by Rachel Hazzard
December 17, 2025
Categories: Client Stories,
2025 has been a year of remarkable growth and achievement for PIDC clients across Philadelphia. From thriving new businesses and Michelin guide recommendations to historic renovations and major expansions, our clients have reached important milestones, launched new initiatives, and made a meaningful impact in their communities. We are incredibly proud of their successes and inspired by the dedication, creativity, and resilience they demonstrate every day.
A Year of Success for PIDC Clients
Several Clients were Recognized in MICHELIN Guide Northeast Cities
For the first time, Philadelphia restaurants were recognized by the MICHELIN Guide, and several PIDC clients are among the honorees, including Pizzeria Beddia, High Street, Kayala, Laser Wolf, River Twice, and Suraya. This recognition highlights the city’s thriving culinary scene and the passion, creativity, and dedication of its restaurateurs, and showcases what we’ve always known: Philadelphia is a true food city — and now the world is finally taking notice.
Korea Taqueria Opened Second Location in Fishtown
Korea Taqueria reached an exciting milestone this year with the opening of its second location in Fishtown. Known for its signature blend of Korean and Mexican flavors, the restaurant has built a loyal following for its creative menu and welcoming atmosphere. The new Fishtown spot not only expands Korea Taqueria’s footprint, but also reflects the growing demand for its innovative approach to fusion cuisine.
High Street Hospitality Group Opened The Bread Room
High Street Hospitality Group, led by acclaimed restaurateur Ellen Yin, marked a significant milestone this year with the opening of The Bread Room. By day, customers can treat themselves to handmade viennoiseries and baked goods and a rotating selection of High Street’s wholegrain sourdough loaves. In the evenings, the space transforms into a cozy workshop and event venue, hosting hands-on classes such as sourdough 101, lamination, and pizza making.
Called to Serve Broke Ground on the Reverend Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center
With support from PIDC, Called to Serve broke ground in February on the Reverend Leon H. Sullivan Community Impact Center, a 27,000-square-foot facility designed to provide critical services including digital readiness, violence intervention, fresh food distribution, community arts, a café and gathering space, and community health worker training in partnership with Temple Health. Set to open in 2026, the center will serve an estimated 4,600 people annually and generate 83 full-time jobs along with 100 temporary construction positions, creating a new hub for opportunity, learning, and community impact in Philadelphia.
LUHV Food Brought Plant-Based Flavors to Philadelphia International Airport
LUHV Food reached a new milestone this year by becoming a vegan food vendor at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL), bringing its plant-based culinary offerings to travelers and visitors from around the world. The brand can now be found at four airport locations: Evolve (A-West), Hudson (A-West and D terminals), and Philadelphia Tribune (A-East). This expansion highlights LUHV Food’s growth and its commitment to contributing to Philadelphia’s dynamic food scene.
Fortaleza Rehabilitation & Fitness Centers Opened a New Location
A Philadelphia mainstay in physical therapy since 1994, Fortaleza Rehabilitation and Fitness Centers expanded their reach this year with a new clinic at 11000 Roosevelt Boulevard, bringing their forward-thinking, patient-first recovery approach to more residents in Northeast Philadelphia. This third location marks an important milestone for the practice, allowing them to better meet patient needs and continue improving quality of life across the communities they serve.
Attic Brewing Co. Launched Food Truck Bad Nina’s
Attic Brewing Co. expanded its Germantown taproom experience with the launch of Bad Nina’s, a food truck serving Chicago-style Vienna Beef hot dogs, cheesesteak dogs, fries, and rotating seasonal specials. The truck, named after Attic’s lovable brewery dog of the same name, brings bold flavors and a fun, community-focused vibe right outside the brewery, offering locals and visitors another reason to experience Attic’s craft beers and inventive food offerings.
Ballers Celebrated its Grand Opening in Fishtown
Ballers opened its doors this year as a sprawling new sports and social club inside the Battery in Fishtown. The 55,000-square-foot space features pickleball, padel, squash, golf simulators, and a full-sized putting green, alongside an upscale bar and restaurant, event spaces, and community programming—all designed to bring people together through play and connection. Ballers offers both members and the public an elevated place to compete, relax, dine, and connect in the heart of Philadelphia.
H&M Care Opened Senior Living Enterprise Apartments
H&M Care officially opened its new Senior Living Enterprise Apartments — a thoughtfully designed residential community dedicated to seniors and adults 55+ funded by PIDC and WSFS Bank. These brand-new, independent-living units provide comfort, convenience, and peace of mind, with an on-site home care agency available to support daily needs and an urgent care center right on the ground floor for added security.
Covenant House Pennsylvania Brings Housing to Youth in Need
PIDC was proud to support Covenant House PA (CHPA) through a New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) investment to transform a commercial building in Germantown into housing for youth experiencing homelessness, along with office, meeting, and community space. This project will create 59 full-time jobs, 60 construction jobs, and is projected to support more than 2,000 people through expanded programs and services.
Franklin Square Opened a New, Expanded Restroom Facility
Franklin Square enhanced visitor comfort this year with the construction of a brand-new, expanded restroom facility. The updated building includes more stalls in both the women’s and men’s rooms, a separate gender-neutral family restroom, handicap-accessible stalls, and no-touch faucets for modern convenience and accessibility. PIDC supported this improvement by managing a $500,000 City Capital Grant and assisting with funding through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP), helping bring this important upgrade to fruition.
A Major Year for the Navy Yard
The Navy Yard Celebrated its 25th Anniversary
This year, PIDC celebrated a major milestone—the Navy Yard’s 25th anniversary—nearly three decades after the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard’s closure. As owner and operator, PIDC has transformed the former military base into a thriving campus supporting over 16,000 jobs, 150 companies, and $2.8 billion in investment—surpassing its employment levels at closure and becoming one of the nation’s most successful military base redevelopments.
The Navy Yard story is one of resilience, vision, and bold partnership, turning a shuttered installation into a hub of business, innovation, and opportunity. To mark this anniversary, PIDC released a documentary series exploring its evolution, featuring leaders, partners, and community members who shaped its past and continue to drive its future.
Residents Returned to the Navy Yard for First Time in Decades
For the first time since the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard closed in 1996, the Navy Yard welcomed residents back to the campus as a vibrant live-work-play neighborhood. After years of planning and development led by PIDC and our development partner Ensemble / Mosaic, AVE Navy Yard began leasing private apartments in November. This milestone is a key step toward transforming the 1,200-acre campus into Philadelphia’s newest neighborhood.
Minaris Advanced Therapies & Orchestra Life Sciences Open Headquarters at the Navy Yard
Minaris Advanced Therapies, a company formed after the merger of Minaris Regenerative Medicine and WuXi Advanced Therapies, reaffirmed its commitment to the Navy Yard by establishing its global headquarters at 400 Rouse Boulevard, enhancing their extensive expertise in manufacturing and testing of cell therapies to Philadelphia.
Orchestra Life Sciences relocated its global headquarters from Montreal to the Navy Yard, positioning itself at the center of one of the nation’s most dynamic life sciences communities. The technical consultancy firm supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with advanced therapy manufacturing solutions and is planning a workforce development program at the site to help train the next generation of operators and quality specialists in cell and gene therapy manufacturing, complementing the successful advanced life sciences workforce training program currently operated by the Skills Initiative in partnership with PIDC.
Be Part of Next Year’s Milestones
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