Family, friends and neighbors gathered outside the former T&T bar last winter after 20-year-old Chris Spence was fatally shot following a scuffle inside the establishment. Photo/Shannon McDonald

The Frankford community is once again confronted by the issue of the property at 4691 Hawthorne St., which was formerly the T&T bar.

The T&T was the scene of the murder of Chris Spence last winter, and a new owner has taken over the property with the intention of opening a grocery store.  A zoning petition has been filed, and therefore, support (or lack thereof) from the Frankford Civic Association will be considered before the use can be approved.

Because of community concerns, a meeting is being planned within the next few weeks at the Second Baptist Church at 1801 Meadow St.  The civic will follow the will of the community, as is determined at that meeting.

Read more about Thursday’s Frankford Civic Association from the Frankford Gazette.

Family and friends gathered last February outside the T&T bar to remember Christopher Spence, who was fatally shout outside the now-closed establishment. Photo/Shannon McDonald

Mention of the T&T bar once again raised eyebrows at the Frankford Civic meeting on Thursday night.

Neighbors have been watching with concern as work has been going on at the now-closed bar at Margaret and Hawthorne streets. It has been not quite a year since young Christopher Spence lost his life there in a senseless shooting.

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The Frankford Civic Association voted Thursday night to write a letter of opposition to the city’s Zoning Board, asking it to deny a zoning variance for the development of a new facility for the Bridge, a school for boys suffering from drug, alcohol and behavioral issues.

“We’ve been just overwhelmed with drug-related facilities, so we need to say ‘no’ because we’re the closest civic,” said association president Brian Wisniewski, referencing tumult over whether the local Frankford, Northwood or Juniata neighborhood group had the authority to vote on the facility. “At first, the Bridge wanted to go to Juniata but they got together with Northwood to try to bum rush Frankford… We have something to say too.”

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A judge granted approval today on a ‘611 action’ against Deuces (formerly T&T) bar. Mike Mawson of West Frankford Town Watch tells us the judge denied various requests from the owners and upheld the 611, meaning the facility will be locked down by state police and the liquor license is pulled for a full calendar year.

T&T is the bar where 20-year-old Chris Spence was fatally shot in February.

Jason Dawkins and Maria Quinones-Sanchez comfort Chris Spence's family in front of the Frankford bar where he was fatally shot.

As was discussed at Thursday’s Frankford Civic Association meeting, a hearing has been set of T&T bar. Jason Dawkins, Jorge Santana and the offices of Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez and Rep. Tony Payton have pushed for a ’611 action’ hearing to take action against the bar where Christopher Spence was fatally shot in February. continue reading »

Spence's grandmother Shirley Phelps-Pollard holds up pictures from Spence's Frankford football days.

Police have arrested a teenager for Saturday’s shooting death of Christopher Spence.

Tyrese Ford, 19, has been charged with murder. Authorities say an argument led Ford to shoot Spence, though the two had never met previously. continue reading »

Shirley Phelps-Pollard holds pictures of grandson Christopher Spence during his days playing football for Frankford High School. Spence's mother, Javese Phelps-Washington, (r) says she forgives the man who fatally shot her son.

Early Saturday morning, Christopher Spence died. The 20-year-old former Frankford High School football player was shot once in the chest after a scuffle inside T&T bar at Margaret and Hawthorne streets.

His friends, family and former teammates gathered outside the bar this afternoon, which the owner has closed temporarily, to honor Spence and take action.

“They killed my boy,” Spence’s mother, Javese Phelps-Washington, sobbed over and over, standing at the corner outside the bar. Bundled in coats, hats and gloves, the crowd grew larger as more came to comfort Phelps-Washington. continue reading »