King George Inn Auction 'Like a Death in the Family'

Restaurateurs, antique-store owners and collectors gather Monday for a chance to bid on everything from dishes to the actual bar at the King George Inn auction.

  King George Inn owner Cliff McDermott likened Monday's auction of the former restaurant's contents to a death in the family. Parked cars overflowed into the roads surrounding the historic restaurant, and everything was for sale -- from the cups and saucers to the bar and fixtures. "This auction is kind of like the viewing part where all your relatives and friends from around the country come," McDermott said. "You don't think about it much right now, but tomorrow, when everyone is gone and the place is empty, it will hit you that you're by yourself." For 42 years, he owned and operated the inn, built in 1756. In August he abruptly closed the restaurant, at 3141 Hamilton Blvd., South Whitehall -- leaving a note on the door that read: We'…

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Jennifer Rodgers

3:35 pm on Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hi Kim, That didn't happen when I was there yesterday. Were you there when the leak happened?   more ›

Visions for Vacancies

What Goes Here? The Former King George Inn

The King George Inn listing is one of the hottest commercial listings on the market now, according to Realtor Bill Plasha.

    The King George Inn, a historic landmark and favorite destination for fine dining in South Whitehall, closed in August. For 42 years, Cliff McDermott owned and operated the restaurant at the corner of Hamilton and Cedar Crest boulevards. In August, McDermott closed the restaurant abruptly - leaving a sign on the door that read: We're sorry. The King George Inn is now closed for business. Thank you for your patronage the past 42 years. Since closing, there have been multiple offers on the property, which is listed at $1,399,000, according to Bill Plasha, chairman of the commercial group for Prudential Patt White. "Of the 80 properties I currently represent it is the hottest," Plasha said. "There are a lot of people in the restaurant …

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King George Inn Closing 'Traumatic,' Owner Says

Cliff McDermott, who ran the historic South Whitehall restaurant for 42 years, says it was a victim of changing trends in dining and a weak economy, the Morning Call reports.

The closing of the King George Inn in South Whitehall after 42 years was "traumatic, like a death in the family," owner Cliff McDermott said in a Morning Call story. He said revenue from the historic restaurant had been declining for years but he put off closing his business out of pride. While the weak economy played a role, McDermott lamented that he failed to keep up with the times. For example, while his restaurant still used linen table clothes and napkins that cost $1,200 to launder, more people today are choosing the casual dining atmosphere of the grille and pub variety, he said. The landmark restaurant at Cedar Crest and Hamilton boulevards had a storied history, serving weary travelers as a crossroads tavern even before the …

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King George Inn Closes

The King George Inn, a National Historic Site, has closed after 42 years in business.

King George Inn Closes

The King George Inn, a National Historic Site, has closed after 42 years in business.

  The historic King George Inn at Cedar Crest and Hamilton boulevards in South Whitehall has closed. A message on the restaurant's answering machine says, "We're sorry. The King George Inn is now closed for business. Thank you for your patronage the past 42 years." No other additional information was immediately available. The inn was built in 1756, and even before the Revolutionary War, it was serving weary travelers. It has been designated a National Historic Site by the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. The land surrounding the inn was recently purchased by Hotel Hamilton LLC, where a Burger King and video store once operated. The real estate company that handled the transaction said the land will be banked for now…

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Kimberlee K. Klois

9:09 pm on Monday, August 27, 2012

contact the states attorney general office   more ›

5 Places To Eat Alfresco

In South Whitehall (and nearby), you can make the most of summer and eat outdoors.

Leave the walls for wintertime and enjoy your next summer meal outdoors. Here are five places in South Whitehall (and nearby) to savor alfresco dining. 1. King George Inn, South Whitehall You’ll feel like a royal dining under the quaint covered patio at this historic site. Walk under an adorned archway for an over-the-top eating experience. The inn serves everything from fresh seafood to sizzling steaks. Make sure to keep an eye out for themed dinners and seasonal events as well. 2. Pistachio Bar and Grille, at the Shops at Cedar Pointe, Allentown. This hip hangout is the perfect place to kick back and relax with some good friends. Located just off Cedar Crest Boulevard, it’s an easy dining destination. Pistachio’s offers daily food and …

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