Restaurant Space Steeped In History Is Back On The Market In Newtown

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — A Newtown Borough restaurant space, steeped in history and dating back to the American Revolution, is back on the market.

The building’s owner, Scott Hendrickson, told Patch that he’s again looking for a restaurant to move into the former home of Relic at the corner of South State Street and Centre Avenue.

Relic shut down operations unexpectedly just before Father's Day 2025. Longtime restaurateur Greg Conlon had opened the upscale New York-style steakhouse and bar in 2021 after investing thousands of dollars on interior renovations at the three-story stone building, which has stood at that corner for more than 300 years.

After the closure, Hendrickson sought out a new tenant for the space and had a celebrity chef lined up to take over the operation.

"I had a lease signed over the summer, and they started doing some great renovations on the building, which I was excited about - new bars, a new HVAC system, a new patio in the back. And then the investors in the business had a massive personal issue and were forced to break the lease mid-renovations.

"Now I'm back to square one, which is not what I thought was in the cards," said Hendrickson. "But I'm forever an optimist, so I'm excited about finding a new opportunity."

Hendrickson has put the 4500-square-foot restaurant with 1000-square-foot patio back on the market and has brought on board New Hope realtor Steve Darlington as the listing agent.

"The building is available for a new restaurateur to come in to create their own vision, or I even have a local celebrity chef who is very interested in the space that I could pair with the right investor," said Hendrickson. "It's exciting to explore a wide array of opportunities that will benefit the building and the community," he said.

Hendrickson said he’s excited “to turn this place into something that will be great for the community. Right now, I'm seeking out different restaurateurs and operators who can come in here and do something special with their own vision. I’m not a day-to-day operator. I don’t want to be a day-to-day operator. I want someone to use this as a canvas and that’s going to fill a niche inside of Newtown.”

In talking with the community, Hendrickson said locals are hungry for something unique, yet affordable.

"I've had consistent feedback from a lot of people for creating an experience there with some flavor, like a Latin fusion-style restaurant or a gastropub-type of place that's a step below the Capital Grille, where you can enjoy great craft cocktails and good food and not get burned by the price tag," he said.

"It could be one of those ideas, or it could be something completely different - something that no one has thought of before," said Hendrickson.

"I'm excited about the possibilities as the outreach from the community has been nothing short of incredible," he said. "The passion and ideas this community has for this building is truly inspiring. They are hungry for a great bar, restaurant, or members' lounge that serves truly top-notch cocktails and great food that isn't your typical chain restaurant."

He added, "We absolutely feel the weight to fill the building with a concept that will add value to the community and honor the building."

The building itself is incredible, said Hendrickson, dating back to 1747 when George Washington was a teenager. "The building is beautiful and has a rich history. It's not your typical square box in a shopping center. It's an incredible canvas with incredible character," he said.

He added, "The work that Relic and Greg Conlon put into making what this building is today is outstanding. They invested hundreds of thousands of dollars on the inside. It’s absolutely beautiful and they did it in a way that restored its historic beauty.”

That renovation is part of the reason why the Yardley resident bought the building.

"If someone wants to come in and put in a lot of investment, they can certainly do that," said Hendrickson. "But the nice thing about the space is there’s not a lot of work that needs to happen here. The building is in beautiful shape. It’s a really good situation. It’s about finding a long-term partner who is going to create something new and exciting and, most importantly, be successful," he said.

The 4,500-square-foot space features a 1,000-square-foot patio, two bars, two dining rooms, and more than 900 square feet of storage. "It's a large space that seats more than 100 comfortably. And there's a lot of flexibility," said Hendrickson.

"There's some great historic decor, which brings Bucks County history to life. It's a turnkey opportunity for someone who's looking to come in," he said. "Put some paint on the walls, put up some decor, figure out the furniture, and they'll be off to the races," he said.

For information about the building, reach out to listing agent Steve Darlington. You can read the listing by clicking here.