Manayunk has been fairly quiet for quite some time.
For a decade back in the late 1980s and 1990s, the onetime mill town by the Schuylkill was the go-to strip, hopping with new retail and restaurants. But by 1997, a movement backed by parking-strapped residents and abetted by restaurateurs who felt that more competition was bad lobbied their district councilman, Michael Nutter, to get Council to approve a five-year restaurant moratorium.
In the meantime, the new-restaurant action at least moved to Old City, Northern Liberties and Queen Village.
On Wednesday (6/11), Manayunk moved a step closer to getting fresh life: a "riverwalk" of storefronts and restaurants along the towpath that follows the canal behind Main Street, which would spark things up in the rear of the commercial strip. A City Council committee yesterday sent a bill to the full Council to allow an elevated outdoor deck behind Bourbon Blue restaurant at 2 Rector St. The Historical Commission and Licenses & Inspections also have to approve.
