The new rooftop bar and lounge features a louvered pergola roof and motorized retractable screens to permit seating during inclement weather. (Courtesy of Joe Wade)
Expected to open in early January, the new rooftop will feature a louvered pergola roof and motorized retractable screens
The Rams Pint House’s popular rooftop bar and lounge will soon reopen with a fresh new look and dramatically expanded access.
Construction is nearing completion on a roughly three-month-long project to enclose the restaurant’s rooftop to permit seating during inclement weather.
Expected to open in early January, the new rooftop will feature a louvered pergola roof and motorized retractable screens, which can be opened and closed depending on weather conditions.
“It will be the best of both worlds,” said owner Joe Wade. “Open it when the weather’s nice; close it when it’s not.”
Wade, a local resident and former Pennridge baseball coach, conceived the idea for the project earlier this year following abnormally wet weather during the spring and early summer months, with 12 straight weekends of rain showers.
“You get one of those afternoon showers, and everybody leaves; everything gets wet,” said Wade. “It kills the vibe.”
The closed rooftop additionally eliminated space for catering events, a significant revenue source for the restaurant.
“We get a lot of requests for catering on Friday and Saturday evenings. We couldn’t afford to lose all that seating in our dining room,” said Wade. “It was 100, 110 seats for just one event.”
First of its kind
Rams Pint House, colloquially known as “The Ram,” opened in late 2020 in the former Thompson family general store adjacent to Perkasie Borough Hall. The rooftop bar and lounge was the first of its kind in Bucks County, stemming from the roof’s visual appeal as well as COVID restrictions.
“We would look at it from the borough offices and think it was pretty cool, that it would be neat to do a rooftop,” said Wade. “And during COVID, outdoor components were so vital. It was one of the few spots where they were letting you seat people. We didn’t have any room on the side for decking or a yard, so it made it even more of a necessity.”
Overlooking downtown Perkasie, the rooftop contains seating for nearly 100 people, with a full bar, low- and high-top tables and couches. Access is limited to patrons 21-years and older.
The space has been closed since October for construction. Locals have been eagerly awaiting its reopening, said bar manager Max Rentz.
“Everyone is excited for it,” said Rentz. “People keep coming in asking, ‘When’s it gonna be open?’”
Staff members are equally excited about the renovations, said Wade, citing the additional revenue opportunities.
“It was difficult on the staff to start the shift and then get rained out,” said Wade. “So what’s most important is knowing that the employees will have the opportunity to come and finish their shift.”
In recent weeks, the rooftop has temporarily opened for special occasions, including Thanksgiving Eve, an Eagles game, and the borough’s tree lighting ceremony. Guests have overwhelmingly left positive reviews, said general manager Jessica Biresch.
“Everyone thought it was gonna feel too enclosed and not feel like it’s still open and outside,” said Biresch. “But then they go up there, and their minds are changed. It feels way more open.”
As the finishing touches are applied, Wade hopes to officially open the rooftop around the second week of January in time for the NFL playoffs. He’s already planning to hold some special events in the new space, including candlelight meals and a Valentine’s Day dinner. With the weather no longer a factor, the opportunities are boundless.
“Now you’re protected from the rain, the sun, the cold and everything else,” said Wade. “It just gives us a lot of versatility in this space.”
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