The Ugly Duckling Is Already Closed

A couple of months after it lost its co-owner/chef, and just four months after it opened, The Ugly Duckling is now closed. The restaurant, at 212 S. 11th Street, was from Joe Callahan and Kris Serviss, the duo behind Blue Duck, a hit BYOB in Northeast Philly they opened in 2014. This past summer, Callahan and Serviss opened Blue Duck on Broad in the former Bop space on Broad Street, quickly following it with The Ugly Duckling. Serviss left all three restaurants in October, saying he was forced out.

The Ugly Duckling closed over the holidays, with Callahan telling Philly.com the issue was a lack of customers. “Sometimes you have to cut your losses,” he said.

Callahan added to Eater that Serviss’ departure was not connected to the restaurant closing.

Unlike the original Blue Duck, The Ugly Duckling had a liquor license, so patrons could get a drink to go with their burgers, fried chicken sandwiches, and duck fat fries. Blue Duck on Broad also has a liquor license, and a big bar to boot.

It doesn’t sound like Blue Duck or Blue Duck on Broad are affected by The Ugly Duckling’s closure.

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