North Street Tavern opens in Endicott

ENDICOTT — Endicott has a new tavern, but its owners aren’t new to the bar and restaurant business. Partners Kelly Philhower and Troy Rohmann have operated Beer Thirty Grill & Bar on Upper Court Street in Binghamton for about seven years and also operate CONES Ice Cream in Port Crane. Now, they have added the new North Street Tavern to their business portfolio. “I just happened to be driving by one day and saw this sign,” Philhower says. The sign was advertising the former Wingz building for sale. That restaurant closed about two years ago, she notes. Philhower and Rohmann decided to purchase the building and open a new tavern and restaurant there. The couple purchased the building last February for $78,000 according to Broome County property records. “We little by little started renovating,” Philhower says. Rohmann also operates a construction company, so they were able to do the renovations themselves. The couple renovated the space from top to bottom starting with restructuring the basement. Other work included new flooring and paint, new bathrooms, and a new kitchen. “We completely, completely made it over,” Philhower says of the space. While Wingz was more of a sports-bar vibe, North Street Tavern is more upscale and modern, she contends. After a year of work, the business owners had a soft opening for North Street Tavern on Feb. 13 before celebrating the grand opening on March 23. “Even for a soft month, it’s been very, very busy,” Philhower says.  North Street Tavern serves an array of libations and foods from appetizers, including a unique style of quesadilla, to smashburgers and differing daily specials. “Our smashburgers are flying out of here,” Philhower quips. “We have a really extensive martini menu.” The tavern is open for people to come in for a meal and a drink and offers delivery through DoorDash and Uber Eats. While delivery service isn’t as in demand as it was during the height of the pandemic, working with delivery services makes it available to patrons without North Street Tavern having to employ a delivery driver, Philhower says. “It’s helped to get [us] out to the community,” she adds. She launched the tavern’s social-media pages nearly a year before it opened, helping to build anticipation. To keep that marketing momentum up, Philhower has been visiting nearby businesses with coupons when she has time. She also started a loyalty program that already has more than 200 phone numbers amassed. She will use that to send out periodic information about specials, new menu items, or other news. “The village of Endicott and its residents joyfully embraced the arrival of North Street Tavern to our community,” Endicott Mayor Nick Burlingame says in an email to CNYBJ. “The tavern was full of laughter and music during the ribbon-cutting event. Under the stewardship of owners Kelly and Troy, a cherished Endicott landmark underwent a remarkable transformation, emerging as a stunning, contemporary hub that respectfully celebrates our storied past. The beverages and cuisine offered are truly exceptional, made with the highest quality ingredients. We look forward to seeing their continued success for years to come.” The tavern seats about 60 people comfortably, and it employs about 14 people — a mix of full-time and part-time bartenders, servers, cooks, and more. Currently, North Street Tavern is open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.