Conshohocken natives and longtime restaurateurs are set to open a modern Italian restaurant this spring, blending a fresh concept with a sense of neighborhood nostalgia.
Rick and Gale Mahoney, the team behind Kaede Sushi & Noodle Co., Guppy’s Good Times! and Tony & Joe’s, are expanding their portfolio with Rick’s Tavern. The tavern will take over the former Pizza Time Saloon space at 201 W. 7th Ave.
“We have history there. Gale’s daughters and sister-in-law, they worked at Pizza Time for decades. It was really important for us to kind of preserve it,” Mahoney told What Now Philadelphia. “Her grandfather also owned a bar on Fayette Street. Now, it’s Great American Pub. There’s pictures that we’re going to put up of him behind that bar from the 1940s.”
The Mahoneys aim to preserve the saloon’s spirit while rebranding and renovating it with their own unique twist. To accomplish this, they are working with Precis Engineering and Architecture, Michael Gruber Design and kitchen designer Judy Spielman.
“It’s very open architecture. We can hold about 100 people downstairs and 100 people upstairs. We paid a lot of attention to the details of what we felt would resonate with the community, and that’s really important to us,” he said.
Mahoney said the downstairs area has a slightly industrial-style ceiling but maintains a comfortable feel, with a dark brown and royal blue wood bar, TVs and a marbleized countertop paired with wooden bar stools.
The dining area will include booth-style banquettes with wood paneling.
Upstairs will function as an event space with additional overflow seating. The area features ornate ceiling lamps, whitewashed wood ceilings, wallpaper and hardwood floors, along with blue leather barstools set against a black countertop.
A racing theme runs throughout the space, featuring a checkered-flag floor around the bar, vintage car photos, neon signs and exposed brick walls creating an inviting atmosphere. The bar will also showcase Philadelphia Eagles memorabilia.
“To be clear, this is going to be an Eagles bar. No Cowboys are allowed,” Mahoney joked.
Other than Cowboys fans, Rick’s Tavern will welcome everyone.
“Are we catering to family? Are we catering to couples? Are we catering to people that just want to come to a bar? And the answer is yes. We believe that we can check all those boxes. It’s comfortable. It’s inviting, and that’s what we really wanted to do,” he said.
The duo is partnering with Executive Chef Derek Davis to craft the menu, which will draw its roots from Pizza Time while offering elevated yet approachable dishes.
“Pizza is still going to be a staple—same strombolis, same sandwiches, same salads as Pizza Time. Chef Derek will also make homemade pasta, homemade Italian dishes. We’ll have family-night portions, where people can come in and get spaghetti and meatballs or chicken dinner,” Mahoney said.
Rick’s Tavern will feature a curated cocktail program with creatively named drinks that nod to the racing theme, including Bonneville, Catalina, GTO and Firebird. The bar will also offer a selection of wine and beer from newly installed beverage taps.
“We have some nice wines. We met with a few wine merchants in the area, and they looked at what would go well with the menu. It’ll be affordable wine. If somebody wanted to do something special, that’ll be on there as well,” he said.
After two years in the making, the Mahoneys are excited to welcome the community and are grateful for all the support they’ve received along the way.
“We’ve been working on this for two years. Pizza Time really needed a facelift and the community needed this too. It’s really exciting for us to talk to our neighbors and hear how they’re also looking forward to it,” Gale Mahoney told What Now Philadelphia.
The team aims to open Rick’s Tavern in May. Follow along on Instagram for the latest updates and stay tuned!
