New owners redo ‘landmark’
Pit Stop Tavern & Restaurant features new menu, décor
BOYERTOWN » A Boyertown landmark with a history of being popular with the area’s racing crowd — is making a comeback.
The Pit Stop Tavern & Restaurant, 961 N. Reading Ave. is under new ownership and began serving customers in May.
Mike Rohrbach and Donnie Weil — a self-taught chef — recently reunited to follow their dreams. They have teamed up in the purchase, renovation and operation of the Pit Stop Tavern & Restaurant.
The pair had previously worked together in the 1990s at another restaurant, according to Rohrbach. When that restaurant closed, the two went their separate ways: Rohrbach graduated from college and Weil went on to cook at another restaurant.
“About a year ago we reconnected and were just discussing the fact that there really aren’t many restaurants in the area that serve the type of food that the Pit Stop has to offer. We decided to open our own restaurant,” Rohrbach said.
The Pit Stop Tavern & Restaurant was originally opened in 1964 by the crew chief of an Indy race car driver, as a steak house that featured a racing theme.
That history is being honored under new owners Rohrbach and Weil. Memorabilia from those early days is on display in the restaurant, including a tire that has been incorporated into the hostess station.
As for the food, The Pit Stop is still mainly a steak house, according to Rohrbach, but the menu also features seafood and sauté dishes.
“We’re keeping the sizzling steaks the same as they were before, because that’s what the place was famous for,” Rohrbach said. “I think the menu is more diverse than any restaurant in the area. There really isn’t any restaurant in the area that you can go and sit down and have this selection and have the space.”
The restaurant can seat 146
people and The Pit Stop’s back banquet room will be available for parties as well, according to Weil.
Rohrbach and Weil, along with their wives, Katie Rohrbach and Cecelia Weil, renovated the restaurant before reopening in May.
“We basically redid 90 percent of the restaurant,” Weil said. “We’re making a place that’s affordable for everybody to come in and have a nice meal, a nice drink.”
The restaurant now includes a jukebox, Megatouch and shuffleboard for bar attendees.
The owners are hoping to get back to the restaurant’s roots as well, and look forward to serving The Grandview Speedway crowd again.
“That’s how it originally started. They would come here and eat and drink before the races, and then they would come here and eat and drink after the races,” Rohrbach said, referring to the race track in Bechtelsville that has been hosting racing events since 1963.
The Pit Stop Tavern & Restaurant is open Tuesday through Friday 2 p.m. to 12 a.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. and Sunday 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., which includes brunch from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“This place is an iconic landmark for this area,” Rohrbach said.
For more information about The Pit Stop Tavern & Restaurant visit www.pitstoptavernrestaurant.com/ or www.facebook.com/PitstopBoyertown/