Relic Closes Its Doors In Newtown; Here's What The Building Owner Plans To Do With The Space

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — A Newtown Borough restaurant closed its doors at the end of June, leaving many on social media wondering what happened.

Relic, which billed itself as a New York City steakhouse and upscale bar, shut down operations unexpectedly just ahead of the busy Father's Day weekend.

Longtime restaurateur Greg Conlon opened the upscale eatery in 2020 after investing thousands of dollars on interior renovations at the three-story stone building, which has stood at the corner of South State Street and Centre Avenue since George Washington was a kid.

The building's owner, Scott Hendrickson, wouldn’t comment on the sudden closure of Relic except to say, "This wasn't a planned turnover. With that said, I'll do everything I can to help Greg and his partner transition out."

Moving forward, Hendrickson said he's actively seeking a new restaurant and bar for the historic space, which sits in the heart of the borough.

“The building is beautiful. It’s historic," said Hendrickson of the restaurant space. "The work that Relic and Greg put into making what this building is today is outstanding. It’s absolutely beautiful and they did it in a way that restored its historic beauty.”

That renovation is part of the reason why the Yardley resident bought the building a few years ago.

“I was impressed with its history," said Hendrickson, of the building, which dates to the 1700s. "But I also believed in Relic and Greg. You came in here, listened to some Frank Sinatra playing in the background, and had the best steak in town. And the bartenders were outstanding,” he said. “I’m very sad to see Relic go. They had a great clientele, great employees, and an exceptional product that should have lasted longer than it did.”

The Relic sign is now part of history, having been removed from the building. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Hendrickson said he’s excited to turn the space into something that will be a welcome addition to the community.

"Right now I’m interviewing different restaurateurs and operators," he said. "I’m not a day-to-day operator. I don’t want to be a day-to-day operator. I want someone to use this space as a canvas to create something that’s going to fit a niche in Newtown.”

Hendrickson said the nice thing about the space is “there’s not a lot of work that needs to happen here. The building is in beautiful shape," he said of the 4500-square-foot space. "It’s a good situation."

The building can fit 100 seats spread across two dining room areas. The space also includes a private dining area with a bar for smaller events and the ability to add a 1100-square-foot patio at the rear of the property.

"For a restaurateur who wants to expand or open something new, this is a turn-key opportunity as I own the building and liquor license," said Hendrickson. "It's an incredible downtown location in a building that is full of charm and character. It's not a square box in the middle of a shopping center - they simply don't build buildings like this anymore."

He added, “My goal is to find a long-term partner who is going to create something new and exciting here. I spoke with someone the other day who had a concept that I think would be incredibly great for the community," he continued. "You can program this space in a lot of different ways. There are two bars and a lot of space for private events.”

What’s his timetable?

"I'm going to take my time to find someone who is going to serve the community. And I’m taking that responsibility very seriously," said Hendrickson. "I do this not solely to make money but to better the community. This is going to represent who I am so I really want to get this right."

He added, "I would love for it to happen very quickly. I'm in some great conversations right now that could make this move very quickly. With that said, I'm also happy just to take my time to make sure we get it right."

To share your ideas and thoughts with Hendrickson on what kind of restaurant you'd like to see at the former Relic location, email sailsupventures@gmail.com

(Jeff Werner/Patch)