Naturally our thoughts turned to the potential for cool, booze-related enterprises to populate some of the 9th Street Market’s (aka the Italian Market) vacant stands when news broke last month of the city’s plan to let the local business association take control of them.

If Pollyodd can hawk its locally produced limoncello from a storefront on nearby Passyunk Avenue, could a nano-brewery filling growlers amongst the Market’s produce carts be far off?

With the rate at which Pennsylvania eases its ancient liquor laws though, it could be decades before the sort of curbside carousing we envision ever materializes.

In the meantime, Torero Bar, a new tapas and paella spot just set up shop on Ninth Street near Carpenter. With tapas and pinxtos — the extremely drink-friendly snacks found in most bars throughout Spain — and the obligatory libations that make them so much fun to eat offered, it adds something completely new to the Market’s limited drinking options.

Passyunk Post’s Albert Stumm, who got the first word on the place, and quickly followed up this week with more details and photos when it opened, reports it’s owned by former Mixto chef Miguel Martí Rossello, and that along with the Spanish bar standards like garlic shrimp, patatas bravas, octopus, and jamon Iberico, his new venture offers some more sophisticated fare like seafood entrees and paella.

Zagat Philly came through with more photos, and details on Torero’s weeknight happy hours, which serves up some pretty amazing deals, including $2 short-pours of beer and wine, and $4 tapas and pintxos. What’s more, it will stay open until 2 AM on Fridays and Saturdays, and serve food until 1 AM.

Torero, 940 S. Ninth St.

Photo: Passyunk Post