They were bonded from an early age — childhood memories created as they passed the time, riding bikes and making up games to try and outdo one another.
“It’s always been competitive between us since we were kids. We always used to hang out in Five Mile Woods," said Rob Staples of his friendship with Frank Brill and Ken Terry, who each graduated from Pennsbury in 2001.
"We’d see who could jump over the widest part of the creek. And it always got wider and wider until someone fell into the water.”
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Decades later, and in their 40s now, the three men are taking a new leap as they prepare to open RiverTide Brewing in the former Bitchin’ Kitten building in Morrisville, bringing together their combined 60 years of experience in the restaurant industry.
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“Frank’s a great brewer, Kenny’s great in the kitchen and I run a great front of the house," Staples said. "Once we started really talking about it, we realized it was something we could do. It’s now or never. We’re just counting on one another. And it’s nice having that trust in those guys."
Plans include 12 taps featuring their own line of craft beers and non-alcoholic options, Pennsylvania wine and spirits, mocktails and cocktails, plus an elevated gastropub menu.
The goal, all three agreed, is to create an inviting place where friends and families can enjoy good food and drinks together.
“It feels like we’re continuing to do what we’ve done our whole lives, being together, supporting each other and creating a good time,” Terry said. “I hope people come here, and they feel like they’re also part of that friendship group that we’ve always had.”
For Brill, teaming up to do something they genuinely care about is something he believes will carry over to their customers.
“People are going to come here and feel that passion in what we do. We love people and we want them to feel welcome and respected here,” Brill said.
When is RiverTide Brewing in Morrisville open?
Pending their liquor license approval, Staples said they are aiming to be open by mid-November with the following hours:
What will be on the menu at RiverTide Brewing in Morrisville?
Brewing in-house with Brill at the helm, RiverTide is to feature a rotation of New England and West Coast IPAs, ambers, pale ales, fruity ales, shandies, lagers, saisons and stouts.
To kick things off, they plan to include the release their flagship beer, Black IPA, a bright and citrusy IPA that looks like a stout.
They're also to offer a rotation of non-alcoholic options, such as nitro cold brew, hops water, hops tea and mocktails.
In addition to its beverage program, the RiverTide owners are focused on delivering a menu featuring shareables, handhelds, salads and seasonal specials. Kids meals are also to be available with the whimsy of being served on cafeteria-style trays.
In addition, Terry said they plan to host Sunday brunches with items such as eggs Benedict with a twist, Bloody Marys and avocado toast flights.
“We will have certain staples on the menu," Terry said, "but we also want to keep our food fresh with the seasons without being overcomplicated."
Details: 58B E. Bridge St., Morrisville; instagram.com/rivertidebrewing.
Reporter Michele Haddon covers local news, small business, food and drink, economic revitalization, art and culture for The Intelligencer and Bucks County Courier Times at PhillyBurbs.com. Please consider supporting local journalism with a subscription.