Mother’s Bar & Grille, Easton fixture for decades, to close its doors on New Years

EASTON, Pa. — Mother’s Bar & Grille, a downtown fixture known for its dive bar atmosphere and Lebanese-influenced pub fare, will permanently close at midnight on New Year’s Eve, ending more than 15 years under its current ownership.

The Simonetta brothers — Philip, Joseph and Michael — announced the closure Friday evening in a Facebook post.

“Saying goodbye is hard to do. We have difficult news to share as we approach the end of the year,” the post read. “The memories and friendships we made over the years will last forever.”

The post invited patrons to visit the bar during its final weekend to share memories with staff.

Attempts to reach the owners by phone Friday were unsuccessful. The listed number was disconnected.

The announcement took the community by surprise. Word of the closure spread quickly through local businesses and across social media Friday night.

Dozens of commenters on the bar’s Facebook post shared memories and expressed sadness at the news. Some said they hoped a new owner would step in to save the establishment.

The bar, located at 3 Lehns Court in the southeast quadrant of Centre Square, has operated under Mother’s name for more than 30 years, with records indicating it existed as early as 1979.

The Simonetta brothers took over operations in September 2010. A fourth brother, Anthony “Tony” Simonetta, was a partner at Mother’s for 15 years before his death in March 2025.

In July 2025, the brothers acquired Pearly Baker’s Alehouse, a landmark restaurant also located in Centre Square. The reopening was dedicated to Tony Simonetta’s memory. His daughter, Rowen, joined the staff as a hostess.

Mother’s was known for its “neighborhood watering hole” atmosphere, frequently compared to the bar in the television series “Cheers.”

The menu featured standard pub fare alongside Lebanese specialties, including stuffed grape leaves and a signature burger served in pita with garlic paste. The bar featured pool tables, karaoke and live music.

Before the Simonetta brothers’ ownership, Greg Melhem and Billy Cornish purchased and reopened the bar in August 2000 following a fire that damaged the building.