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PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA – Ensemble/Mosaic today announced that Happy Bear Coffee Company (Happy Bear) has signed a lease to open its flagship café and wine bar at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, reinforcing the momentum of the district’s transformation into a mixed-use community. Happy Bear will lease 3,036 square feet on the ground floor of the multi-tenant lab building at 1201 Normandy Place, located between Central Green Park and Chapel Plaza.
The concept features specialty coffee and a curated wine bar, alongside a refined menu of sandwiches, breakfast items, soups, salads, flatbreads, tomato pie, and other chef-inspired grab-and-go offerings, crafted through one of their culinary partnerships with Carlino’s Specialty Foods, a Philadelphia suburban-based company. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year, with the opening planned for early 2026.
“Happy Bear represents the type of dynamic, community-focused retail that will define the Navy Yard as it enters its next phase of growth,” said Nelson Way, Vice President of Leasing and Development, Ensemble. “Its location at 1201 Normandy places it at the heart of our new retail corridor, and below a bustling life science building. It’s just steps from green space and future residences and helps set the tone for a vibrant neighborhood experience.”
The café marks Happy Bear’s first brick-and-mortar location, expanding upon the success of its two-year-old online specialty coffee store, helmed by co-founders Dan Kredensor and Frank Orman. Happy Bear’s design will feature indoor seating and an outdoor space overlooking the lush five-acre Central Green Park, providing a versatile setting for morning coffee, a quick lunch, or an evening glass of wine.
“We wanted to create a place that feels like a daily ritual and a small retreat all in one,” said Kredensor. “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, right in the heart of the Navy Yard’s most exciting new district.”
Founded in 2023 by longtime friends Dan Kredensor and Frank Orman, Happy Bear emerged from a shared passion for exploring Philadelphia’s café culture during their college years. After pursuing careers in tech and music, respectively, the pair reunited to launch an online coffee business built on quality, community, and a spirit of joy.
Today, Happy Bear has grown into a hospitality-driven brand offering specialty coffee, wine, and food experiences, with a mission to create spaces where people connect. Every purchase also supports community well-being through its commitment to donate 5% of proceeds to causes selected by customers, ranging from local initiatives to environmental programs.
This milestone comes as Ensemble/Mosaic, in partnership with the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), advances its 20-year master plan for the Navy Yard. The plan includes the first residential project in the site’s history, AVE Navy Yard, a $285 million mixed-use development by brought to life by AVE, a division of Korman Communities, in partnership with Ensemble/Mosaic opening in 2026.
The development features 614 apartments and 25,000 square feet of retail. As Happy Bear prepares to open its first brick-and-mortar location this spring, its arrival will further enhance this next phase of growth, introducing a signature food and beverage destination that will elevate daily life for Navy Yard employees, residents, and visitors alike.
