Greystone Restaurant Closes in Pottsville, New Tenant Rumored

One of the top restaurants in Schuylkill County closed its doors for the last time as the calendar turned to 2020.

The Greystone Restaurant in downtown Pottsville closed its doors forever to start the year.

According to several reliable sources, it was announced during New Year’s festivities the restaurant was closing.

The Greystone was owned and operated by Chef Jerry Labooty, a veteran of the Schuylkill County restaurant scene.

Greystone Closes in Downtown Pottsville

The Greystone was located inside the Park Hotel building at 315 N. Centre Street. The restaurant had two owners, starting in 2000 with Monica Lazovi Walborn and then Labooty.

The restaurant created quite a buzz in town when it opened and for the most part, kept up that spirit until its recent closing.

The building is owned by local business and property owner Matt Direnzo. He’s best known for owning and running The Brass Tap bar in Pottsville for years.

Memories of people lined up outside The Tap and Hucklebucks there on West Norwegian Street … a somewhat vibrant nightlife downtown on the weekends in Pottsville … where have those days gone?

And when we say vibrant, this is a good 30-40 years after Pottsville was dying off and about 60-80 years removed from its heyday. Every generation seems to inherit a slightly degraded version of downtown Pottsville.

What’s Next?

So, are we seeing another transition downtown? Are we passing off the downtown to another generation?

If we are, it doesn’t seem like it will be without its proverbial “Greystone” in place, a fine dining experience that’s sorely lacking in the coal region.

The Canary found this PLCB public noticed pasted inside the entryway to the restaurant:

You can see that a company known as The Park Hotel Restaurant LLC is planning to take charge of the restaurant where The Greystone last served.

The application is signed by Direnzo, the building owner.

A Pennsylvania Dept. of State search reveals very little about The Park Hotel Restaurant LLC other than it formed in mid-December. The LLC paperwork filed with the state was signed by Christopher Hobbs, a Pottsville attorney.

The LCB application takes at least a month to get approved, more like two or more. This notice at the former Greystone was just posted last week, and must stay for 30 days to give the public a chance to appeal the application.

This is a change in ownership application. The license here, R11669 is being requested to change hands from SLT Hospitality, who has Labooty listed as its chief officer, to The Park Hotel Restaurant LLC, which doesn’t list any officers.

So, it appears that something will replace The Greystone and potentially soon.

If you’re to believe online rumors — take these at face value until you see it for yourself — someone connected with the Lodge at Sharp Mountain project could be involved in the revival of the restaurant inside the Park Hotel building.

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