{"id":318287,"date":"2026-10-31T12:34:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-31T12:34:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/318287\/"},"modified":"2026-10-31T12:34:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T12:34:50","slug":"retail-watch-allentown-tavern-celebrates-over-20-years-of-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/318287\/","title":{"rendered":"Retail Watch: Allentown tavern celebrates over 20 years of business"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sherry Russoli is proud of the work she and her husband Greg have done with their Allentown tavern over the past 20 years, which has become \u201ckind of the heart of the West End.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a nice, neighborhood spot,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re not fancy \u2026 Very much a local spot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike \u2018Cheers,\u2019 \u201d Greg said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not like \u2018Cheers,\u2019 \u201d Sherry replied as they laughed. \u201cWe don\u2019t have Norm.\u201d<\/p>\n

October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty at 2246 W. Liberty St. It celebrated last weekend with bingo and limited-edition T-shirts.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe people that we had in this past weekend were some of the people that came in year one,\u201d Greg said. \u201cEspecially some of the students from Muhlenberg [College] that frequented us in the first year when no one else was coming in. It was great to see them, and it was kind of a homecoming.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think very few people accomplish a \u2026 21-plus-year tenure as a business,\u201d Sherry said. \u201cIt\u2019s very hard in the restaurant business to stay relevant after 20 years, and I think we\u2019ve done a really great job of that.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tavern serves menu items such as craft beer, burgers, wings, pizza, cheesesteaks, pretzels, nachos, pierogi and tacos.<\/p>\n

Greg said he partnered with Donald Deemer to open the tavern at the property that previously hosted Ye Olde Muhlenberg Tavern.<\/p>\n

\u201cEarly on, it was very slow,\u201d he said. \u201cWe didn\u2019t really have a name for ourselves, and we only had a handful of customers, to be honest with you. But over the years, we\u2019ve grown a following. We\u2019ve had a mug club that has several hundred members. It\u2019s been great.\u201d<\/p>\n

Sherry became partner in 2006 after Deemer left, and married Greg in 2011.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d like to say that we were really on the forefront of the craft beer industry at that time,\u201d Sherry said. \u201cNot a lot of people in the Valley had craft beer. At that time, we had 400 different bottled beers and had expanded the draft system to 20 craft beers, and that was really something pretty unheard of.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s alcohol industry is different than when Tavern on Liberty opened. A Gallup poll<\/a> found that the percentage of American adults who say they consume alcohol fell to 54% last year, the lowest since 1939. The classic beer faces competitors such as ready-to-drink cocktails and mocktails.<\/p>\n

Greg acknowledged the alcohol industry is shrinking and that time will tell whether that will continue, but the two believe that craft beer will always have a future.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no putting that back in the bottle,\u201d Sherry said. \u201cIt\u2019s here to stay. It\u2019s just, who is going to survive? Because today\u2019s hottest craft brewery is yesterday\u2019s old news, and everybody wants to know what the newest beer is that\u2019s out there. And that\u2019s what people are looking for. \u2026 Always searching for the next great brewery.\u201d<\/p>\n

The tavern operates 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. all week.<\/p>\n

Other locations<\/a> operate in Berks County, including The Liberty Tap Room in Exeter Township, Liberty Ale House in Reading, and Liberty at Dryville in Rockland Township.<\/p>\n

\"Sherry<\/p>\n

Sherry and Greg Russoli are photographed Wednesday, Oct, 28, 2026. The couple own and operate Tavern on Liberty in Allentown that celebrates its 21st anniversary in October. Tavern on Liberty in Allentown, serves beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

\"Tavern<\/p>\n

Tavern on Liberty operates Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026 in Allentown. October marks the 21st anniversary for Tavern on Liberty, where they serve beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 20<\/p>\n

Sherry and Greg Russoli are photographed Wednesday, Oct, 28, 2026. The couple own and operate Tavern on Liberty in Allentown that celebrates its 21st anniversary in October. Tavern on Liberty in Allentown, serves beer and dishes like cheesesteaks, pizza, pierogi and tacos. (Jaschell Walbert\/Special to The Morning Call)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a>
\nLehigh Valley retail and restaurant news in brief<\/p>\n

Marcy\u2019s Hamburgers: The restaurant announced it began a soft opening at 125 Northampton St. in Easton. It opened last September within <\/a>a former typewriter shop<\/a> at 77 N. Fourth St.<\/p>\n

Lehigh Valley Mall: The Whitehall Township shopping center\u2019s website listed several upcoming tenants<\/a>, including Carhartt, The Inspiration Co. and Rowan.<\/p>\n

The State Cafe and Grill: The restaurant has fully reopened<\/a> at 14-16 S. Fifth St. in Easton after damage from a fire forced it to close earlier this year.<\/p>\n

Sunny Moon Sconery: The bakery announced it reopened<\/a> Thursday after it moved from the Slatington Farmers Market<\/a> in Washington Township to 1061 Seneca St. in Fountain Hill.<\/p>\n

In other news<\/p>\n

Several restaurants won top honors for the Lehigh Valley Vegan Chef Challenge, a news release announced, decided by nearly 300 votes from people who dined at them.<\/p>\n

They include best chef awards Cozy Cafe & Restaurant in Bethlehem at first place, Curious Goods at the Bake Oven Inn in Heidelberg Township at second place, and Union and Finch in Allentown at third place.<\/p>\n

Retail Watch is a weekly column covering retail and restaurant news in the Lehigh Valley. Have a question, tip, or want to see something in the area? Contact retail reporter Graysen Golter at retailwatch@mcall.com. Sign up for our weekly Retail Watch newsletter at mcall.com\/retailwatchsignup.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Sherry Russoli is proud of the work she and her husband Greg have done with their Allentown tavern…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":318288,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[119,121,120,60,182,436,432],"class_list":["post-318287","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-allentown","tag-allentown","tag-allentown-headlines","tag-allentown-news","tag-business","tag-local-news","tag-retail","tag-top-stories-tmc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/318287","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=318287"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/318287\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/318288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=318287"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=318287"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=318287"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}