A trio of restaurateurs are bringing a touch of French whimsy to a renovated Bucks County barn in 2024. Partners Marc Masso, Vincent Masso, and Michael Geonnotti will be opening a brasserie called La Grange at the Prickett Preserve mixed-use development later this year, reports local media outlet Philly Voice.
The Massos are bringing the expertise they gained founding and running the popular Italian eatery, La Stalla, to the project. La Grange will be moving into an existing barn on the Prickett Preserve, located at 930 Stony Hill Road. The restaurant space will provide seating for around 200 guests.
Co-owner Marc Masso spoke with What Now Philadelphia about opening La Grange, and why he and his partners chose to transition from Italian to French cuisine. “I personally always loved French brasserie casual vibes.” he states, adding “I feel like it’s a thing that’s lacking in this area. I don’t know of any other restaurant doing casual French-style casual dining around here. I’ve seen fine dining French, but not the more fun, casual fare.”
When presented with the opportunity to take up residence in an historic Bucks County barn, Masso saw an opportunity to fill that void. “We felt that the barn would fit well with a French countryside feel-the ambiance of the location. And there was a need for something like that in the area. We thought about steakhouses or Italian but these are things that have been done already.”
Masso and his partners look forward to bringing a warm, welcoming, and entirely unique experience to the Prickett Preserve neighborhood. La Grange will have all the charm of French dining without the exclusivity that often accompanies it. Masso explains “We’ll have something for everyday dining, but if you want something on the higher end we’ll have that as well. It’s not a special occasion place but not the complete opposite either. It can be a random Monday dinner, a business dinner, or a date…it allows a lot of versatility.”
Guests won’t feel boxed out by the price tags either. Masso states “The food will have a range of pricing-you can get a great burger or steak frites or escargot or oysters.”
Speaking further of the menu, Masso establishes that while he and his crew have a vision of what they’re hoping to serve, the menu is still being developed. However, the greatest focus for the moment is on design and getting the barn patron-ready. Describing the overhauled barn, Masso states “We’re picking out finishes-woods and marbles. I’m going for a very warm, rustic ambiance. We want it to fit with the whole stone barn feel. The inside will be really warm, with a fireplace. But we’re also having an addition put on that’s all glass. There will be a bar in each room. There will be outdoor dining as well on a patio.”
While La Grange’s location is currently “just four walls and a floor”, the Massos and Geonnotti hope to begin welcoming guests by late summer or early fall. Once the doors open, the restaurant will serve lunch Monday through Friday, with a weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, and dinner seven days a week.
Fueled by the team’s joint knowledge and genuine passion for the hospitality industry, La Grange is certain to become a Bucks County staple. Masso states “When you’re in this business, there’s always a desire to do more and give the people something new and different. I like to see people enjoying themselves and having a good time-it’s exciting to build something new and see people enjoying it.”
