Kiehl’s vanishes suddenly from Rittenhouse Row

Some time yesterday, Kiehl’s, the popular skin and cosmetics chain at 18th and Walnut, got the boot from their prime Rittenhouse Square digs. They were told to get out by end of day, and so they did – quickly moving into temporary space somewhere along Chestnut Street (we’re not sure where, yet).

Today, the windows were fogged over and workers were busy inside ripping interior finishings out to clear the space for potential new tenants. By the end of the day, it looks like their work will be done – just like that, in less than 24 hours, it’s as if Kiehl’s was never in the space to begin with.

We’re looking for an answer as we write – and we’re not entirely sure what is up or why they were ‘forced’ from their space. According to workers at the store now who are in charge of tearing down the old space, several prospective tenants have already walked through the space. Perhaps it was a rent issue; maybe a prospective higher-end tenant bought rights to the space, somehow?

There’s a lot of unanswered questions to this developing story, so if anyone out there can fill in the blanks, please do so. Let’s just hope Kiehl’s finds space somewhere else in Center City – and quickly. They’re definitely a welcomed business that perhaps a street like Chestnut could use a bit more of.

Photo by the author