Norman's Juvenile Furniture's Large Warehouse on Front Street is On the Market

You may remember that we broke the news back in November that Norman's Juvenile Furniture, a staple on Two Street for 60 years, was closing up shop. It turns out that isn't the only building with ties to Norman's on the market. Billed as the "only warehouse left in the neighborhood," the former storehouse for Norman's located at 1420 S. Front Street is listed on Craigslist for $2.75m. Much like with the shop on Two Street, which isn't for sale as of yet, this property offers a significant opportunity for the Front Street Corridor.

Here's the warehouse with a Norman's van parked in front, adjoining lot on the right is also for sale. (via Google Maps)

Here is the description from Craigslist (bold emphasis is mine) :

COMMERICAL PROPERTY FOR SALE, ASKING TWO MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND.

WAREHOUSE WITH ADJOINING LOT LOCATION 1420 SO. FRONT STREET PHILA.,PA.19147. WAREHOUSE HAS NEW RUBBER ROOF LESS THAN A YEAR OLD, POWDER ROOM, OFFICE AND IS 2 STORY BUILDING, WAREHOUSE MEASURES 90 X 100 FT AND LOT MEASURES 53 X 100 FT. TOTAL FRONT OF PROPERTY IS 143 FT. ACROSS AND GOES BACK TO 100 FT TO THE (BACK STREET).  (Editor's note: S. Howard Street)

NEIGHBORHOOD IS BUILDING UP IN THIS AREA, SURROUNDED BY ALL NEW CONSTRUCTION, SUCH AS 2 MEDICAL BUILDINGS, MOVIE THEATRE , ANIMAL HOSPITAL, BLOCKS FROM QUEEN VILLAGE AREA, HAS GREAT POTENTIAL

I WAS ALREADY OFFERED TO RENT JUST THE LOT FOR LED SIGN, FOR $2800. A MONTH. WILL NOT SPLIT PROPERTIES. ONLY WAREHOUSE LEFT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, NO REALTORS OR INVESTORS UNLESS SERIOUS,
SERIOUS INQUIRIES ONLY. (MONEY TALKS B.S. WALKS) HIGH TRAFFIC AREA.

GREAT EXPECTATIONS , GREAT NEIGHBORHOOD, PICTURES INCLUDED, TAKE A LOOK . LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION PLEASE CALL WILLIAM PRATT
610-348-9600

Better look at the adjoining lot. See that rowhome in the back? That's S. Howard Street

Here are the details

A closer look

A look at Front Street going south - wide sidewalk and plenty of parking

Front Street looking north with Brulee Catering on the corner of Front and Reed Street

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Much like with Norman's on Two Street, this building has huge potential to change the area. It's large and has access to the highway, bus routes, the parking under I-95 and wide streets for (more) parking and bikes.  However, it is zoned medium industrial (I-2), so anything other than it's current use would require variances. Hopefully, the plan is to have it become something other than a warehouse.

The Front Street corridor offers some real opportunity from Queen Village down through to Whitman in the form of buildings in need of vision. Some examples that immediately spring to mind are the currently vacant Ugly American, Del's II, and Langostino's as well as a few vacant lots and now this large warehouse. Proper development along the Front Street Corridor could provide the area with the local business district that it lacks as land/storefronts on Two Street seem to be getting gobbled up for residential projects both large and small. Redeveloping these properties into businesses could really feed into the proposed "connector streets" at Washington Avenue and Tasker Street, thus  bridging the Delaware River waterfront with Pennsport while spurring private development.

Anyone have $2.75m to spare and want to bring something amazing to the area? Please do us a favor and respond to the Craigslist link above. 

Huge thanks to @roofguy for the tip via Instagram.