Chelten Grille

Stansalo Vernachio incorporated the Chelten Grille in 1933 coincident with obtaining a liquor license from the state of Pennsylvania and the East Germantown branch bank from the Northern Central Trust Company. After a brief stint as Carmen's Tonsorial Parlor the Chelten Grille opened for business at 2100 East Chelten Avenue.

The Google Mobile returned to East Germantown in June 2019 and took a better picture of the second-floor addition to 2100 East Chelten Avenue. The former Chelten Grille occupied the first floor that is now the Early Leaders Day Care.

2100 East Chelten Avenue has gained a second floor! The shape is the same as the first floor, the windows are similar, but it does not appear to have a second floor entrance above 21st Street. So, at least one of the two original stairwells was opened to the new second floor, which was how the building was originally designed as a duplex ... 2100 and 2102 East Chelten Avenue.

Another aerial view of 2100 East Chelten Avenue (red map pin right of center) clearly showing wood framing against the second floor "party wall" with 2102 East Chelten Avenue and other evidence of construction. One obvious question ... how to gain access to the second floor? There had to be a staircase when the building was built early in the last century, but was the stairwell preserved ... or was it blocked?

This highly-detailed aerial view of the neighborhood between Medary and East Chelten Avenues and North Norwood and North Lambert Streets surrounding the Chelten Grille was taken when it was in disrepair and likely derelict ... presumably for non-payment of property taxes. It is obvious that it is a one-story building as the adjacent property (2102 East Chelten Avenue) is two. If recent reports from the Germantown Historical Society are accurate, we should expect to see a new second story under construction on 2100 adjacent to 2102 East Chelten Avenue.

2100 East Chelten Avenue has been many things ... a residence, a bank, a tonsorial parlor, a taproom with restaurant, a tavern and numerous others, most of which were forgettable. Most recently it has become a daycare center. Early Leaders continues to invest in the property with window and door awnings and new or repainted stucco.

The "GoogleMobile" photograph of 2100 E. Chelten Avenue features new awnings and repainted stucco, but no evidence of the recently-added second floor. Are those tree planters along 21st?

The Germantown Historical Society confirmed that 2100 East Chelten Avenue has gained a second floor! It is framed and stucco is being applied, plus it appears the entire building is getting a facelift. The attached is the earliest photo of this upgrade, but a lot has changed since them. Please confirm these improvements and post a photo so we don't need to wait for the return of the GoogleMobile ... thanks!

Chelten Grille viewed from west side of 21st Street near intersection with East Chelten Avenue. Original photograph corrected to eliminate perspective distortion, but not curvature distortion evident in front door frame.

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The Google Mobile took this photograph of 2100 East Chelten Avenue from 21st Street in the Summer of 2018. The doorway is the same, but the thermometer on the door frame is gone and a ladder is leaning against the wall. Restaurant kitchens are hot places to work and are often simply ventilated rather than air conditioned. This doorway was presumably left open for ventilation and deliveries from trucks parked on 21st Street. Although the door is on the south side of the building it is shaded by the adjacent property and trees, which made it a gathering spot for the kitchen and wait staff and for smoke breaks!