Towey's Tavern Celebrates 50 Years As Hatboro Mainstay

HATBORO, PA —"Making Happy People Irish."

That's the slogan and it's rather appropriate coming from a business that likes to think of itself as that cozy establishment from Boston we watched on television every week.

When you walk into Towey's Tavern in the heart of the borough's downtown district, the feeling might be reminiscent of the theme song from the TV Show "Cheers" where "everyone knows your name."

"It's known to be a local neighborhood kind of tavern," Owner Jim Kinney told Patch Friday. "It's that kind of place. If you don't know everybody, you're going to meet them. We love having the camaraderie and friendships for many years. People come here young. Some move away, but they come back to visit."

And the customers have continued to walk through its doors for 50 years.

The tavern is celebrating that anniversary with a party Saturday starting at 3 p.m.

There will be orange crush and a beer bar open in the back, the Rio Brazilian Steak Food Truck, music by Moon Poodle at 4 p.m. and a DJ starting at 9 p.m.

For Kinney, he's known Towey's since he was 15. His best friend was the son of the original owner Jim Towey and Kinney would come in on the weekends to sweep up.

"I listened to the stories and loved being around the tavern," he said.

Kinney purchased the bar from the Towey family and has been operating it for 27 years. Now that he's turning 60 soon, Kinney is grooming his son Nick —who has served as manager for the past two years —to take over the business.

Some things, though, never change.

Kinney has used the same skillet to make cheesesteaks since 1973.

The bar has also been in operation since 1930, starting as The Skyway and then becoming the Hatboro Tavern before the Towey family took over.

Mayor Tim Schultz, who also heads Hatboro's Chamber of Commerce, said Towey's is an institution in town that is hard to find in downtowns these days.

"Everyone knows Towey's," Kinney said. "This is their home away from home. We strive for that."