U. SAUCON TWP., Pa. – A new chapter is beginning for a scenic, early 19th century tavern, set to reopen this week in Lehigh County.
Ye Olde Spring Valley Tavern, a full-service restaurant and bar known for utilizing fresh ingredients such as trout from its spring-fed pond, was sold to new owners last summer and is set to reopen as Spring Valley Tavern at 4 p.m. Wednesday, June 24, at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Spring Valley Tavern is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
Hours will be 4-10 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.
“A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way,” the new ownership team announced on the business’ social media pages.
“We truly couldn’t have done it without you. We’re so grateful for all the encouragement and can’t wait to share what we’ve been working on!”
The tavern closed last August under previous owners Donna and Warren Walters, and its new iteration will be run by siblings Richard Islam and Sarah Minhas, along with Minhas’ husband, Sunny Minhas.
Spring Valley Tavern, reopening soon, is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
Islam’s longtime friend, Jen Heller, a Hellertown native who previously helped oversee operations at Funk and Illumination Brewing taprooms in Emmaus and Slatington, will serve as Spring Valley Tavern’s general manager.
In preparation for its reopening, the team spent the past nine months implementing interior and exterior renovations while maintaining the historic property’s character and charm.
The stone building, also once known as Spring Valley Inn, was constructed in the early 1800s and became a hot spot for locals and travelers over the next two centuries.
It especially flourished during the Prohibition era, largely due to its secluded location.
Spring Valley Tavern is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
Several property hallmarks, including a spring-fed pond and variety of fresh trout dishes, are remaining under its new ownership.
“We’re keeping many of the staples you’ve come to know while introducing new additions we’re excited to share,” the tavern’s announcement reads.
“To our longtime patrons: thank you for your support over the years. To those visiting us for the first time: we can’t wait to meet you. This is a new era for Spring Valley Tavern, and we’re excited to welcome everyone through our doors.”
Spring Valley Tavern, with seating for around 100 guests inside and roughly 50 guests outside, will feature trout dishes and other staples from the tavern’s previous iterations, along with some new additions such as a tikka masala chicken sandwich, Islam said.
“All of the popular dishes that people know and love are staying,” Islam said.
Spring Valley Tavern is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
Fresh trout will be available multiple ways, including almond-crusted, blackened Cajun, grilled Mediterranean, meunièr (lemon caper sauce) and as smoked trout cakes, Islam said.
Customers also will be able to enjoy a trout po’ boy, along with other handhelds such as a fresh ribeye cheesesteak, short rib grilled cheese, falafel wrap, tacos (soft, hard or fried) and crispy chicken wraps (Buffalo, barbecue or Caesar), Islam said.
“We’ll also have a few burgers,” Islam said.
Around a dozen appetizers will include shrimp cocktail, nachos, cheesesteak egg rolls, house-made mozzarella planks, hand-cut French fries and wings available in a variety of house-made sauces and dry rubs, Islam said.
Pierogies will be available in a variety of styles, including classic (butter, onions and sour cream), Buffalo (blue cheese and hot sauce) and loaded (bacon, cheddar and scallions).
Spring Valley Tavern, reopening soon, is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
Entrees, each served with a starch and vegetable, will include options such as New York strip steak with a peppercorn demi-glace; filet mignon with a red wine reduction; and blacked Faroe Island salmon.
Guests saving room for dessert will enjoy made-on-site treats such as crème brulee, molten chocolate cake, sticky toffee pudding, bananas Foster cheesecake and affogato with fresh espresso and vanilla ice cream.
“Everything will be fresh and made on site,” Islam said.
Islam and his family are no strangers to the Lehigh Valley business scene.
Prior to purchasing the Upper Saucon property, the family owned and operated the Jamesville Express food stand at the Valero gas station in East Allen Township for roughly a decade before selling it few years ago, Islam said.
They’re excited to serve and get to know new customers in another part of the Lehigh Valley.
Spring Valley Tavern is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
“We always wanted to operate our own restaurant and bar, and we saw a great opportunity at this location,” Islam said. “We just really fell in love with the beauty and history of this building.”
The Spring Valley Tavern team spent nearly a year updating the early 19th century building with new bathrooms, wall paint, kitchen equipment and more, while maintaining historical elements such as rustic woodwork in the bar area.
The tavern also will feature refurbished hardwood flooring in the dining room, colorful light fixtures in the bar area and new, custom butcher block dining tables by local father-and-son artisans Calvin and Gary Mahoski.
Spring Valley Tavern, reopening soon, is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
The bar will feature 10 draft beers, along with a wide array of wines and classic and signature cocktails.
A new jukebox as well as new TVs have been added to the bar area, which features nods to the tavern’s past, including name placards that were displayed on the bar.
The Mahoskis also constructed a new footrest at the base of the bar.
Other finishing touches will include the installation of local artwork, including pieces showcasing Bethlehem area scenes by Sergei Yaralov and the late Fred Bees, Islam said.
Spring Valley Tavern, reopening soon, is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
“The bar area is a big draw, and all of the regulars have told us how much they love the woodwork, and so do we,” Islam said. “So, we’re not changing it one bit.”
Outside, Islam and the team trimmed trees, painted fencing and cleaned up the fountains and pond.
They also added new tan siding and painted other parts of the façade tan with blue accents around the windows.
Finishing touches are being put on an outdoor patio, set to debut in the coming weeks.
“Personally, blue is one of my favorite colors, and I also went to Penn State, whose colors are navy blue and white,” said Islam, who holds a business degree, with a focus on management and marketing, from Penn State. “So, the blue accents just seemed like a good fit.”
Spring Valley Tavern is located at 1355 Station Ave. in Upper Saucon Township.
Ryan Kneller
The Upper Saucon tavern, built in the early 1800s, has seen many changes over the past 200-plus years.
In its most recent former chapter, the dining destination reopened in 2014 as Ye Olde Spring Valley Tavern under the Walters and Frank and Kim McCartney after being closed since 2008.
For the latest Spring Valley Tavern updates, follow the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram.