Project

Also known as: Charles H. Bean & Co. (stock brokers) (1926-c. 1931); Jimmy Duffy's Cafe (1934-1948); Helen Sigel Wilson's (initally called 1523) (1950-c. 1971); Charles' (1974); Le Bec-Fin (1983-2013)
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Published References

  • Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission Cultural Resources Database
    Links: View citation information

    Client/Project Name: (untitled)

     
  • Philadelphia Real Estate Record and Builders' Guide, v. 41, p. 154, 3/10/1926
    Links: View citation information

    Client/Project Name: Bank

    Architect Referenced: Tilden, Register & Pepper (fl. 1926-1936)

     
  • Activities of Day in Real Estate. Philadelphia Inquirer (25 Jan 1922): 7. "Walnut Street Property sold for Price in excess of $6000 a Front Foot...Mastbaum Brothers & Fleisher, representing Dr. S. Solis-Cohen, have sold the brownstone property at 1525 Walnut street, assessed at $90,000, for a price reported to be in excess of $6000 a front foot. The purchaser was Jules E. Mastbaum, who is having plans prepared for the erection of a two-story and basement building, suitable for brokerage and banking offices. The lot is 20 x 120 feet."
     
  • Advertisement. Philadelphia Inquirer (4 Oct 1926): 22. "Chas. H. Bean & Co....Members of the Philadelphia and New York Stock Exchange, announce the removal of their offices to 1523 Walnut Street...October 4, 1926..."
     
  • Advertisement. Philadelphia Inquirer (18 Jun 1930): 18. "Accounts Carried on Conservative Margin. J.A. Sisto & Co., members New York Stock Exchange, Philadelphia Stock Exchange. 1523 Walnut Street, Philadelphia. 68 Wall Street, New York."
     
  • Activities of Day in Real Estate. Philadelphia Inquirer (1 Aug 1934): 22. "1523 Walnut St., ground floor with basement, has been rented by James J. Duffy from Cooper Howell, et al. Mirkil Valedes & Co. negotiated the lease."
     
  • Advertisement. Philadelphia Inquirer (3 Jun 1948): 34. "Sale or Rent 1523 Walnut St., 2 Stories and Basement Store Bldg. Excellent condition. 20 x 117 to Moravian St. William I. Kirkil Co..."
     
  • "Golf is this restaurater's dish." Philadelphia Inquirer (27 Aug 1950): 144. "Helen Sigel, is noted for her drive...both in golf and in the restaurant business...[she's] been helping brother Bob operate their cafe at 1918 Chestnut st. since she took over for him when he went off to World War II. Now she's going to have her own restaurant at 1523 Walnut st. She was deep in remodeling Jimmy Duffy's old place, while keeping things humming at "1918"..."
     
  • The Wilsons will open L'Auberge in Wayne. Philadelphia Inquirer (14 May 1967): 90. "Helen and Charles Wilson's now-being-constructed Main Line restaurant is schedule to open in September. To be called l'Auberge, it is being built along French country lines...an artist's rendering of l'Auberge is now on display at 1523 Walnut st., where Helen and Charlie Wilson have their excellent, long established, center-city restaurant. The Wilsons intent to run both restaurants--the one in town as well as the one in Wayne. Food authority-author James A. Beard is their culinary adviser."
     
  • Corr, John. On the Town. Philadelphia Inquirer (11 July 1982): 129. "The restaurant generally considered to be the best in Philadelphia, Le Bec-Fin, will be moving soon. It will occupy the same location--1523 Walnut St.--that was the home of La Banquette, and before that, La Peche d'Argent, and before that, Charles', and before that, Helen Sigel Wilson's. the new restaurant will be larger and will have a sit-down bar."
     
  • Corr, John. On the Town. Philadelphia Inquirer (13 July 1982): 37. "I said that the future home of Le Bec-Fin, 1523 Walnut St., had housed another restaurant since the time it was Helen Sigel Wilson's in the 1940s. I've learned since that the first restaurant at the location was called Jimmy Duffy's, and it opened when Prohibition was repealed. Most of Jimmy's customers were Main Line society types, a clientele that was inherited by Helen Sigel Wilson's. These customers drifted away when the place became Charles' and, later, La Banquette, but you can bet that Le Bec-Fin will bring them back to 1523 Walnut St."
     
  • Klein, Michael, "On the Ball: Helen Sigel Wilson's Lively resume...." Philadelphia Inqurer (8 Mar 1998): 230. [two page profile discussing her life and restaurants].
     

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