Bernie's Restaurant Getting New Tenant In Hatboro

HATBORO, PA —The shuttered Bernie's Restaurant & Bar building will be getting a new tenant.

The owner of GypsyBlu, a popular eatery in nearby Ambler, told Patch that he is signing a lease to take over the property at 58 S. York Rd. and is rebranding it under the new name of Ross & Co., Kitchen, Taps, Cocktails. See the banner below.

A banner is expected to be displayed in the front window of the restaurant, just in time for Sunday's holiday parade, owner Bob Ross said.

Ross said a lease is expected to be signed in the next day or so.

"We will immediately start doing changes," Ross said about the property. He expects to open sometime after the new year, once a liquor license is obtained from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

Ross said he has more than 45 years in the restaurant business, including 19 years with TGIF. He took over the GypsyBlu Amber location in June 2020 during the pandemic and has the business thriving, winning numerous Best of Montgomery County restaurant awards.

"We are extremely good at what we do," he said. "I will do the same for Hatboro."

Ross said that the menu will be similar to GypsyBlu, which serves upscale, casual American fare and is known for specialty cocktails and an extensive wine list.

Borough officials previously said the Bernie's property was drawing a great deal of interest.

Bernie's closure came just after a raid by state authorities last month for a liquor license violation.

Bernie's in Hatboro had been cited by the Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, before.

In a March report, the liquor control board found that Bernie's served an "unlimited or indefinite amount" of alcoholic beverages for 31 days over five months, including unlimited mimosas that were served at a set price of $21.

Another nearby Bernie's property was recently sold and is under new ownership.

Dan and Chelsea Katz, owners of West Ave Grille Restaurant & Food Truck and Pizza Wheel in Jenkintown, are taking over the former Bernie’s Restaurant & Bar property at 391 Highland Ave. in Glenside.

(Photo courtesy of Bob Ross)