New Logan Inn Pays Homage To History, Culture Of New Hope

NEW HOPE, PA — Frank and Jeanne Cretella, the husband and wife duo who helm Landmark Hospitality, first tried to buy the historic Logan Inn in 1987.

“It was then the center of town, like it is now, and like it probably was when it opened in 1727,” Frank Cretella told Patch. To him, “the Logan Inn is just a special place.”

The Cretellas did succeed in buying the country’s oldest operating inn years later — and the local spot closed for months in 2021 to complete renovations to the historic building.

Some might bristle at the idea of renovating a building with so much history, but Landmark Hospitality didn’t do an overhaul. Rather, they preserved the existing inn and added an adjacent, connected building with more rooms and an updated restaurant. The renovation also removed a large overhang to display the original porches and patio.

The inn reopened Aug. 5, showing off new designs intertwined with traditional architecture.

“What I liked about it, and where we picked up our cues on design, is a representation of what’s going on in the neighborhood right now,” Cretella said.

For him, it was important that the aesthetics of the new space pay homage to New Hope’s valuable history as a place for artists, musicians, and people of all kinds of backgrounds.

“They used to call it summer camp for New York,” he said, speaking of his appreciation for the town’s open culture and vibrant LGBTQ+ social scene.

He also wanted the physical space of the hotel to foster an ongoing sense of community, for town residents and visitors alike.

“We wanted to give the locals more opportunity — if they want to come in and pick a corner in the sun porch and work all day on their laptop and use it as an extension of their home, they can,” he said. “If they want to come in for something quiet they can go to the whiskey lounge, or go to the whiskey lounge after 7 p.m. and there’s entertainment playing.”

The in-house restaurant, Ferry + Main, is advertised as a “community living room.” Its head chef, Greg Vassos, spoke to a blending of innovation and culinary simplicity.

“I would describe it as primitive cooking with a modern approach,” Vassos said. “We are an open-fire restaurant with several GrillWorks grills which allow us to start as many as four or five fires at one time. We can roast, sear, grill, hang and smoke, so we use that to our advantage throughout the entire menu.”

Chefs and managers alike were collaborators with Landmark Hospitality’s construction workers and carpenters in creating the new inn experience. The construction company’s team of around 150 workers work on all the building’s electricity, plumbing, and HVAC — but also on details of masonry, woodworking, and accent walls.

“The majority of our men are all about the finishes,” Cretella said. “The guys are very proud of what we’ve built.”

Leading construction work during COVID-19 definitely gave Cretella “a knot in [his] stomach,” but he said the company bussed people to job sites, stayed up-to-date on safety precautions and positive cases, and kept safety top of mind while completing the project.

All workers on the job get the chance to come eat or stay at the inn with their families, to show off their handiwork. Cretella said the open kitchen also allows for chefs to watch people react to the menu, enjoying their first bite.

Ultimately, he hopes collaborators, employees, residents, and guests alike feel ownership over the inn and its many facets.

“Every detail is important to you,” he said.

Learn more about the Logan Inn online.

Stay informed about what’s going on in New Hope, or in your local area. Sign up for Patch emails and don't miss a minute of local and state news.

Got tips, story ideas, or questions in Lower Bucks County? Email kate.fishman@patch.com.