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Pistola's Del Sur coming to East Passyunk

The Mexican beer bar will take the former Palladino's (1934 E. Passyunk Ave.)

The former Palladino's at 1934 E. Passyunk Ave. will become Pistola's Del Sur.
The former Palladino's at 1934 E. Passyunk Ave. will become Pistola's Del Sur.Read moreMICHAEL KLEIN/ Staff

Joe Gunn, Casey Parker, and Adan Trinidad – backed by longtime manager Adam Anderson – are heading down south for a third Pistola's Mexican-style beer bar.

That's south as in East Passyunk Avenue in South Philadelphia.

Pistola's Del Sur, aiming for Sept. 1, will occupy the former Palladino's (1934 E. Passyunk Ave.), which has been empty since July 2016 after that Italian restaurant, owned by Luke Palladino, collapsed in bankruptcy. The restaurant's pizza ovens will be used for Mexican pizza. The wood-burning grill won't be used.

Don't expect a tame look and feel at Pistola's Del Sur. Parker, who is taking the lead in the concept and its build-out, said the atmosphere will call to mind the Jane's Addiction album Ritual de lo Habitual – "trippy, sexy, and awesome. Music-driven. Right now, the outside looks like a Nifty Fifty's."

These guys like to set up on corners. Jose Pistola's holds down 15th and Manning Streets in Rittenhouse, and Sancho Pistola's took over in 2014 at Girard and Leopard Streets in Fishtown.

On a more, shall we say polished note, this summer East Passyunk will see the debut of Barcelona Wine Bar, the strip's first out-of-town restaurant operation, in the former A Man's Image store at 1709 E. Passyunk (at 12th Street).