March 18, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
Bring out your cowboy hats and chaps. South Bethlehem will gain a country-themed restaurant and bar at the site of an old firehouse.
Bethlehem City Council granted a liquor-license transfer to Ride ‘Em Cowboy, which plans a restaurant and bar at 217 Broadway, the firehouse that later was the Broadway Social bar.
Nicolo Baratta of Lahoud Law Group presented the application for the license transfer at council’s Tuesday meeting.
There will be 114 seats on the first floor with overflow seating on the second floor. There will be bars on both floors.
One thing it won’t have for urban cowboys: Councilman Bryan Callahan asked whether there will be a mechanical riding bull; the answer, “No,” but there will be line dancing.
The restaurant will have a large rustic main floor, exposed beams and rustic finishes, with a southern-style menu.
Baratta said the business will focus on food sales, with a projected breakdown of 65% of revenue from food, 35% from alcohol.
“The establishment will not participate in takeout alcohol sales,” Baratta said. It will operate “primarily during lunch and dinner hours.”
“Music will be an important part of the atmosphere,” Baratta said, but no live music will be played outdoors.
“Sound amplification will be carefully controlled” and the building will comply with the city’s noise ordinance.
The restaurant will employ 35 to 40 people, about 20 of them full time.
While the atmosphere will be relaxed and rustic, that doesn’t mean that anything goes, Baratta said.
The business will have “a zero tolerance policy for disorderly conduct,” he said.
When liquor licenses are transferred across municipal lines, local government approval is required. This license will be tranferred from 250 Line St., Easton.
Here is a link to the meeting agenda and to a webcast of the event.
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