When the popular Market at DelVal closed in the midst of the pandemic in August 2020, many wondered if Delaware Valley University would find a new use for the scenic property that stretches along Lower State Road in Doylestown Township.
This week, URBN (which owns Urban Outfitters), broke ground on its newest Terrain.
The upscale home and garden store, nursery and event space will bring new life to the site, as the ambitious project broke ground earlier this week.
Terrain at Delaware Valley University has already booked its first wedding on June 30, 2023, according to David Ziel, Urban Outfitters chief development officer.
In addition to bringing a tony garden and home decorating center and lush garden café to Doylestown, the deal also includes an educational piece to the unique partnership, officials said.
Terrain will sell produce, plants and farm goods from the university at its retail store and include those items in its restaurant and catering menus. DelVal students can also apply for paid internships and other employment opportunities at the DelVal Terrain, as well as other locations, a statement on the project said.
A new program, Freight Farm, is in the works, too. The vision, Ziel told Doylestown Township officials earlier, is to have “micro farming in a container for inner cities,” with food grown at DelVal. Any food not used by the university or URBN, he said, would be donated to area food banks.
“The partnership with URBN for Terrain at Delaware Valley University furthers our mission of preparing students for success after graduation,” DelVal president Benjamin Rusiloski said when announcing the project earlier this year.
“We are thrilled that our students will have the opportunity to gain real-world experience with a highly regarded company, and we know that the community is very excited at the prospect of Terrain’s restaurant, retail and event activities.”
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