and Southern Indian cuisine. There are plenty of Northern Indian curry houses in Philadelphia, and this will bring something new to the table. What can you expect from South Indian cooking? A greater emphasis on rice, a heavy dose of coconut and coconut oil, and plenty of curries and pickles.

The Chutney Company also plans a location on Temple's campus. Bring on the chutney.

Remember when you used to leave the office in time for happy hour? Now there's added enticement to get all of your work done on time, in the form of Center City Sips. The annual ode to happy hour is back with plenty of sips and bites to snag before 7 pm. Stay for dinner and receive a 15% discount.

You know the rules. The participating restaurants will feature special $4 cocktails, $3 wine, $2 beers and half-priced appetizers every Wednesday from June 2 through August 25. This year, you can keep up with the deals via Twitter/CCDSips. They're already taunting us with deals. You can view the list of participating bars and restaurants and their special offerings at the CC Sips website.

Newcomer Cooperage in Washington Square West whips into the Sips fray with two inventive cocktails and all of their appetizers marked half off. The Johnny Be Good sounds like our summer drink.

Specials: Cooperage

Beer Stella (Draught) Miller Lite (bottled)

Wine Shiraz Pinot Grigio

Cocktails Sangria Rose: Grapefruit & Rosemary infused Leblon, white wine & rosewater Johnny Be Good: Pimms No.1, muddled citrus, cucumber, rhubarb bitters, ginger ale

Rittenhouse Square's Noble Cookery will be pouring quite nicely, with the rye whiskeyed LBJ, and the scrumptious chickpea fries that we love to dip in their housemade catsup.

Specials: Noble

Wine Bridlewood Chardonnay, William Hill Cabernet Sauvignon

Cocktails The Ladybird: vodka, fresh squeezed lemon, simple syrup, clubsoda, Peychaud’s The LBJ: rye whiskey, fresh squeezed lime, simple syrup, clubsoda, Angostura

Appetizers Chickpea Fries, Fried Chicken Wings

Chifa, in Washington Square West, is your ceviche chill spot. Get your Vitamin C with a lychee sangria.

Specials: Chifa

[photo: centercityphila.org]

The sweet-smelling Brown Betty Dessert Boutique is an essential part of the Liberties Walk experience in Northern Liberties. A few years ago, they opened a smaller "Petite" location in Rittenhouse Square, and now they're frosting up a third cupcake outlet in Center City's Liberty Place.The shopping center that is home to J.Crew and Victoria's Secret needed something else to please the man or woman in your life - one of those luscious, heavy-lidded Red Velvets to go, please.

What does this say about Philadelphia neighborhoods? We are full of some cupcake-loving fiends. We enjoy the sweet little moments in life. And we love when our local players branch out into other sections of town, making it more convenient for us to share our favorites with our friends over in Center City or elsewhere.

The shop will be a tiny pick-up for special orders and ready-to-eat lovelies, including 6-inch layer cakes for last minute celebrations. It is scheduled to open on Friday, June 7th.

Brown Betty Petite

1625 Market Street, 1st floor

215-988-1888

Related:

The Sweetest Block in Fishtown: Whipped Bakeshop

[photo credit: Liberties Walk]

 Is the Recession Over ?  I Hope Not !

Some pretty big names recently have stated that the recession is over,including the likes of Ben Bernanke, Warren Buffett and most recently RE/MAX CEO Dave Liniger.  I would agree that Recession is over and the "worst is behind us".   The bad news is that once the economy starts to get better, that could negatively impact the future of your business.

You might say "Chris, you are crazy !  How is that possible ? " .   I will explain - it is simple.  No matter what business you are in right now, recessions and slow downs are the BEST TIME to grow your business and to gain market share.

In the real estate industry, Realtors stop marketing and spending money on growing their business.  The marketing you see on many listings are the bare minimum.  Realtors stop sending out Just Listed / Just Sold cards and basically stop doing anything that costs money.  Or even better, their attitude is negative! They are stuck in the gloom and doom reading about rising foreclosures and buying into "houses will never sell" and "the deals are too hard".  So, their lead generation activities come to a halt.  Or better yet, Real Estate offices stop advertising and marketing all together, cutting back on costs wherever they can.  For example, have you seen less real estate ads on TV (other than RE/MAX of course) ?  I certainly have without mentioning names.

Folks, this is the best time that you will ever have to gain more clients NOW to grow your business.  When things are going full force there will be more agents again and more competition out there.  But for all the potential clients that are out there now, those are the people that a year or two or three from now will be referring business to you.  It is the hard transactions that people do not forget.  That is where you really become "Realtor for Life".

This is the case with any business.   It is during the rough times where fortunes are made and lost, where businesses prosper and fail.  The strong survive and get stronger.  Below is a good interview with Dave Liniger that started RE/MAX during a depression in the early 70s.

Surviving Recession:  The RE/MAX start-up story

What did I do this year ?  Just so I am not blowing smoke, I became part owner of a RE/MAX office and am already gaining market share in Philadelphia ! 

What will you do for the rest of the year to grow your business ?

The opportunity is NOW !

Center City New Construction Condos - The Future of Parking

This is a must see - I wish I could put this in a video, but this is a must see for parking for the future in Philadelphia and all urban cities !

1706 Rittenhouse (click luxury and then click parking)

The other innovative concept in Philadelphia was the Parkominium in Old City where Old City residents, business owners and investors could own individual parking in a luxury building where there is 24/7 valet, climate controlled parking. 

Have you seen this type of parking similar to what 1706 Rittenhouse is doing in your city ?

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If interested in buying or selling investment properties in Philadelphia, contact Chris and Stephanie Somers at thesomersteam@yahoo.com or 215-400-2612 . You can connect with us on Facebook and Twitter .  Also, check out our new Philadelphia investor site at Philly Investor Hub and ask us about Philadelphia Foreclosures and Short Sales .

The Somers Team - Philadelphia Real Estate 

Search the MLS Properties Here in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Click here to receive our Blog updates via email ! 

Areas of specialty include Northern Liberties, Old City, Center City, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Art Museum, Queen Village, Pennsport, Old Kensington, Port Richmond, Bridesburg, Society Hill, Loft District, Spring Garden and more !

                                       Philadelphia Short Sales

   A French Architectural Masterpiece Holds it's Head High in Center City

                

We hope this info on The Victory Building (Philadelphia Condominiums) is useful and informative.  If you are interested in making an appointment to see this desirable unit, please contact us.  Also, please subscribe to our blog to see our future blog posts as well as other Philadelphia Short Sale opportunities! 

Also feel free to stop by our office to discuss as well as checking out our new office location in Northern Liberties !  And for more insight on the Philadelphia condominium market, please read Where is the Philadelphia Condo Market Going ?

If interested in buying or selling a condo in Philadelphia, contact Chris and Stephanie Somers at thesomersteam@yahoo.com or 215-400-2612 . You can connect with us on Facebook and Twitter .  For investment properties, check out our new investor site at Philly Investor Hub and ask us about Philadelphia Foreclosures and Short Sales .

The Somers Team - Philadelphia Real Estate - our main site

Search the MLS Properties Here in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Real Estate Blog

Click here to receive our Blog updates via email ! 

Areas of specialty include Northern Liberties, Old City, Center City, Fishtown, Graduate Hospital, Art Museum, Queen Village, Pennsport, Old Kensington, Port Richmond, Bridesburg, Society Hill, Loft District, Spring Garden and more !