Chadds Ford Tavern reopening

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Re-opening Sept. 24.

Take a deep breath and prepare the taste buds. The Chadds Ford Tavern, closed for two years, is about to reopen.

New owner Kevin Bradley said the official date to re-open is Sept. 24.

“That’s when we get our liquor license,” he said.

Bradley understands that people have been anticipating the reopening for close to a year. He explained the delay by saying only that there was a conflict of interest with a former partner.

Beyond that, however, “I’m banking on the goodwill that Tommy [former owner Tommy Drane] built, the history, the reappointed aesthetics of the place and the way my partner and I feel about the hospitality business.”

That philosophical approach means putting the customers first.

“Every single person that walks through the door should be thanked for coming. We should fall all over them. I’ve been in many restaurants where the attitude is that ‘You’re lucky to be in our establishment.’ It’s actually the complete opposite. You fall over people, whatever they need,” Bradley said.

Bradley spent 14 years in the wholesale wine industry, but the restaurant business is where he always wanted to be. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Delaware, studying history, finance and math, but then attended the Philadelphia Restaurant School to learn restaurant management.

After several years working at the Susanna Foo restaurant in Philadelphia, he sold wine to restaurants and then the opportunity to buy his own restaurant arose with the Chadds Ford Tavern. And it’s at the tavern where Bradley and his current partner want to spread their own wings while linking back to a solid tradition.

“I want to emulate Tommy’s philosophy,” Bradley said, “but it’s going to be our style. Style is unique to the individual, but I have grown over the past year to have a very nice relationship with Tommy. We’ve shared philosophies, so I want to emulate that. Run a smart business. Be kind to people. Watch your costs and give people a fair product for the price.”

That philosophy also includes having people want to return, of re-establishing the business as a family restaurant as well as a tavern. It’s what Drane said he had developed during a 40-plus-year period.

It also means creating a new menu, but with some old favorites.

There’s going to be a stone oven for pizza, homemade dough and flat breads along with traditional tavern roast beef sandwiches, pork, old school burger and soups, stews and braised dishes.

"The burgers will be hand made every day from fresh ground beef,” Bradley said. "

He added that the supplier they’ll be using is the same that supplies Susanna Foo and Le Bec-Fin in Philadelphia.

The menu will start small, he added, but it will grow.

Bradley also wants to introduce the idea of butcher boards, where foods such as cheeses and smoked meats are served on a butcher board. There’s a small board for individuals and larger boards for groups where people share.

There will be a list of meats, cheeses and vegetables from which patrons may choose for their board. Meats include prosciutto, various hams, smoked duck breasts. Add on some goat cheese or aged cheddar or Gorgonzola dolce. Then choose the vegetables and some bread. Bradley said they would all be priced per ounce.

There will also be, what Bradley calls, “a very eclectic wine list” and, eventually, some live music.

He sees his concept as presenting a very social atmosphere to patrons.

“I want this to be a very social place without pomp, without circumstance. I despise that. It goes back to that attitude that ‘You’re lucky to be in our restaurant.’ No. I realize there are 30 restaurants up the road that you can go to that, in the beginning, might be more professional and more militant in how they’re run, but I believe service, smiles, attention and hospitality will make up for a lot of things. That’s missing from a lot of places today,” Bradley said.

The Chadds Ford Tavern will be open 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily. Down the road, Bradley expects to be open for breakfast and include a back room brunch buffet.

About Rich Schwartzman

Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.

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This Post Has 4 Comments

  1. Lisa Hineman

    This is GREAT! Many memories when Tommy owned it; glad to see it! It’s been missed…

  2. Patrick Barron

    There is something warm and welcoming about a cozy tavern that serves good, wholesome food without pretensions. The description of what the new owners want sounds like many successful English pubs. The addition of a brick oven for pizza gives the menu enough variety to go back often. You can bet that I’ll be there often.

  3. UCFSD Parent

    Thanks for doing an article on this. Miss the old favorite and look forward to the new place. I also want to compliment Chadds Ford Live on their coverage of everything in the Chadds Ford and Unionville areas. This is a really great local news outlet. Much appreciated.

  4. Mike Maucher

    They should have left the name plates on the bar!!!

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