Preserving the Past, Embracing the Future: The Updated Old Corner Grill Under New Ownership

By Emily Wright 

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Shaun Dale, owner of The Old Corner Grill and Bottle Shop, has brought new life to this historic establishment since taking ownership in July of 2022. With a background in the restaurant industry and a deep love for his hometown, Dale is passionate about preserving the history and charm of The Old Corner while bringing his own vision to the business. Starting October 3rd, enhanced his menu to align with the autumn season and kick off The Old Corner’s “Soup Season”.

Dale’s background in the restaurant industry began when his parents took over The Whippoorwill located just a few miles up the Coudersport Pike in 1980. When he was 18, he moved from Lock Haven to Arizona, where he purchased a restaurant called Boston Subs and successfully ran it for five years. Eventually, Dale returned to his roots in Lock Haven, feeling a pull to his hometown.

“One night I stopped in The Old Corner while it was still under Donnie’s ownership and I said to him, ‘Why don’t you sell this place?'” Dale shared. From that conversation, Dale’s entrepreneurial journey with The Old Corner began.

Dale has plans to preserve the history and character of The Old Corner. While making necessary repairs, he aims to maintain the building’s aesthetics and also modernize it. “I want to preserve the historic appearance of The Old Corner and also modernize the historic building at the same time,” he said.

The history of The Old Corner holds great meaning for Dale. “I’m very humbled to be a part of such a historic place,” he said. “I’m also very humbled that I can have a piece of Lock Haven’s history. It means a lot because this is the town that I grew up in.”

The Old Corner Grill and Bottle Shop has a long and fascinating history that reflects the thriving brewing and bottling industry in the area during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Built in 1871 by George Strayer, the building originally had three storefronts. It served as a hotel that was able to accommodate 30 guests, a saloon, a brewery, and a bottling company. In 1896, the corner hotel portion became the Lucas House, owned by F.C. Lucas. The two storefronts next to it were bottling and liquor warehouses. One newspaper clipping dated 1909 described the experience at the Lucas House, stating that it had “Several finely furnished sleeping rooms, and the sitting room and parlor are on the second floor. The dining room is neat in its appointments and the meals are first class”. 

Over the years, the building went through various updates, changes in ownership, and address changes. It housed the Lock Haven Globe Bottling Works, which later became the Holloway Bottling Company, and then transitioned to Clinton Bottling Works before becoming Mosher’s Steam Bottling Works. Then in 1906, the hotel/saloon was renamed Hotel Crowley. 

To this day, the building features an Italianate architectural style, commonly seen in Lock Haven’s historic buildings, and The Old Corner’s original storefront is one of only a few that remain. 

While there have been some changes to the menu since Dale’s ownership, he plans to keep many things the same. “I’ve made very little change to the menu. I added a few things and got rid of a few things,” Dale shared. He mentioned his plans to add seasonal entrees and run the restaurant’s soup season from October to May.

Dale’s commitment to his staff is evident as many of them have been working at The Old Corner for years, even under its previous owner, Donnie Powers. Two employees that he mentioned, Lisa and Theresa, have shown their loyalty to the business for 19 and 22 years, respectively. While discussing Dale’s plans for the menu this fall, he mentioned that Theresa makes all of the homemade soups in-house.

In terms of the overall dining experience at The Old Corner, Dale has made some changes to the atmosphere. “We changed up the lights to brighten things inside,” he said. He mentioned that his future mother-in-law helped him pick the new interior color scheme, as she has an extensive background in the preservation of historical buildings. “I knew that she’d have the eye for that,” he said.  Dale also has plans for future expansion, including adding a new back bar, new tables and chairs, and possibly rearranging the layout to make more space for the inside bar area. 

Dale has a strong commitment to community involvement, having organized live music events on Grove Street and actively participating in various fundraisers. Among his contributions is the upcoming Apple Fest Fundraiser, which will take place on October 7th at two local historical locations: Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village. Demonstrating his passion for local history preservation, Dale generously donated $2,000 to both Eagle Iron Works and Curtin Village this past summer.

Dale expressed his desire to be able to continue hosting events to draw more people to downtown Lock Haven. Seemingly always brainstorming ideas for future events, he mentioned one idea, a “News Year’s Eve in the Street” event complete with a tent set up and live music. 

Looking towards the long-term vision for The Old Corner Grill and Bottle Shop, Dale is considering expansion to create a larger footprint inside the bar, and possibly adding a delivery service for the restaurant. 

Dale has been humbled by the support and friendship he has received since taking over The Old Corner. He has made many new friends and enjoys the interactions with his customers. “It’s awesome to be able to provide a service to people who come back religiously,” he said. He also appreciates the community involvement and the opportunity to take part in growing the business district in his hometown.

To Lock Haven locals, The Old Corner Grill and Bottle Shop has always been and will continue to be a staple restaurant and bar. To those from outside the Lock Haven area, Dale extends an invitation to come in and try it out. When asked what message he would relay to those who haven’t been to the restaurant and bar since he took ownership, he said, “If you haven’t been in, come in! There’s a reason we have the slogan ‘meet me at the old corner'”. 

For takeout orders, please call 570-748-4124. You can also find The Old Corner on Facebook @TheOldCornerGrill&BottleShop. Located at 205 North Grove Street in Lock Haven, PA 17745, The Old Corner Grill and Bottle Shop is ready to welcome you. For any inquiries, you can email Shaun at shaun@theoldcorner.com.