News of Alma Pan-Latin Kitchen's pending closing, at the corner of Forbes and South Braddock, took the neighborhood by surprise.
Not only has it been a well-regarded establishment, it has provided an air of respectability to the corner that languished for years with the debris of the defunct Junction Pharmacy.
The main corners in Regent Square have been a big deal in recent years as the transformation of Gerenyi's Sunoco into GetGo at West Hutchinson and South Braddock provoked community controversy.
Down the street at Sanders, the expansion of the Typhoon Lighting building took some time until M. Davis Group and Vanilla Pastry Studio got settled there.
At Forbes and Braddock, Park Pizza & Cream -- the actual corner establishment -- is relatively new. Animal Nature, sort of around the corner, is popular despite its victimization by robbers and burglars.
It's a nervous time for the Regent Square merchant community as the important gift-shopping and office-party seasons approach.
When the neighborhood is working well, the business establishments tend to be magnets for one another. Those who enjoy happy hour at The Map Room, for instance, might also purchase a watchband at William Penn Jewelers. Browsers at Concept Art Gallery might also see a film at the Regent Square Theater.
When a major player like Alma goes away, the Regent Square experience is diminished to some extent. And the onset of autumn and winter takes away thousands of visitors drawn to the neighborhood by Frick Park and the tennis courts during more clement seasons.
Vitality also is compromised by the wounds inflicted by PennDOT's on-again, off-again detours supporting renovation of the Parkway East. Unforeseeable congestion and unpredictable parking are not friends of customer retention.
What next?
Alma currently is on Craigslist for $275,000, with this description:
"Until December 8, Alma is for sale as a turnkey operation. In purchasing all of the units of this PA LLC, you will get the liquor license, tables, chairs, equipment, artwork, inventory, recipes, procedures, and an organized entity with excellent credit and great relationships with its vendors. Moreover, you will get a business with a strong reputation in a supportive neighborhood that wants to see you succeed."