Fill the Hill: Former Melting Pot

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Vacant: 8229 Germantown Avenue (at the corner of Southampton Avenue)

Description: This building is a two-story corner location next to the .

Size: 4,700 square feet total/ 1,700 downstairs and 3,000 upstairs

Zoning: C2 (Retail or restaurant)

History: According to Eileen Reilly, Chestnut Hill's retail reruiter, the building has been vacant for about four years, since The Melting Pot closed up shop.

The Challenge: This property has a very unique obstacle: Although the space is designed as a restaurant, since The Melting Pot serves fondue, there was not need for a kitchen.

"Do not discount the cost of installing a kitchen," Reilly said.

There is a bar already in the building. The existance of a bar but lack of a kitchen means that this property is not turn-key for either a restaurant or retail tenant.

Interest: There has been a good amount of interest in the space, which is competively priced, Reilly said, and restaurants who are eager to open or expand in Chestnut Hill have noticed.

Potential: "As our commercial district gets stronger, our food story gets louder," Reilly said. The corner location and hotel adjacency makes the building a prime spot for a restaurant. Reilly said the owner is also considering installing track windows, like those at , to give a future tenant an open-air feeling for a dining space.

'Fill the Hill' is a series on vacancies in Chestnut Hill. Check back weekly for more details on vacant storefronts in Chestnut Hill. The series began with a look at how , and what could help make the .