January 23, 2015
Thom Carroll/for PhillyVoice
The building on 16th St. between Sansom and Walnut used to be The Printer's Place.
Han Chiang's empire could be expanding.
Philadelphia Business Journal broke the news that a new, three-story restaurant, Dan Dan, will open in Center City in the next six months.The 45-seater at 126 S. 16th St. between Sansom and Walnut streets will serve wok-fired Sichuan and Taiwanese cuisine. But who's behind it?
Building owner Allan Domb of Allan Domb Real Estate told PhillyVoice.com that Han Dynasty leased the ground-floor restaurant space and second-level mezzanine. This would be the eighth location in Chiang's Chinese food "empire."
Domb, who bought the Frank Furness-designed building in 2012, has made extensive renovations to the historic building, including masonry work.
"We tried to seek integrity and restore it to what it was," he said.
Just a few months ago, he began working with Han Dynasty's real estate broker.
Reached for comment, Han Dynasty University City manager Megan Tetu told PhillyVoice.com, "That is not an extension of our business."
On a scale of red-hot intrigue, we'd put a downtown Han spot at a 10.
Update: A use change permit issued December 31 for a first-floor sit down restaurant and basement kitchen lists contractor Gardner Fox Associates Inc., who worked with Han Dynasty in the past.
A liquor license was transferred from the address of La Stanza, the embattled South Philly Italian restaurant.
