Ross & Co. Threatens Closure Without Hatboro Help

HATBORO, PA —It was supposed to be a crown jewel, a "Cheers" for a community where everyone knows everybody's name in a community trying to get its footing in a transformation from past to present.

But six months after opening, the owner of Ross & Co. is threatening to shutter its operations if he doesn't get some help from borough officials.

"Gamburg's is boarded up. You're going to have a second boarded-up business soon," Bob Ross told the Hatboro Borough Council at its Nov. 18 meeting.

Ross appeared to complain that he has received little assistance from borough officials in trying to establish the business he opened in May to replace the home of the former Bernie's restaurant at 58 S. York Rd.

"A businessman told me I was a fool to open here," Ross said. "I'm a highly successful businessman who purchased a restaurant in Ambler during the pandemic. But this has been more difficult than that. I chose this location thinking that it would be a win."

Several borough council members responded that they support the business with Councilwoman Nicole Shay saying that she even held a family gathering there.

Ross has 45 years in the restaurant business, including 19 years with TGIF.

Ross 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.

He said, though, that borough permits and fees are 10 times what he paid in Ambler.

"I paid $1,500 for a hearing that lasted seven minutes for a liquor license," Ross stated. "Your lawyers charged me $3,000 for a proposal that was written by my lawyer."

Ross said no one from the borough has reached out to him about helping a new business.

Shay told Ross that she has visited Ross & Co. several times in person and that he could reach out to her at any time.

Ross said when he first opened, he employed 122 people. Now he's down to 78 employees.

He also said there's little foot traffic in the downtown district.

"We can't order people to go to your restaurant," Council President George Bollendorf said.

Bollendorf and Shay said that foot traffic would increase once apartments are built along York Road.

"It's terrible," he told the council. "There's no reason to be in this town. I was part of Ambler's revitalization."

"We want Hatboro to grow and thrive," Councilwoman Amanda Jacobus said. "But we are not Ambler."