South Philly's E Passyunk Avenue has bid farewell to a beloved institution, as Marra's Pizzeria, a stalwart of Italian-American cuisine, closed its doors after nearly 100 years of serving loyal customers. The iconic black-and-white tiled building, now vacant, is set to be reborn next year with the arrival of EMei, a Szechuan restaurant with plans for an expansion into Chinatown.
Emei's projected opening date is slated for summer 2026 or later, although representatives for the eatery were tight-lipped about its intentions. Owner Dan Tsao indicated that while the menu would largely remain faithful to the original location, there would be room for more innovative offerings to appeal to modern tastes. Customers can expect takeout and delivery options as soon as February, pending renovations to the newly acquired space.
Emei's success story began in 2011, when its first location at 915 Arch Street opened its doors. Word of its extensive and authentic Szechuan menu spread quickly, establishing it as one of the city's top recommendations for the cuisine. The restaurant's commitment to tradition has been a hallmark of its identity.
In contrast, Marra's Pizzeria has been a South Philly staple since 1927, founded by Italian-American immigrants Salvatore and Chiarina Marra. Over the years, the family-owned business has remained committed to serving homemade pasta, sandwiches, and pizza to generations of loyal patrons.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for the pizzeria's operations, with co-owner Mario D'Adamo Jr. citing difficulties in attracting customers due to a lack of parking options. With Marra's closure, a new era has dawned on E Passyunk Avenue, as EMei prepares to take up residence in the historic building.
Emei's projected opening date is slated for summer 2026 or later, although representatives for the eatery were tight-lipped about its intentions. Owner Dan Tsao indicated that while the menu would largely remain faithful to the original location, there would be room for more innovative offerings to appeal to modern tastes. Customers can expect takeout and delivery options as soon as February, pending renovations to the newly acquired space.
Emei's success story began in 2011, when its first location at 915 Arch Street opened its doors. Word of its extensive and authentic Szechuan menu spread quickly, establishing it as one of the city's top recommendations for the cuisine. The restaurant's commitment to tradition has been a hallmark of its identity.
In contrast, Marra's Pizzeria has been a South Philly staple since 1927, founded by Italian-American immigrants Salvatore and Chiarina Marra. Over the years, the family-owned business has remained committed to serving homemade pasta, sandwiches, and pizza to generations of loyal patrons.
The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for the pizzeria's operations, with co-owner Mario D'Adamo Jr. citing difficulties in attracting customers due to a lack of parking options. With Marra's closure, a new era has dawned on E Passyunk Avenue, as EMei prepares to take up residence in the historic building.
It's not just about keeping the old traditions alive but also about giving room for innovation and evolution, especially when it comes to pleasing modern tastes! Change is inevitable & Marra's Pizzeria's legacy lives on thru new doors 
marra's pizzeria was literally a piece of history and it's crazy that it's closing its doors after 100 years... i mean, who wouldn't want to taste their famous homemade pasta and pizza? 
but on the bright side, eMei sounds like an amazing Szechuan restaurant and i'm hyped to try it out when it opens in summer 2026 
can't wait to see what delicious food they'll be serving up... and yay for takeout and delivery options soon 
! 100 years of serving amazing Italian-American food is just too much to handle. The new Szechuan restaurant EMei sounds cool and all, but can it replace the love for Marra's? 
I mean, who needs Szechuan when you have classic pizza and pasta?! 
. Can't wait to order my noodles from a restaurant that's been serving them up since before I was born 
... been around Marra's Pizzeria since 1927, can you believe that? I mean, we all love a good slice of pizza, but these guys have been serving up classics for over 90 years! 
... will be interesting to see how EMei adapts to the area, esp since their menu is supposed to stay pretty true to form 
Plus, it's not like they had any problems other than parking... pandemic and all 
. Can we really afford to lose this cultural gem? 
Anyway, EMei better step up their game if they wanna fill those big shoes 
can't wait to try their Szechuan dishes and see how they'll put their own spin on it 
maybe we'll even get some Italian-American meets Szechuan fusion action? 
Takeout and delivery options are also a major plus, 'cause let's be real, who doesn't love getting their fave food delivered? 
EMei's taking over next year, which is kinda cool, but it's just not the same as having Marra's around for us Philly folks who love good ol' fashioned Italian-American food 
I'm hoping they'll keep the pasta and sandwiches on the menu, at least 
Can't wait for takeout and delivery in Feb tho, gotta keep the food coming! 
Can't wait to try it out when they open up later this year 
. I'm gonna miss it so much! But on the bright side, EMei is supposed to bring some fresh flavors to the neighborhood... Szechuan food is always a game-changer 
. Can't wait to try their takeout options in Feb 
they were always so good at making you feel like part of the family 
and i love how they're keeping it traditional but also innovating at the same time 
. But on the other hand, it's awesome to see EMei coming in and bringing some new life (and flavors 
) to the area. Their Szechuan menu sounds lit 
also, renovations to the space will make it even more gorgeous 
can't wait to see what e passyunk avenue has in store for us next! 
and now emei's gonna come in with some new szechuan vibes? idk how im feeling about this... 
i need sources on what kinda renovations are comin and stuff. also, why 2026 for opening? cant we get some deets on that? 