{"id":105854,"date":"2026-02-05T11:08:06","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:08:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/105854\/"},"modified":"2026-02-05T11:08:06","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T11:08:06","slug":"why-di-brunos-downsizing-isnt-a-huge-surprise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/105854\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Di Bruno\u2019s downsizing isn\u2019t a huge surprise"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hi, Lower Merion<\/a>! \ud83d\udc4b<\/p>\n

Di Bruno Bros. announced it was closing three of its stores<\/a> last week, but the news wasn\u2019t a surprise to some shoppers. Here\u2019s why<\/a>. Also this week, Narberth is home to one of the region\u2019s under-the-radar romantic eateries<\/a>, final construction<\/a> on SEPTA\u2019s Ardmore station is underway, plus one woman\u2019s dismay at Lifecycle Wellness\u2019 closing<\/a>. <\/p>\n

We want your feedback! Tell us what you think of the newsletter by taking our survey<\/a> or emailing us at lowermerion@inquirer.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Some Di Bruno Bros. shoppers were saddened last week to learn that the longtime beloved specialty grocery store was closing three of its locations, including at the Ardmore Farmers Market. But it didn\u2019t come as a shock to everyone, with some who say there\u2019s been a noticeable decline in quality in recent years. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhy am I going to pay upmarket prices for a midmarket product?\u201d one former shopper told The Inquirer\u2019s Denali Sagner. <\/p>\n

Some blamed the decline on Di Bruno\u2019s new owner, Brown\u2019s Super Stores, which purchased a stake in the stores in 2024. Its brand was later brought under the Wakefern Food Corp. portfolio. But Brown\u2019s executive vice president said Di Bruno\u2019s was \u201cvery distressed\u201d and despite its efforts was unable to bring back lost business. <\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what other shoppers had to say about Di Bruno\u2019s shrinking footprint<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udca1 Community News<\/p>\n

The final phase of construction<\/a> on the Ardmore SEPTA station got underway on Sunday and is expected to continue through the next few weeks, though a SEPTA spokesperson said the agency doesn\u2019t yet have a date for completion. Work will take place weekdays from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and on weekends from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. and will include finishing the roof, installing message boards, adjusting and testing elevators, making ADA-compliant adjustments, and painting. <\/p>\n

Lower Merion police said two people were taken into custody by ICE during a vehicle stop Friday. In response to community concerns, LMPD yesterday reiterated that it doesn\u2019t participate<\/a> in programs deputizing local police as federal immigration agents. The department added that residents who see police activity but no marked LMPD presence can call 911 so it can verify the legitimacy, but added that officers will not interfere if federal agents are acting legally. <\/p>\n

Lankenau Medical Center and Bryn Mawr Hospital both recently ranked among America\u2019s 250 Best Hospitals<\/a> by Healthgrades. The rankings, released last week, are awarded to the top 5% of institutions in the nation for \u201coverall clinical excellence.\u201d <\/p>\n

In an opinion piece, a local physician lamented the loss of Lifecycle Wellness in Bryn Mawr, which is closing its doors on Feb. 15<\/a> after facing financial pressure. Cara Lea Smith is one of the thousands who gave birth there and found comfort in its \u201chomelike\u201d setting. Read more about the physician\u2019s experience and why she feels the closure is devastating<\/a>. <\/p>\n

A former Villanova University professor has filed a federal lawsuit claiming she was fired in 2024 after accusing the law school of racial discrimination involving one of her students. The Inquirer\u2019s Susan Snyder delves into the details<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Main Line Today<\/a> recently took a look inside a 1980s Gladwyne home that\u2019s been updated with a timeless look, complete with a neutral color palette. The 8,000-square-foot home\u2019s dining room has a hand-painted de Gournay wallcovering inspired by Japan\u2019s Kiso Mountains and a large dressing room off the primary suite. <\/p>\n

Philadelphia Jewish Exponent<\/a> recently profiled Rabbi Daniel Levitt, the director of adult Jewish learning at Gratz College. The Bala Cynwyd resident reflected on his passion for connecting people to \u201cJewish intellectual heritage.\u201d <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfeb Schools Briefing<\/p>\n

Lower Merion and Harriton won\u2019t be merging their football teams<\/a> anytime soon. Lower Merion School District\u2019s board of directors last week declined to add a vote to merge<\/a> to the agenda, keeping in line with Superintendent Frank Ranelli\u2019s previous recommendation not to merge the teams. <\/p>\n

Lower Merion High School\u2019s winter drama, Eurydice, kicks off tonight and runs through Sunday. Penn Wynne is hosting its \u201cSpecial Persons Dance\u201d for second and third graders tomorrow evening. There are school board committee meetings Monday evening and home school association meetings on Tuesday. There are no classes next Thursday, which is a staff professional development day, and the district is closed on Friday. See the district\u2019s full calendar here<\/a>. <\/p>\n

Students in third through eighth grade who have a sibling with special needs can join an upcoming \u201cSibShops\u201d Zoom<\/a>, where they can connect, share experiences, and play games. The six, one-hour sessions will take place Wednesdays from 5 to 6 p.m., starting on Feb. 18. Registration is required. <\/p>\n

Families interested in having a table at next month\u2019s Taste of Penn Wynne must sign up by Feb. 7<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf7d\ufe0f On our Plate<\/p>\n

Looking for a place to dine this Valentine\u2019s Day? Coco Thai Bistro in Narberth is among the region\u2019s under-the-radar romantic dining spots<\/a>, according to The Inquirer\u2019s food reporters. The menu at the tropical greenhouse-inspired BYOB combines homestyle Thai curries with street food, Beatrice Forman reports. <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfb3 Things to Do<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc09 The Neverending Story<\/a>: Catch a screening of the 1984 cult classic. There\u2019s another screening later this month. \u23f0 Saturday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m. \ud83d\udcb5 $6.75-$7.75 \ud83d\udccd Bryn Mawr Film Institute <\/p>\n

\ud83c\udf6a Teen-Time Cookie Decorating<\/a>: Teens 13 to 17 can decorate cookies then take some home. Registration is required. \u23f0 Monday, Feb. 9, 7-8 p.m. \ud83d\udcb5 Free \ud83d\udccd Penn Wynne Library<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udc0e Lunar New Year Crafternoon<\/a>: Celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse by making a themed craft at this drop-in event. \u23f0 Wednesday, Feb. 11, 3-5 p.m. \ud83d\udcb5 Free \ud83d\udccd Gladwyne Library <\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcdc Remember the Ladies: The Legacy of the Women of Stoneleigh<\/a>: This presentation will highlight some of the most impactful women who lived or worked at Stoneleigh over the centuries. \u23f0 Thursday, Feb. 12, 6:30-7:30 p.m. (Snow date: Feb. 19) \ud83d\udcb5 $2-$20 \ud83d\udccd Stoneleigh, Villanova<\/p>\n

\ud83c\udfe1 On the Market<\/p>\n

A newly built five-bedroom Penn Valley home with an impressive wine cellar<\/a><\/p>\n

This newly built home blends classic design with modern amenities. The first floor features two living rooms, both with fireplaces, a dining room, an office, and an eat-in kitchen with an island and high-end appliances, plus an adjoining butler\u2019s pantry and a wine cellar. There are five bedrooms upstairs, including a spacious primary suite with an oversized walk-in closet outfitted with built-ins, and a bathroom with a double vanity, marble floors, and a soaking tub. It also has a rear patio and a three-car garage. There\u2019s an open house Sunday from noon to 2 p.m.<\/p>\n

See more photos of the home here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Price: $2.995M | Size: 4,830 SF | Acreage: 0.86<\/p>\n

\ud83d\uddde\ufe0f What other Lower Merion residents are reading this week:<\/p>\n

By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n

This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer\u2019s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com\/donate<\/a>. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org\/supporters<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Hi, Lower Merion! \ud83d\udc4b Di Bruno Bros. announced it was closing three of its stores last week, but…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":101501,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[51087,183,185,184,186],"class_list":["post-105854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-lower-merion","tag-di-bruno-closing-ardmore-septa-construction-coco-thai-bistro","tag-lower-merion","tag-lower-merion-headlines","tag-lower-merion-news","tag-lower-merion-township"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105854"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105854\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/101501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}