New Restaurant Planned for Bottom of City’s Bellefonte Avenue Hill

LOCK HAVEN — Two Lock Haven area businessmen plan to build a new restaurant at the base of the city’s Bellefonte Avenue hill.

Bob Masorti and Gio Montarsi went before Lock Haven City Council Monday night and received city support for the needed transfer of a state liquor license from Renovo to the city. As explained by their solicitor Robert O’Connor, the license was in “safekeeping” after its previous use for the now-closed Big Louie’s restaurant in Renovo.

City council unanimously approved a resolution of support, a step required by the state Liquor Control Board. There was virtually no discussion and no comment from the public.

Masorti said an existing structure at the corner of Bellefonte Avenue and North Jones St. will be torn down. The as yet unnamed new restaurant will have an 85 foot frontage with parking to the rear, he said; four apartments are planned for the second floor of the two-story structure.

Masorti said it will be a restaurant similar to the downtown’s Dutch Haven restaurant, as a point of comparison. He said it will offer subs and six-packs along with regular restaurant fare. He said developers hope to break ground this August, the new facility open for business a year from now.