South Lebanon gathering spot undergoes renovation by Cornwall restaurant owners
The former Franz's Tavern has been purchased by Andrew and Richelle Arnold, owners of the Blue Bird Inn. The tavern, at 1400 S. 5th Ave., Lebanon, is being transformed into a new eatery by owners Andrew and Richelle Arnold, who also own and operate the Blue Bird Inn in Cornwall. They intend to reopen it as a restaurant after renovations. Franz’s had been owned and operated for 25 years by Todd and Belinda Kenee, who made it a welcoming gathering spot. It was closed for several months after the death of chef Todd in March. The South Lebanon Township property was purchased in October for $330,000 by the Arnolds.
A Historic Transformation
The couple is working with Fairview Builders Inc. to renovate the tavern, which Andrew said dates to around 1840. “The No. 1 thing we knew about the property was that we had to rehab the facility. There are several residential developments nearby, and we want to make it a gathering place for the local community,” Andrew Arnold said. Arnold said demolition of Franz’s interior began shortly after the property was acquired. Since demolition began, three or four dumpsters filled with debris have been hauled away from the site. The kitchen and bathrooms have been removed, and the interior has been taken down to the studs.
The new owners of the former Franz’s Tavern are striving to preserve some of the historic features of the building through the renovation process. “When we look at old buildings, we look at what we can retain to maintain the historic look and historic value of the building. We’ve exposed a lot of the original woodwork, and you can see the original oak structure of the ceilings. We hope to maintain as much of that as we can,” Arnold said. One of the items that could be incorporated into the new restaurant is the bar and back bar, although the layout may be updated.
Future Plans and Dining Experience
New owners Andrew and Richelle Arnold hope to re-open Franz’s Tavern by the end of the year. “We don’t have a name yet, but we want to honor its heritage. We plan to incorporate the name ‘Franz’ along with a tagline,” Andrew stressed. The menu will be different than the Blue Bird’s, but the high quality of the food will be the same. At the Arnolds' other property, the Blue Bird Inn, they take pride in creating meals with the finest, locally sourced ingredients to deliver a dining experience that’s both fresh and flavorful. They strive to use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, ensuring each dish is crafted to order with care and precision.
Locally Sourced Ingredients and Partners
The following local producers represent some of the favorite sources for high-quality ingredients used by the Arnolds in their restaurant operations:
| Producer | Location |
|---|---|
| Kreider Farms | Manheim |
| Groff's Meats | Elizabethtown |
| Bell & Evans | Fredericksburg |
| Bassett's Ice Cream | Philadelphia |
| Tasty Twisters | Philadelphia |
| T&L Pierogie | Hazleton |
| Stateside Vodka | Philadelphia |
| Blue Coat Gin | Philadelphia |
| Big Spring Spirits | Bellefonte |
| Woolem Mills Fan Company | New Park |
He hopes to start putting structure back into the building in six to eight weeks. “It will be a cool, updated historic facility when it’s done,” Arnold said. Plans for the restaurant at Franz’s Tavern are still being finalized and will be submitted to the Lebanon County Planning Commission and South Lebanon Township for necessary approvals.