June 2025 Food News in the Brandywine Valley

This month, we’re West Chester-centric.

We’ve Been Screaming …

… since the Hometown Christmas Parade when we first pressed our noses to the windows of Ice Cream West Chester. They heard us and (finally) opened! The latest in Speer Madanat’s food empire (Pizza West Chester, Steaks West Chester), this spot also offers quality, simple, fresh, local ingredients — just taste the milk from Baily’s Dairy. Sample soft serve, custard, dips and more. Plus treats like Dubai chocolate! 14 N. Church St. On Instagram @IceCreamWestChester.

Cheers!

Raise a cup to Iron Hill Brewery’s recent wins at the 2025 World Beer Cup, bringing its national awards to 88, while besting 1,750 breweries from 50 countries. Iron Hill nabbed a silver for its Berliner Weisse and a bronze for a Belgian blonde ale, The Cannibal, the signature beer of the late Chris LaPierre. The Cannibal, a highly rated beer, features cans with artwork honoring LaPierre. 3 W. Gay St., plus many more locations. IronHillBrewery.com.

Coming Soon

At former DeStarr’s Restaurant & Bar (112 E. Gay St.), nearby neighbors dolce Zola — also hosting a pick-up/delivery lasagna-only ghost kitchen, Lasagnola — plan a yet-unnamed restaurant, plus West Chester’s third speakeasy on the lower level. Farther west on busy Gay Street, Blazing J’s (139 W. Gay St.) location will become Bored Trading Café, a Philly-based fast-casual, counter-service eatery offering bagels, smash burgers, handhelds and more. DolceZola.com; BoredTradingCo.com.

Wondering

With a “mission to make great food more accessible,” new food hall Wonder is adding many more dining options to West Chester’s 70-some. This national chain — with five PA locations and five pending — brings food from around the country with delivery, takeout and dine-in dishes from iconic restaurants for lunch and dinner — Bobby Flay steak ($36 filet) to Royal Greens salad ($17 Cobb) anyone? Wonder if that’s too many choices? 706 E. Market St. Wonder.com.

More Beer

West Chester’s beer scene is about to get elevated with the addition of a new location for another award-winning brewery (with James Beard nods): Tired Hands Brewing Company. Started in 2011 in Ardmore, with a taproom in Kennett Square and expansion plans, Tired Hands made a mysterious announcement about the future West Chester location. Said owner Jean Broillet IV, “It’s the most unlikely spot you could ever imagine for a craft brewery.” Location TBD. TiredHands.com.