Kennett Square
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Longwood Gardens’ Spring Blooms Now on View Until May
Spring returns in brilliant color at Longwood Gardens during Spring Blooms, on view March 27 through May 3. The season begins in late March with emerging blooms from hardy bulbs, crocus, and forsythia, followed by the arrival of soft pink cherry blossoms in early April. By mid-April, more than 150,000 tulips and other spring bulbs are expected to…
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Wilmington Developer Buys Two Kennett Square Office Buildings, Plans $34M Redevelopment
Wilmington-based 9th Street Development is acquiring two office buildings in Kennett Square, plans to convert one into apartments while retaining the other as commercial space for office and medical tenants, writes Paul Schwedelson for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The 128 E. State Street building, at 100,000 square feet, will become 60 apartments, while the 101 E. State Street property, at 80,000 square feet,…
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After Building Chatham Financial, Michael Bontrager Turned His Fortune Toward Revitalizing Kennett Square
After hedge fund adviser J. Michael Bontrager built Chatham Financial into an 850-employee powerhouse, he turned his focus into revitalizing Kennett Square and area towns, writes Joseph N. DiStefano for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Bontrager, who stepped down in 2018 as founding head of the investment-risk adviser, has since used a mix of personal funds, private donations, and…
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In Bid to Protect Rare Species, Longwood Gardens Joins Global Anti-Poaching Coalition
In an effort to protect rare species, Kennett Square-based Longwood Gardens has joined the Illegal Plant Trade Coalition, a global alliance working to stop plant pilfering, writes George Weigel for the Penn Live Patriot-News. Through the initiative, which brings together public gardens, scientists, conservation organizations, and enforcement agencies, Longwood Gardens is urging plant buyers to carefully consider where their plants are sourced.…
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Residential Future of Kennett Square’s NVF Site Debated
During the January 5 Kennett Square Borough Council meeting, debate and opposition emerged on whether to advertise rezoning the National Vulcanized Fiber (NVF) company site from industrial to residential, writes Jen Samuel for The Daily Local News. When the issue appeared on the agenda, many residents and some council members voiced concerns about the community’s future. The council ultimately…
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Kennett Square’s Genesis HealthCare Sells for $1 Billion in Fifth-Round Auction
Kennett Square-based Genesis HealthCare has agreed on its sale to 101 West State Street for $1.02 billion following five rounds of bidding last week, writes John George for the Philadelphia Business Journal. The bid for the bankrupt nursing home operator is structured to include $343 million in cash, a $100 million promissory note, and the assumption of $572 million in existing liabilities. 101…
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New Restaurant, Cocktail Bar from Square Roots Collective Coming to Kennett Square
Square Roots Community Initiative, a nonprofit that supports the Kennett Square area, will open a new American restaurant and cocktail bar in Kennett this summer, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. Opus will open in the two-story building at 201 Birch Street, previously home to Hank’s Place diner, which occupied the space while rebuilding its original Chadds…
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Longwood Gardens Introduces New “Gardens by Day & Night” Ticket Upgrade
Visitors to Longwood Gardens already have a more flexible way to experience one of Chester County’s most beloved attractions—by day and by night, all on the same ticket. The Gardens by Day & Night ticket option was introduced last year, giving guests the ability to enjoy the Gardens in two distinct moods, from bright daytime…
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Nineteen-Year-Old Politician Makes History as Kennett Square’s Youngest Elected Council Member
Nineteen-year-old politician Juan Tafolla is making history in Kennett Square as the borough’s youngest ever elected council member, writes Virginia Esteban-Somalo for Impacto. After a long campaign, Tafolla won the Kennett Borough Council election with a record-breaking 1,071 votes. The total marks the highest volume of votes for any candidate in Kennett’s history. Tafolla’s historic…
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Longwood Gardens’ Christmas Festival Drives Economic Boost to Kennett Square
The annual Longwood Christmas festival brings a steady wave of visitors who give Kennett Square and the surrounding towns a noticeable economic boost throughout the holiday season, writes Anthony R. Wood for The Philadelphia Inquirer. Overall, Longwood Gardens has played a “significant role in the area’s growth,” said Nancy Toltain, director of hotel operations at the Hilton Garden…
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A Shimmering Celebration of the Season Debuts at Longwood Gardens
It’s a gem of a holiday season as Longwood Gardens invites guests to step into a shimmering world inspired by the brilliance of gemstones and the magic of the holidays. On view through Jan. 11, 2026, this year’s A Longwood Christmas surrounds guests in dazzling color, radiant light, and extraordinary horticultural artistry. Throughout the conservatories and across…
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Longwood Gardens Boasts Unique Plant Species from All Over the World
One of the most scenic tourist stops in Chester County, Longwood Gardens lets visitors take in unique plant species from all over the world, writes staff for The Martha Blog. With a global reputation for its diverse collection and artistic displays, Longwood Gardens has grown its plant exploration and acquisition program for centuries. Since a…
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Former Landhope Dairy Farm in Kennett Square to Become New Wedding Venue
Jeffrey A. Miller Hospitality Group is partnering with the owners of the former Landhope dairy farm on a $6 million adaptive reuse project to transform the site into a new wedding and event destination in Kennett Square, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. Named Willowdale, the new event space is slated to open…
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Kennett Square’s Kicker Shay Barker Set to Follow Older Brother to Division I Football Next Fall
Kennett Square kicker Shay Barker is set to follow his older brother Ryan Barker into Division I level next fall, when he joins Syracuse University, writes Isabella DiAmore for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The brothers grew up constantly competing, but beneath it all, Shay admired his big brother and wanted to echo his talent. Over time,…
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Square Roots Collective Opening Francis Hotel in Kennett Square
Square Roots Collective is redeveloping an 18th-century building in Kennett Square into an eight-room boutique hotel, Francis Hotel & Suites, that is expected to open in early 2026, writes Emma Dooling for the Philadelphia Business Journal. Square Roots Collective is a nonprofit focused on advancing the Kennett Square community. Stephanie Almanza, the organization’s President and…
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Kennett Square-based Genesis Healthcare Aims to Restructure After Filing for Bankruptcy
Kennett Square-based Genesis Healthcare filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this week, aiming to restructure the debt tied to facilities that it no longer operates, writes Harold Brubaker for The Philadelphia Inquirer. The company has nursing homes in 17 states, including 42 in Pennsylvania and 11 in New Jersey. No immediate interruptions in resident care are…
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Inside Kennett Square’s Long History with the Underground Railroad
As Juneteenth approaches, the Kennett Underground Railroad Center seeks to educate the community on Kennett’s history with the abolitionist movement, writes Madeleine Wright for CBS News Philadelphia. Historic buildings throughout Kennett Square served as stops along the Underground Railroad. The community as a whole was a vital space for abolitionist work throughout the nineteenth century.…
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Kennett Square Pizza Place Named One of the Best Pizza Shops in the World
Kennett Square’s Mezzaluna Wood Fired Pizza has been named one of the best pizza shops in the world, writes Justin Heinze for Patch. The recognition comes from the annual International Pizza Expo, a yearly contest that judges hundreds of pizzerias around the world in a category-specific competition. This year, over five hundred restaurants competed, a…
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