October 12, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

From 'pumps' to paninis, architectural gem at a Crossroads
by ERIC M. STERNFELS

An exterior view of Crossroads. (Photos by Eric Sternfels)

Eric Sternfels, of Mt. Airy, is a state registered architect, although he is currently working as an artist, developing his “Pourtensious” lighting, which he markets to tea and coffee businesses.

We are blessed to live in an area rich with architectural history. In the Chestnut Hill environs, we don’t have to drive or even walk very far to see buildings that span our nation’s entire history. Exciting architectural interior spaces are a bit less frequently experienced, although there are so many in the immediate area that we tend to take them for granted.

Great commercial spaces, however, are a significantly rarer find since the nature of American commerce seems to change so quickly in our capitalist culture. Commercial interiors tend to be successively rebuilt to reflect the latest economic and fashion trends of each generation. Perhaps this has been good for commerce, but sadly, in doing so we lose some of our cultural roots as these interiors are destroyed.

Anyone who had the pleasure of frequenting Young’s Candies in Brewerytown could not help but be delighted by a commercial interior that looked as if time stood still for over a century until its closing in April of this year after the passing of its forth generation family proprietor. Sadly, its contents were dispersed at auction in June. But another of these precious gems, which had become worn and buried in clutter, has recently been revived and revealed, and it’s close to home.

Enter: Crossroads, a coffee house, opened on February 11 of this year at 6156 Ridge Ave. in Roxborough. Although not historically or architecturally pure, Crossroads is the rebirth of a splendid showroom built for Forster’s Shoes, in business selling footwear from the1920s until just a few years ago. This warp of space, time and architecture which was once a fashionable emporium for wing tips and sling backs - later a reliable source for Catholic school shoes and custom-fitted orthotics - now offers up espresso and panini sandwiches in style.

Stained glass medallion in leaded glass ceiling shows the name, Albert Forster, owner of the 1920s showroom for shoes. Forster had a workroom upstairs for making custom shoes.

Outside, the newly renovated facade with its black-painted trim is reminiscent of an Olde English pub. But once through the door, you’ll find yourself between showcase windows where, for three-quarters of a century, the latest shoe styles were arranged for customer inspection. Inside, original woodwork is offset by a sleek granite counter and new pastry case chilling gourmet desserts. Order your caramel macchiato or pumpkin spice caffe au lait in small, medium or large.

Then, you can sit, sip and surf (free wireless internet access) where once-upon-a-time your foot might have been measured for the perfect pair of pumps. This perfectly proportioned two-story space is filled with daylight, thanks to its original leaded glass skylight with medallions depicting cobblers’ tools. Look up through the balusters of the room’s perimeter mezzanine, and you’ll still see built-in shelving once filled with a stock of shoe boxes. This dining room is so romantic, you’ll want to savor it along with your peanut butter banana honey smoothie ($3.50).

Co-owner Michael Loughlin grew up in East Falls and Roxborough and became aware of the space when it was purchased by the Roxborough Development Corporation, which hoped to preserve this diamond-in-the-rough as part of their campaign to revive the Ridge Avenue business corridor. Acting quickly when the space became available, Loughlin, together with his wife, Amelia, decided to create a coffee house, a community gathering place that would take advantage of this architectural gem.

Within three months of taking over the space, Amelia and Michael opened the doors to Crossroads. The old chandeliers, rewired but subdued by vintage patina, are juxtaposed with glossy new pendant lighting. Layers of old flooring were removed to reveal the original wood floor, which still shows the scars of a myriad of carpet nails painstakingly removed by the owners.

Crossroads is becoming a community oasis. The coffee house also showcases small artworks by area artists amid its collection of French cafe posters. Also, local acoustic musicians can be heard at Crossroads on Friday and Saturday evenings and on Open Mike Thursday evenings. And Amelia Loughlin reports that the Monday night knitting circle convenes at 7 p.m. For more information, call 215-487-1923.

Crossroads serves fairly-traded Green Mountain Coffee and Lavazza espresso. Convenient free parking is also available in nearby public parking lots.