Former Chocolate Factory for Lease in Bridesburg

A handsome brick building on the National Historic Register could see a major upgrade

It might not surprise you given Southeast PA’s penchant for tasty foodstuffs, but Philadelphia has long been one of the centers of the American candy-making industry. While some of the other older factories have sadly met their maker, the Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Factory at 2201 Margaret St. in Bridesburg is a happy exception. This building was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year, having first opened in 1922 before manufacturing the likes of Raisinettes until 1984. After the company was sold to Nestle, the building now sits empty as a reminder of the area’s industrial past.

An aerial view of the former chocolate factory

Another look at the grand but neglected structure, courtesy of the National Park Service

But thanks to a recent LoopNet listing, it appears that there may be a much different future for this three-story, ICMX-zoned spot. The listing shows a spruced-up factory building, complete with parking and the option to incorporate the adjacent one-story building as well. The interiors are also refreshed, showing the potential for an office or flex-space option. Let’s check out the lovely renderings from IS Architects.

A rendering of what the future could hold

A much different view of the same angle today

Refreshed landscaping and fencing could also be a part of the plans

A look at the new windows and contemporary entrances

An industrial-inspired look feeling fresh and airy

A clean look for the updated interiors

For a building that is offering very little at the moment, this sort of concept is just wonderful. It is fantastic to see such a handsome building getting a second life, especially when it’s not mandated by local laws; while this is on the national register, it is noticeably absent on the local register. As such, this structure could have easily been demolished with a non-descript warehouse taking its place. We are thrilled, however, that the owners are spending the time, effort, and money to get this back up and running in a functional manner that aligns with the needs of today. With some other awesome adaptive reuse projects already finished close by, we hope to see more of these former industrial relics get a new lease on life.