Staff Blog
EXCLUSIVE: What’s up with Memphis Taproom?
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Hey, glad you asked.
We just got some dirt on one of early 2008's most secretive openings straight from Memphis co-owner/former Nodding Head manager Brendan Hartranft. We're definitely the first to tell you about it, as we've been shamefully stalking the poor guy, Moby Dick-style, for months. Cheers!
- The Memphis Taproom is located in Fishtown on the corner of Memphis and Cumberland. The building, which was last called Walt's, has been a neighborhood beer 'n' shot bar for over 70 years. (Check out some pre-renovation photos here.)
- The owners: Hartranft, Ken Correll of Shackamaxon Catering, and Paula Decker, wife of Nodding Head owner Curt Decker.
- It's a one-level space that'll seat between 50 and 70 people. The décor will have the feel of an old-school neighborhood pub, without "looking like the Elk Lodge," as Hartranft puts it.
- It's gonna be all about the beer — and they've put a lot of thought into it. They'll be pouring a sizable American craft selection in addition to Belgian, German and English brews. "The theme is quality over quantity," says Hartranft. "A lot of places, you can get 100 beers, but a lot of those times, I only want to drink 20 of them. I'd hate to sell [a guest] something good, only to say 'That'll be $12.' We're going to serve really great beer, and move it at a price point that's neighborhood-oriented."
- Hartranft can't name his chef just yet, but he's got a couple hints for us in terms of what'll be on the menu. "I wouldn't say it's going to be 'value-driven,' but I wouldn't dare call our food expensive," he explains. "We're right down the street from Greensgrow, so it'll be great to work with the neighborhood [in that way]." But what are going to be eating, B? "We're in a Polish neighborhood," he lets on, "so it would be pretty much a sin not to have really good pierogies and really nice kielbasa. But we're not going to be locked down to anything in terms of the menu."
- They'll hopefully be open for business by early April.
- Memphis is going to be "owner-operated, in the most accountable sense," says Hartranft. "Guests are always going to be able to get ahold of us. When I say the word 'accessibility,' that's across the board. We're super excited to be in the neighborhood."
Look for more in this Thursday's Feeding Frenzy.
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We welcome you to the neighborhood! Can’t wait to get some good perogies!!!
it’s a shame to see what’s happening to a neighborhood landmark.
I am very happy to see you guys doing something great in the neighborhood (which has more then it’s fair share of beer and shot bars). What a wonderful notion, to get fresh foods from Greensgrow, and pair with craft brews.
There’d better be a jukebox loaded with Mr. Bungle. I’m also hoping that there is a sign on the door that reads “Those wearing extra baggy ‘printed hoodies’ are not welcome”. Maybe some Tavern Spruce Ale on tap. That would be nice.
Memphis Taproom will be pouring at the unbridaled wedding expo on Sat Feb 16th.
http://www.unbridaledexpo.com
wait, since when was this a ‘landmark’? sounds like they’re doing something nice.
Hooray! Now I’ll have someplace to stop after my weekly pickup at Greensgrow, right on my way to the 25 bus. Can’t wait to check it out.
Can not wait, I love beer and just bought a house down the street. I like living in fishtown, it an adjustment moving from center city. Having a bar with good beer a block away is AWESOME! Thanks
I worked at the bar for 11years.I loved it there hope it is even more exciting place to be when it re-opens .
Just to let you all know Greensgrow Was built on TOXIC soil, That’s why most of there things are grown above Ground. Hmmm, can’t wait for that food!!! The New owners says this is a polish neighborhood? They said they were from around here. Oh that because they think they are in Bridesburg.
Anonymous is right. Greensgrow was built on soil, previously occupied by a lead factory, called Anzon. Hope you don’t mind having an arm growing out of your back!!!
I for one am very excited for this place to open. I go to the Nodding Head all the time and have always had great food and beer, if this place is being run by the guy I think it is it should do great. I went to Walt’s one time and had a bunch of guys asking me if I wanted to be in a wet t-shirt contest while I was just trying to keep to myself, if that is someones impression of a neighborhood landmark than good riddance.
[...] -In happier and more local news, the latest fruit of gentrification in Fishtown has arrived, in the form of the Memphis Taproom, a bar that promises to serve tasty local food and, according to the Philadelphia City Paper, “a sizable American craft selection in addition to Belgian, German and English brews.” And for this transplanted Pittsburgher, it gets even better: “It would be pretty much a sin not to have really good pierogies and really nice kielbasa,” says co-owner Brendan Hartranft. All this, and it’s right down the street? I can’t wait until this place opens, in April. Oh, and they’ve promised to keep prices down. Sweet. [...]
Anonymous was right -if a bit of a coward writing anonymously-Greensgrow WAS previously a lead factory, remediated by EPA and constantly tested and actually shown to be cleaner than the grounds around us. In spite of this we continue to grow only in alternative systems of organic imported soil with a barrier beneath or hydroponics in which plants never touch the ground.In addition, Greensgrow carries the product of over 46 other food producers and growers. Perhaps Anonymous has a problem with all of them too they’d like to share. In the mean time, welcome to the neighborhood Ken, Paula and Brendan.
Ah, Mary from Greensgrow are your feeling hurt? It’s not my fault you decided to build you company on a toxic dump. Do your customers need to sign a waver before eating you food? WE HERE AT GREENSGROW ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY OTHER ARMS OR LEGS THAT MIGHT GROW FROM YOUR BODY X_________.
Can’t wait to see how the whole thing comes out! I’m so excited for pierogies too!!
Last time I checked St Laurentius the oldest Polish Church in America was down the street at Memphis and Berks. Because I am Irish and German I didn’t realize all of the Polish folks had vacated Fishtown and Richmond for Bridesburg. No one filled me in on this mass exodus of the polish. May be anon if you eat some Greensgrow Food it will grow a working brain inside the empty cavity atop your body.
i’m personally really excited to see this develop. brendan has been one of the best parts of nodding head for years now and really knows his stuff. hurry up and open already!
in another vein, it’s no wonder people see fishtown / port richmond as being populated by white trash and inbred assholes. i’m not sure why i bother to keep defending the place when i see comments like the ones made by anonymous (so solid in their remarks they can’t even post their name).
White trash? Your a fucking YUPPIE that does not belong in this Neighborhood, Go back to Old City.
I can’t wait to see the shit you write when the White Trash in this neighborhood smacks the taste out of your mouth. Now get on your bike stop at Greensgrow fill your backpack up with toxic food and ride south to Old City.
We’re not really fans of this kind of back and forth. We’re excited to be opening soon at Memphis and Cumberland. Some of us grew up in this neighborhood. Some of us grew up in other neighborhoods in Philly. Either way, we’re hoping to open a nice place, where everyone from every neighborhood is welcome to have beer, watch a game on TV, eat a sandwich, and be civil (gasp! friendly even!) to the guy in the next chair. We’re glad for all the support from the community that we’ve received so far. We’d like to see it continue. To the very few who are not fans of our place, we’re sorry for that, and welcome the opportunity to serve you, when or if you ever decide the time is right. In the mean time, aggression via this forum doesn’t make the beer any colder or the juke box any cooler.
Give the place a chance. As someone mentioned — If you’ve been to the Nodding Head you know it will be a 1st Class Operation. Yes, there will be Multiple “Fancy” Beers — But apparently they will be reasonably priced and if you just wanted a Bottle of Bud (Or other Domestics) and a Hot Roast Beef Sandwich and/or Keilbasa and Peirogies, etc… and BS about the Phillies that will work as well.
I’m sure all suggestions will be welcomed and entertained.
Hey guys, glad to see another cool sounding place opening in Philly, hey all you haters, come on down and see what the hoopla is about with real beer!! Put down your bland mass market crap, and don’t fear the flavor!! I for one will be wandering by from Paoli, and have always had good times at Nodding Head, best burgers in town, so this should be an awesome place.
I’M SORRY BUT THIS PLACE IS NOT IN FISHTOWN. BUT AS ALL OF US KNOW THEY TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE AND YOU BELIEVE SO YOU TELL OTHERS AND…..
welcome to the ‘hood…
I grew up in philly and lived only blocks from here in the mid 80’s. My guess is bringing the talents of the Memphis Taproom ownership to the neighborhood will be a real positive.
I look forward to eating and drinking there - Good Luck
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