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Mi Casa restaurant licensed at Philadelphia's 3151 Market Street

Mi Casa restaurant licensed at Philadelphia's 3151 Market Street

Built World Philadelphia, PA local

D.C.-based KNEAD Hospitality + Design expands into University City with a Tex-Mex concept

October 15th, 2026: Philadelphia issues Mi Casa business licence

Overview

Updated Oct 25

Philadelphia issued a business licence on October 15 to Mi Casa Philly, a Tex-Mex restaurant from Washington, D.C.-based KNEAD Hospitality + Design. The licence covers food preparing and serving for 30 or more seats at 3151 Market Street in University City.

Mi Casa is KNEAD's entry into the University City market. The group's Mi Vida concept opened at East Market in March 2026. A business licence is one of several approvals a new restaurant needs; it does not mean Mi Casa has opened.

Why it matters

KNEAD's licence marks a D.C. restaurant group's first concrete step into Philadelphia's University City dining market.

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Key Indicators

30+
Seats authorized by the licence
The business licence covers food preparing and serving for 30 or more seats.
1
Business licence issued to Mi Casa Philly
City records show this licence was first issued to the licensee on October 15, 2026.

Voices

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People Involved

Jason Berry
Jason Berry
Co-founder and co-owner, KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Leading the group's Philadelphia expansion
MR
Michael Reginbogin
Co-founder and co-owner, KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Co-leading the group's Philadelphia expansion
RS
Roberto Santibanez
Founding culinary director, Mi Vida
Opened Mi Vida with KNEAD in 2018; Juan Pablo Loza succeeded him as Mi Vida's culinary director
 Juan Pablo Loza
Juan Pablo Loza
Culinary director, Mi Vida
Named Mi Vida's culinary director in 2026, replacing founding director Roberto Santibañez

Organizations Involved

HD
KNEAD Hospitality + Design
Restaurant group
Mi Vida open at East Market; Mi Casa holds a business licence at 3151 Market Street but has not reported opening

Washington, D.C.-based restaurant group operating full-service and fast-casual concepts.
City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections
City of Philadelphia Department of Licenses and Inspections
Municipal department
Issued the business licence to Mi Casa Philly

City agency that issues business licences for food establishments in Philadelphia.

Timeline

2015 October 2026

5 events Latest: October 15th, 2026 · 4 weeks ago
Tap a bar to jump to that date

  1. Philadelphia issues Mi Casa business licence

    Latest Regulatory

    City issues food preparing and serving licence for 30+ seats to Mi Casa Philly.

  2. Juan Pablo Loza named Mi Vida culinary director

    Personnel

    Loza succeeds founding culinary director Roberto Santibañez at Mi Vida, with a new menu set to debut on October 13.

  3. Mi Vida opens at East Market in Philadelphia

    Opening

    KNEAD Hospitality + Design's Mi Vida restaurant opened at East Market in early March, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

  4. Mi Casa announced for University City

    Announcement

    WhatNow reported KNEAD's Tex-Mex concept would open this fall at 3151 Market Street.

  5. KNEAD Hospitality founded

    Company

    Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin found the D.C.-based restaurant group.

Scenarios

1

Mi Casa Opens Before Year-End

Possible Resolves by End of 2026

Discussed by: WhatNow Philadelphia reported the fall opening plan

KNEAD planned Mi Casa for fall 2026. The October business licence is a step in that direction. If construction and approvals finish on schedule, the restaurant begins serving at 3151 Market Street before December 31.

2

Mi Casa Opening Slips to 2027

Possible Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Constructed from typical restaurant approval timelines

Restaurants need more than a business licence: inspections, equipment, and staffing can delay openings. If Mi Casa misses its fall target, it likely opens in early 2027 rather than this year.

Historical Context

One moment from history that rhymes with this story — and how it unfolded.

2015

KNEAD Hospitality founded (2015)

Jason Berry and Michael Reginbogin founded KNEAD Hospitality + Design in Washington, D.C. The group grew into a James Beard-nominated portfolio spanning Mexican, Southern, French, American, and steak restaurants plus fast-casual concepts.

Then

KNEAD built a reputation in D.C.'s dining scene with a diverse set of concepts.

Now

The group is now expanding beyond D.C. into Philadelphia with Mi Casa and Mi Vida.

Why this matters now

This is the same group now entering Philadelphia, where a single business licence is one early step in a multi-stage opening process.

Sources

(5)
OpenDataPhilly WhatNow Philadelphia The Philadelphia Inquirer Philly Grub FSR magazine