For those of you who have been looking for a more upscale drinking experience, you may soon have your wish. Coming later this summer will be The Fenix, "Phoenixville's Only Martini & Whiskey Bar". The Fenix is owned by the same people who run Molly Maguire's and will be located right next door, at 193 Bridge Street.There is a website setup at thefenixbar.com but there isn't a whole lot there just yet.
Update 7/6: Reader Pete L. was able to confirm that the Molly Maguire folks are planning to open the Fenix at the end of August. Thanks Pete!
Comments
I think the point being made is that pretty much all of the establishments going in on Bridge St. are aimed at white collar folks with white collar budgets. While this may seem exclusionary, I still prefer this trend over having places like the Phoenix Tavern.
Places now are aimed at upper middle class folks living in the borough and the surrounding townships, and don't forget everyone who works up the road at Glaxo, Wyeth, and Quest or down the road at Vanguard and all of the other places in Great Valley.
You can complain about this but when we had business just aimed at boro folks, Bridge St. was only just a shade nicer than Main St. in Norristown.
BTW, on a different subject ... anyone know what's happening with the supposed Starbucks opening on the corner of Nutt and Bridge? A sign is now out there saying "Join Walgreens ... " Is SBUX no longer filling that building??
Mr. 2005
" ... but you can't tell me that it would be a good thing for the town to get rid of ... "
Change "good" to "bad".
Mr. 2005
I originally assumed that the first two anonymous commenters were not careful with their words. Apparently, the sentiment is real and shared by many.
As a North Sider - not living in a new development - I'm a bit sensitive to the townshippers and others painting us with one broad stroke. I am educated, I don't break laws and my husband and I are raising happy, healthy children. We choose to do so here in the town where I grew up. More specifically in a heterogeneous neighborhood. (AKA "dangerous and dirty")
As clarification I was not the one to suggest anyone get on a bus. As a matter of fact, I'm happy to share my town with anyone who wants to be here but not if you'll only share it with people who are of the same socioeconomic rank. It's folks with that attitude who cause some of the fear of change in a town like this one.
However, if you're embarrassed to say you live in Pville then perhaps you belong in Radnor or Haverford. While I appreciate them for what they are, I certainly hope we never turn into a mirror image of either.
FYI - Suggesting an entire swath of a street be razed because it doesn't appeal to your aesthetic is the exact opposite of "classy" which seems to be your only goal.
On the other subject of purifying our town I don't agree with you and your sentiment. I share your desire to bring in the best businesses possible to make our town an awesome place for everyone to spend time.
But you continue to target two bars that really are not that bad. If you have ever been to Tylers then you'd know the food is actually pretty good and Steve has done a great job changing the luck of prior businesses that have started in that space.
The Moon Saloon is not my kind of bar but I have been in and the owners (a young girl and her Mother) are just busting their butts to try and pursue their dream. You may not agree with the business model but you have to respect the risk and willingness to pursue their goals.
I also share your vision of having great residents living in town (I think about 90% of the people living here are good folks). But we all know that is not possible to get rid of all of the bad eggs. I also don't think the bad eggs that are in P-ville are necessarily hanging out at Tylers or Moon Saloon.
I don't think you mean to but you are offending a lot of good people that grew up in Pville and now feel that they are not welcomed because they are not "milky" enough for other folks. I also know that bad eggs reach across all spectrums of life and socioeconomic definitions. Maybe I'm wrong - I hope not.
It's no longer there, but the Cloud 9 bar, I remember one time going to the men's room and seeing two girls doing lines of coke on the sink.
Like I said, there are good places and bad places to go in every town. There are still elements of trashy/seedy/whatever you may call it in this area, so don't pretend it's not there, I think that's what some people are trying to say as some people are jumping down their throats. Yes, Pville has came a long way and it's good, but there are certain people still around who aren't very "classy."
Believe it or not there are "working girls" even in Pville still.
Now, as far as Mr. Purify goes he's completely wrong. He mentions the trend towards the Glaxo, Wyeth and other business institutions in this area that are helping to increase the vision of our town (aka "white collar). But he fails to mention the blue collar folks that will be a part of this town forever such as the people who clean the streets, and trash removal. These jobs are no less important (and can be argued even more important) than those jobs at Vanguard, Wyeth, Glaxo or wherever.
So that's why you have options my friend. Enjoy your options instead of trying to purify a town that is and always will be "blue collar". Just for the record I have a "white collar" job but grew up in a household with two parents that worked in factories in steel work and paper mills.
Let me stress that I do agree that we should get rid of as many of the bad elements in our town as possible but I just don't see these 2 bars as being those "bad" elements. I think we should concentrate on the people that loiter in our downtown in packs just hanging out on corners. That makes our town look seedy and unwelcoming - NOT Tyler James Pub.
Phoenixville is a long way from being gentrified, walk along High St. at 11pm if you don't believe me. We should be happy that things are getting nicer - ten years ago we had the Phoenix Tavern and a video rental/mattress store on Bridge Street, do you really want to go back to that?
I also realize that P-ville will never be completely gentrified but if were up to folks like you we would look like "you" (boring). If you think P-ville is soo bad then don't come here and eat and drink. If you live here well then move to an area with people who have your vision.
Better yet if your vision is so popular why don't you run for public office and do something about it instead of just complaining about what P-ville needs to do to "get better". If you want to change it then do something about it. Yeah right, like that would happen. Put your complaint in the suggestion box buddy because you're beginning to sound a little "whiney" (waaaaa!).
I have a problem with criminals, not with people who put in an honest day's work.
Kindly post to the forums section. There is a thread devoted to the revitalization of Phoenixville. That is what 27 of the 29 posts here are all about.
Personally, I enjoy a good vodka martini with a twist of lime. Molly's already makes a pretty good Martini too.