The Tavern on the Square restaurant in New Wilmington has officially re-opened under new ownership.

The once-popular restaurant, which shut down in 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, reopened Wednesday after a $2 million-plus renovation. The Tavern is now owned and operated by the husband-wife team of Matt and Maggie Noble, who hoped to revitalize and restore the New Wilmington staple after it was forced to close its doors a few years ago.

The Tavern, which originally opened in 1931, closed in 2020 and sat empty for nearly two years. The new owners purchased the abandoned building in 2021 and have undertaken a major restoration project in order to bring the Tavern back to life. According to their website, the focus of the Tavern "will be on all things local, tapping into the abundant talent that surrounds this quaint country town."

The Nobles are culinary school graduates and have each worked at high-end restaurants and wineries. They moved to the Pittsburgh a few years ago, where Matt started a construction company. Impressed by the charming college town in Amish country, the Nobles moved to New Wilmington, where they found the Tavern on the Square building falling into disrepair. Experienced with renovating in the past with their company Noble Improvement, they purchased the closed restaurant building in 2021 and began renovating it shortly thereafter.

"It was fulfilling and rewarding to see the culmination of a project that lasted two years," said Maggie Noble in an interview. "We practically saved this place from demolition and were able to build it into a place that provides new jobs and brings value to the community."

For Maggie, the plan moving forward for the restaurant will be to "get better everyday," always improving their service and product. She further emphasized the importance of the community in helping with the growth of the Tavern, from sourcing locally to retaining the restaurant's nostalgic and beloved charm that it once had for New Wilmington in the past.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Tavern on the Square on Tuesday, a large crowd gathering despite the potentially rainy conditions. The Tavern officially re-opened and began serving food and drink Wednesday morning.

The restaurant, located at 108 N. Market Street in New Wilmington, is open from 11 AM to 9 PM Wednesday through Saturday and from 11 AM to 3 PM Sunday for brunch only.

For reservations, call 724-901-0013.