may be closing its doors soon as its owner focuses the company on locations much smaller than the 478-person restaurant on the South Side.

"We would like to open up smaller locations. That's our goal," owner Dave Rank said. "We want to continue to grow."

Rank's been working with his landlord, Lou Pektor, for the last few months to find a different tenant.

Starters Riverport first opened its doors in April 2006, expanding the company from its first location, Starters Pub, on Route 378 in Lower Saucon Township. It opened a third location, Starters Clubhouse, in May 2008 at the Bethlehem Golf Course.

The weak economy is prompting Rank to rethink the company's business model.

"People still go out to dinner, but people just don't go out as often," he said.

Riverport is simply too large and expensive to maintain in this economy, Rank said. In the future, he expects the company to focus on eateries with 40 to 50 seats.

He's looking at many new locations throughout the Lehigh Valley, but said he can't commit until he's disentangled from the Riverport location.

Rank praised his loyal customers and employees and thanked them for their support. He reminded customers that Riverport remains open.

"We love the Valley," Rank said.

Trying to draw in patrons with a DJ on weekends, Riverport recently struggled with police incidents. Bethlehem police said in September that the department responded to 68 incidents over two years, but officials noted Starters is one of the city's largest bars.

Rank responded by moving up last call, changed the music and limiting people on Friday and Saturday nights.

Pektor, the owner of Riverport, and Joe Kelly, Bethlehem's director of community and economic development, could not be reached for comment today.

Starters Riverport is in the former Johnson Machinery building, which Pektor redeveloped into the restaurant, a fitness center, condos and a metered city parking garage. The Lehigh Riverport project on West Second Street cost $30 million.