While it is no longer known as My Friend’s Place, and although the interior is a far cry from its Huey’s Grill & Tavern heydays, Lansdale Tavern has never lost its cherished neighborhood vibe.
Thanks to the efforts of owners Julie Palermo and local stand-up comedian Buddy Harris, the 839 West Main Street bar and restaurant has become the epitome of the local watering hole – a venue for camaraderie and a home for the best burger in the area. The latter honor was bestowed last year by voters and customers in Montco Happening Magazine’s 2022 Happening List. Lansdale Tavern is so beloved by its clientele that it was nominated again for Best Burger for 2023, as well as Best Bartender for Kaity Andrey, who also works as outreach manager for Mission Kids. Voting is now open.
A countywide contest is not the only evidence to Lansdale Tavern’s culinary and cocktail successes – the restaurant has a 4.5 out of 5-star Google rating and 669 Google reviews, where even a visitor from California raved about the vibe, décor, staff, and food.
In fact, Palermo and Harris have found so much success in their business — even through the pandemic — that they were able to flow those positive vibes into a second commercial venture – The Healthy Shack at Wood and Madison streets in Lansdale.
Thus, it is no surprise as to why Lansdale Borough Economic Development Committee member and Sign-A-Rama owner Pete Naber selected Lansdale Tavern as the first “Business of the Month” for 2023. Palermo and Harris accepted the honor at last week’s Lansdale Borough Council session.
“Julie worked at Lansdale Tavern for seven years before they bought the place in early 2020, just before you-know-what,” Naber said. “Julie’s dream was to always own a restaurant. [She] worked in the field for 19 years. When it became available, they bought Lansdale Tavern. They transformed it, they changed it, they improved it. The vibe is different.”
Naber said the couple made the atmosphere and interior design brighter and they put their efforts into making the restaurant more food centric.
“When you go there for lunch or dinner, you’ll find you have to wait in line. It’s a very popular place and the downtown has welcomed their transformation,” Naber said. “The germination of West Main Street is because of the power happening at Lansdale Tavern.”
Naber said the community talks a lot about revitalization and he was one to believe that revitalization happens slowly at first, then suddenly.
“What do you do in that slow time? What I think you do is you build financial anchors that support that future rapid growth that we hope for. One of the anchors is Lansdale Tavern,” Naber said. “It’s a spectacular business and that’s why it’s worthy of being Business of the Month.”
Harris accepted the award and spoke on behalf of Palermo and himself, admitting that while his fiancée does not like public speaking, he doesn’t shut up.
“So, I thought I’d come up and say thank you,” Harris said at the meeting. “It was Julie’s dream, and I was in the industry one day. I worked at McDonald’s and got fired. So, it’s been three short years.”
Harris said he does not remember his identity before Lansdale Tavern was a part of his life.
“Now, it’s a big part of our identity and our home, so much so, that we opened a second place,” he said.
Harris said he and Palermo opened Lansdale Tavern 72 days and four hours before the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown.
“It was a difficult time,” he reminisced. “I remember we would sometimes sleep there overnight because we were too tired to go home. Home school was in the dining area and takeout was in the bar area.”
“My kids would be in the bar on Zoom and would have to explain that to their teachers and leave out the fact that we own a bar,” Harris said. “We waited on a phone call to ask if I had an alcohol problem, but it never happened.”
Harris and Palermo had their doubts during the slow times. They questioned if they should keep going, if they made a mistake. Then, Harris said, the busy times would get so hectic, and it would feel overwhelming at times.
“We learned a lot during that time,” he said. “It gave us a real good chance to work together and learn the industry, learn about the community and what you guys wanted out of us. We had really great times where we were running food to a car, and we would have that personal time with one customer. That gave us a chance to really understand what we needed to do when things got better.”
Harris said people have questioned Lansdale Tavern’s identity: Is it a gastropub, a late-night pub, a karaoke bar, or a sports bar?
“Everybody wants to know what our identity is, and our identity is neighborhood. Our identity is Lansdale,” Harris said. “We have a great burger, but people don’t remember what burger they had when celebrating a birthday with loved ones. We do 50% off Sundays with kids, but people remember the experiences with family that day, not the chicken tenders their kid had. They just remember the vibe.”
So, Harris and Palermo and their (hopefully soon-to-be award-winning) staff will keep bringing good vibes, good food, good entertainment, and good drinks.
“We want good energy, and a good, safe, inclusive, fun place for anyone to come to, and hopefully, have a good drink and burger while you’re there,” Harris said. “This really means a lot to us.”
See also:
Kub Kao Thai to Host Soft Opening of New Restaurant in Lansdale on Friday
First Watch to Officially Open Montgomeryville Location Jan. 9
Lansdale Chiropractic Center Named Business of the Month for December
IWG to Open New Regus Hybrid Work Center in Towamencin
