Coffee and wine bar with Carlino’s-led menu opening in Navy Yard
- barninimitra
- Dec 14, 2025
- 3 min read
By Paul Schwedelson I Dec 15, 2025 I Updated Dec 15, 2025 10:04am EST
A coffee and wine bar is coming to the Philadelphia Navy Yard, another step in the evolution of the mixed-use mega development.
Happy Bear Coffee Co. will lease 3,036 square feet on the ground floor of the lab building at 1201 Normandy Place, between Central Green Park and Chapel Plaza. Construction on the coffee shop is planned to begin this month with a scheduled opening in early 2026.
In addition to coffee and wine, Happy Bear’s menu will include sandwiches, breakfast items, soups, salads, tomato pie and grab-and-go offerings. Happy Bear is partnering on the menu with Carlino’s Specialty Foods, which has locations in Ardmore and West Chester.
Ensemble Investments and Mosaic Development Partners, the master developers of 109 acres at the Navy Yard, completed 1201 Normandy in 2024.
Happy Bear has been operating its online specialty coffee store since it was founded two years ago by Dan Kredensor and Frank Orman. The Navy Yard will mark its first brick-and-mortar location.
The store’s design includes indoor seating and an outdoor space facing Central Green Park.
“We wanted to create a place that feels like a daily ritual and a small retreat all in one,” Kredensor said in a statement. “With Carlino’s expertise as one of our culinary partners, we’re building a café that brings together wonderful specialty coffee, great flavors and a welcoming atmosphere.”
Longtime friends Kredensor and Orman launched Happy Bear in 2023 after pursuing careers in tech and music, respectively. The Philadelphia company now offers specialty coffee, wine and food experiences. Coffee flavors for sale on Happy Bear's website include Costa Rican, Jamaican, Italian, cinnamon pecan, toasted s'mores, blueberry cobbler and pumpkin spice.
The Navy Yard location will be open 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Happy Bear donates 5% of proceeds to causes selected by customers, including local initiatives and environmental programs.
“Happy Bear represents the type of dynamic, community-focused retail that will define the Navy Yard as it enters its next phase of growth,” Ensemble Vice President of Leasing and Development Nelson Way said in a statement.
Happy Bear joins France-based biotechnology firm BioMérieux as another tenant in the 137,000-square-foot building. BioMérieux, the building’s first tenant, moved into 32,000 square feet of space in September 2024. An advanced manufacturing company occupies a full floor of the building, which is approximately 50% leased. The top two floors, around 75,000 square feet, remain available.
Happy Bear’s announcement comes as AVE Navy Yard readies to debut in the coming weeks. The $285 million mixed-use development includes 614 apartments and 25,000 square feet of retail space across two buildings. It’s the Navy Yard's first residential development, a major step for the $6 billion master-planned project. Ensemble/Mosaic and partner Korman Communities have yet to announce retail tenants at the AVE residential buildings.
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