At the Chestnut Hill Business District, this is the season when we take stock of the year’s accomplishments and look ahead to what’s next.

One of the most visible indicators of the health of our commercial corridor is the opening of new businesses. By that measure, 2025 was a strong year. Thirteen new businesses opened in Chestnut Hill, and six existing businesses relocated or expanded, reinforcing the vitality and momentum of the district.

Retail, in particular, has been energized. Chestnut Hill is now home to a new breed of small, magical shops — stores filled with heart and soul, unafraid to reflect the personality and vision of their creators. Taken together, these independent, imaginative businesses are helping to define a distinctive retail experience for Chestnut Hill. They are part of a new generation of retail that design and lifestyle publications often describe as “stores that tell a story.” This year, FavAUrite opened at 8409 Germantown Ave., joining this growing group and further strengthening the unique character and appeal of our shopping district.

Dining continues to be a major focus for the community. While we are grateful for our beloved and long-standing restaurants, there is broad agreement that Chestnut Hill needs additional dining options. This year, we were delighted to welcome Matines Café to its new, larger, and more prominent location on West Highland Avenue, where it has been consistently bustling. We also celebrated the transformation of its original Bethlehem Pike location into Petite Matines, a kids’ café that has quickly become a neighborhood favorite.

Looking ahead to early 2026, we are excited about the planned openings of two restaurants that have been in development. Lovat Square will open in phases at 184 E. Evergreen Ave., beginning as a retail wine shop, then expanding to a wine bar and fine dining restaurant across two spaces in the complex. The Blue Warbler, a day-into-evening casual neighborhood restaurant, is set to open at 8001 Germantown Ave. We are also thrilled to share that the iconic Fiesta Pizza at 8339 Germantown Ave. will be refreshed and reopened in the new year. The new owners — brothers who worked as teenagers for Fiesta’s original owner, Sam Thomas — are honoring the beloved predecessor as inspiration for the next chapter of this Chestnut Hill institution.

There is more encouraging news on the restaurant front. Several property owners and their representatives are actively engaged in conversations with strong prospective operators for both long-standing and more recent vacancies along the Avenue. In addition, one of our most popular restaurants is preparing to expand into the neighboring space. While it’s too early to share details, we look forward to announcing more soon.

Members of the community understandably expressed dismay when two of our bar-restaurants, Iron Hill Brewery and Campbell’s Place, closed in close succession. Both will be missed. We have been assured by representatives of the property owners that each location is on track to be replaced by exciting and desirable new concepts.

This year also brought an important investment in Chestnut Hill’s cultural and economic life with the opening of Frances Maguire Hall at Woodmere Art Museum. The new performance and event space strengthens Woodmere’s ability to attract regional audiences for concerts, lectures, and special programs, drawing new visitors to the neighborhood who shop, dine, and spend time before and after events. As a cultural anchor, Woodmere plays a vital role in supporting local businesses and reinforcing Chestnut Hill’s identity as a destination for arts, culture, and hospitality.

The momentum of the neighborhood is also strengthened by the presence of well-placed, high-quality service and professional businesses. These enterprises provide convenience for neighbors and give visitors additional reasons to shop and dine while they are here. In 2025, four such businesses relocated within Chestnut Hill, one expanded, and seven new service and professional businesses opened.

Running a small business requires resilience, creativity, and sustained effort. We deeply respect the dedication of our business owners and managers and are proud of the many ways the Business District supports them — from marketing and public relations, to event coordination, to day-to-day operational guidance. We also provide education, training, information-sharing, and opportunities for collaboration, while representing our businesses within the broader community and working closely with other Chestnut Hill organizations to advance shared goals.

Beyond CHBD-led initiatives, we also support and encourage events conceived and led by the businesses themselves. In August, Chestnut Hill’s four independent bookstores partnered with nearby restaurants to create a neighborhood stop on the citywide independent bookstore crawl. The event was a tremendous success, benefiting not only the organizers but the broader commercial district. In the coming year, we look forward to championing and assisting similar business-led collaborations that draw visitors from beyond Chestnut Hill. We also celebrate those businesses that so generously uplift their neighbors while promoting their own work. Your spirit of collaboration makes this community exceptional — and makes us proud.