Franklin Square park launches an open-air cocktail lounge
Built as a 7,300-square-foot wedding venue during the pandemic, Franklin’s View is now a high-ceilinged tent for drinking and dancing.
3 years ago
Love Park has a new neighbor!
Uptown Beer Garden has moved to a new location at 1500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, just a block-and-a-half away from its former location on 17th and JFK.
Crafts Concept Group and Uptown’s owner Teddy Sourias announced the 18,000-square-foot beer garden would be permanent and year-round, meaning more space and the ability to seat 350 guests during regular business hours and up to 700 for private events.
“While the footprint and seat count is larger this year, we also paid attention to the smaller details that will create intimate experiences within the garden itself,” Sourias said.
What used to be a concrete sidewalk is now “twinkling beer garden lighting, 20+ foot tall trees, lush greenery, colorful flowers, a koi fish pond, fountains made from recycled beer taps, graffiti street art from local artists, and an outdoor kitchen in a giant food truck.”
They’ve turned what used to be a 7-Eleven into a kitchen to serve their expanded menu of street food, like cheesesteaks and fries, while also adding some vegan and gluten-free options like crispy eggplant and grilled peach salad.
If you’re looking to have a drink, the bar will feature some classics, as well as state, local, and national craft beers. Uptown will also feature seasonal cocktails, frozen cocktails, boozy pops, and wine.
While many businesses struggled during the pandemic, this opportunity for Uptown to grow came during that time.
“The opportunity to take over the space at 1500 JFK came to us during the pandemic and it was an amazing opportunity to build a new Uptown from the ground up … We have secured a long-term lease that will allow us to invest more into the property, explore staying open year-round in some capacity, and bring the whole Uptown experience to an all new level,” Sourias said.
Uptown is now open with the following hours:
Uptown is walk-up only for tables, with no reservations needed. For more about Uptown, follow @uptownbeergarden on social media or call 215-397-3308.