For the group’s first location outside the regional D.C. market, Knead Hospitality is bringing its upscale Mexican restaurant Mi Vida to the new East Market development in mid-2025.
The over 8,000-square-foot restaurant will take up the first floor of the development’s 1100 Ludlow Street building, along with MOM’s Organic Market. The East Market space is near Reading Terminal Market, the Pennsylvania Convention Center, and major hotels, according to Knead Hospitality co-founder Jason Berry.
“It’s in the heart of the tourist quarter of Philly, and it’s a cool development… we think this is a good next move for us,” Berry told Eater.
The original Mi Vida marked Mexico City-born celebrity chef Roberto Santibañez’s first splash in Washington, D.C. in 2018. The collaboration between the restaurant group and Santibañez has grown to three D.C. locations serving up high-end Mexican dishes like corn cakes topped with caviar, mole-soaked enchiladas, and citrus-spiked tres leches cake. The spaces are known for featuring tree-shaped sculptures with neon flowers, lending to a dark jungle aesthetic brightened by colorful murals and patterns inspired by Mexican textiles.
Berry and his husband and business partner, Michael Reginbogin, toured the Philadelphia space in 2022 and have been negotiating a contract and planning construction of the restaurant ever since. They decided that Philly would be the first stop for their expansion — outside of the capital region where they have sixteen restaurants, including Mah-Ze-Dahr and Succotash — because of their personal ties to Philadelphia. Berry lived in Philly for two years while attending the Wharton School for his business degree and Reginbogin lived in the city for a year when he worked for restaurateur Stephen Starr.
“Philly just seems like a natural fit. It’s easy to get to. It’s got a great restaurant scene. It’s got a great community. It’s heavy in tourism,” Berry said.
This year’s new Mi Vida outpost is also just the beginning of their Philly plans, with the group “negotiating a second deal now” to bring another one of their concepts to the city and a goal of opening up to four new spots in the greater Philadelphia area in the coming years.
Beyond Philly, Knead Hospitality is also breaking into the Virginia Beach market this year. The group plans to open a fifth Mi Vida and another location of their steakhouse concept, The Grill, in Virginia Beach later this year in musical artist Pharrell William’s new Atlantic Park development.
