Grey Lodge’s “Scoats” Takes Over Bonk’s Bar

Port Richmond legend is back with new ownership.

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Mike “Scoats” Scotese has made a name for himself by running the Grey Lodge in Northeast Philadelphia for more than 20 years. Making the bar one of Philadelphia’s first craft beer bars and converting many people into craft beer fanatics. Scotese has also opened two other bars in the Northeast, Hop Angel Brauhaus in Fox Chase and more recently, he opened Sawtown Tavern in Tacony. And now he’s taken over the old Bonk’s Bar in Port Richmond.

With nary a word to the media, Scotese announced on Facebook Monday that he had softly re-opened Bonk’s Bar at 3467 Richmond Street in Port Richmond. Bonk’s has had a cult following for years with its crab nights and no-frills look. But ownership changes saw the place become inconsistent, with crabs being offered just one day a week and online reviews referring to the place as becoming rundown.

But now with Scotese at the helm, the bar has a new life with an operator who is ideal for bringing back an institution without glamming it up too much. The new Bonk’s Bar will offer crabs nightly and a draft list that will welcome all. Scotese described the list on Facebook as, “2 rotating, 2 macro, and 6 old school craft – the sort of craft you would ignore looking for the next new thing but is really as great as it ever was.”

Bonk’s is currently open for dinner only. Look for lunch in the coming weeks and after that, an official grand opening.

Bonk’s Bar [Foobooz]