Not A Rumor: BYOB bistro called 4th and Cross coming to 1527 S. 4th St.

It turns out that the rumor is true, and the restaurant coming to 1527 S. 4th St. will be like the “bastard child of Morning Glory and Parc,” says owner Andrew Michaels.

Yesterday, we brought you the news that demo permits were hung on the long vacant Bell’s Delly at the corner of 4th and Cross streets in Pennsport. Based on some unfounded rumors and a mysterious Facebook listing in a Google search, we hinted that it could be the beginning of a farm-to-table restaurant, a “neighborhood bistro, specializing in scratch made, locally sourced and sustainably grown food.”

Michaels told us the restaurant will aptly be named 4th and Cross. He plans to open in the spring.

Michaels said that not only is he doing the lion-share of the demo work on the inside, but that he’s also going to be the executive chef. He was the owner of E’s Coffee at 1500 E. Passyunk before it was B2, and he apparently makes a damn good blueberry muffin. So, what can we hope to expect from the restaurant smack-dab in the middle between Dickinson Square Park and vegan-coffee joint Grindcore House? 

Michaels said he hopes to have 34 seats inside the former corner deli and that he’s working on outdoor seating as well, saying  in an email “the neighbors seem pretty stoked about our ideas on the subject.” He described his vision for 4th and Cross as “a very, very relaxed American bistro.” “If it helps to picture it,” he continued, “think of the bastard child of Morning Glory and Parc.”

He plans to be open seven days a week for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with “BYO when you’d like.” The best part? They’ll be working with a “strong list” of local farmers for all of the food and will make everything in house whenever possible. That includes charcuterie, preserves, pickles and even hiring an in-house baker.

“Not to downplay it in any way, but all I want is to make a nice neighborhood restaurant.  Just that,” he said.

Michaels added that they will have a meet and greet cocktail party in the space once things are a little more in place. We’ll keep you posted, or you can follow them for more on Facebook.

– James Jennings is the founder of the blog Pennsporter — a site dedicated to exploring the neighborhood  from Washington to Snyder, the Delaware to Fourth.