Ridley House on MacDade set to move into Barnaby’s spot
The Ridley House, in the spot of old Barnaby’s, eyes soft opening November 14
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP >> Mark your calendar. The “soft”opening of one section of The Ridley House in the former Barnaby’s and Heritage Ballrooms is set for 4 p.m. Nov. 14.
“That will be the bar area in the front of the house,” said Patrick Kennedy, director of operations as he sat in one of the ballrooms with executive chef Peter DeCarl and Joan Rose “Joanie” Caguiat, director of beverage.
The sounds of hammers and saws could be heard in other parts of the vast building, indications of the intensive work getting other areas of the new business up and running. Kennedy displayed renderings of what the new eatery will look like. “Warm” is a word that can describe what the venues look like. The bar in the front of the building features soft lighting and wood paneling on the walls. The restaurant to the left of the front entrance has an elegant atmosphere with a fireplace along one wall.
Kennedy, who is part of the corporation
under which The Ridley House LLC will operate and which owns the former Towne House Restaurant in Media as well as bars and restaurants in New York City, said the larger of the Heritage Ballrooms will be a sports bar with a family flavor.
Two other smaller ballrooms will be renovated. Also on the drawing board is an outdoor eating area.
Kennedy explained the rationale behind the larger ballroom no longer being used for banquets and weddings.
“This room was used just once or twice a week,” be said.
A grand opening date is yet to be determined.
Kennedy, 28, is a native of Ireland who has lived in Haverford for the past five years.
“We love the space,” Kennedy said when asked what prompted the corporation to buy Barnaby’s. “It was for sale and we thought we could do something different. It made sense for us to buy it. We wanted to put in a nice, quality restaurant. We’re going to set the standard.”
DeCarl said he likes to buy locally whenever possible and eventually will deal with
Lancaster County farmers.
“It’s going to be simple food,” he said. “Good American fare done right.”
Caguiat said the restaurant and bar are looking for wait staff, both for the front of the house and the back of the house. She suggested anyone looking for employment to contact Kennedy at his email address patrick@ridleyhousepa.com.
The Ridley House has been the site of a restaurant and bar on MacDade Boulevard for at least 50 years, with businesses developing up and down the boulevard during that time. When Barnaby’s first went on the market a church wanted to purchase the building but was turned down because of zoning issues. A second would-be buyer had to bow out because of financial matters.