New life for General Lafayette Inn
The crew from Devil's Den and Old Eagle Tavern plan to open it as Barren Hill Tavern.
New life for General Lafayette Inn
Michael Klein, Philly.com
Sitting idle on Germantown Pike since September 2010, General Lafayette Inn in Lafayette Inn is in line to return, possibly this summer, as Barren Hill Tavern.
The crew from Devil's Den in South Philly and Old Eagle Tavern in Manayunk is behind the plan. Financing is still being lined up, so settlement is four to eight weeks off.
No fancy renovation: Operators expect to clean it, rip up rugs and do general repairs, which will take about two months.
Brewing equipment will be fired up later by a to-be-named brewery.
Paul Trowbridge, chef at Devil's Den, will run the kitchen.
Comments (8)
Good operators, but that place really needs a renovation. It was in sorry condition when the General closed.— Palestra Jon- There was a murder in there. The place is probably haunted.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- That's the wrong general--it was the General Wayne Inn in Merion where the murder occurred.— Palestra Jon
- That's why I never made it above private.— Wilhelm Von Humboldt
- Just learning about this and I am very excited to hear that there will soon be new life to what was the General Lafayette Inn. In its prime, 'The General' was an important piece of our neighborhood, and I have every hope and expectation that the new Barren Hill Tavern will offer a level of interest and quality that will have me reaching out to Guy Fieri for a triple-D drive-by.
But the new name...
Yes, a name change was absolutely needed to declare a break from the problems of the recent past. And yes, the building exists on Barren Hill, just across the street from the Barren Hill Fire Company. I guess one could say the choice of the name is not so revolutionary, but couldn't be more natural.
Historically fitting or historically boring? Not my call. I'd rather ask the new owners to take a closer focus on the name for a minute -- after removing their historical goggles -- to consider the meaning and connotation of the word, "BARREN". As in…
Too poor to produce much or any vegetation.... naked… not producing fruit or seed…
unable to have children… not pregnant or unable to become so… showing no results or
achievements; unproductive…. bleak and lifeless… empty of meaning or value… devoid of….
Well, you get my drift.
Hardly evokes thoughts of joyous time, good eats and quality microbrews.— CPronchik - Just a name copied from the past. I'm sure the new consumers will bring about the opposite of the name quite easily, with the staff's help. Some traditions CAN be broken, you know. I've done some.— ocpizza
- I believe that the Barren Hill Tavern was the Original name back when it was used by General Lafayette to plan troop movements on Barren Hill around the time of the Battle of Germantown. It served as an American HQ for the Colonial Troops. It is also reported to be haunted as well...— Country_Boy
- P.S. Good Luck to the new owners. I'm glad to see that You are keeping a little piece of history alive in the area— Country_Boy
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About this blog
Michael Klein, the editor/producer of philly.com/Food, writes about the local restaurant scene in his Inquirer column "Table Talk." Have a question? Email it! See his Inquirer work here.
Reach Michael at mklein@philly.com.
Michael Klein
Philly.com
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