Ulta Beauty in Rittenhouse close to opening
It looks like another big beauty destination is about to open around Rittenhouse Square.
If locals have yet to see the giant orange signs and happy face of a model splayed across the glass windows of 1619 Walnut Street, they should expect this addition to Center City - soon.
Rittenhouse Square is getting another big beauty destination, located in the building once occupied by Westinghouse Broadcasting and renovated by Vesper Property Group - which according to the Inquirer, cost the landlord a whopping $6.5 million, in addition to the initial purchase of the building for $7.4 million.
It was announced in 2011 that Ulta Beauty was opening in Center City, but we're told the project was halted until zoning codes were approved. What's allowed Ulta to grow as a corporate cosmetics force is its "one-stop shopping" concept which caters to beauty buffs. The retailer carries prestige, fragrance, mass, and salon products, in addition to full hair and beauty services offered in-house. This means shoppers can walk into the store, pick up their favorite Benefit mascara along with a new set of tweezers, and step onto Walnut with a blowout before an event- perfectly polished for spring and summertime events.
The tri-level beauty store is the retailer's first spot in Center City, and Ulta's third urban outpost. There are currently 550 Ulta locations across the country. 11 of those stores are found in the Greater Philadelphia region.