SOUTH TAMAQUA — Leiby’s Ice Cream House & Restaurant in West Penn Township is planning to reopen.
A Facebook post last week told customers about the upcoming reopening. The restaurant at 848 W. Penn Pike in West Penn Township closed its doors Dec. 2, 2007. The business was established in 1965.
“It’s the news everyone has been waiting to hear: We are very proud to announce the reopening of Leiby’s Ice Cream House & Restaurant later this year under family ownership. Following over a year of planning, a member of the Leiby family will renovate and then reopen, returning to the community a family restaurant while satisfying the region’s love for the famous local ice cream. You can look forward to the same home-style cooking and friendly, clean environment that you remember from years past,” the statement said.
The property is owned by K Mar Properties Inc. with an address of 2432 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, according to the online Schuylkill County Parcel Locator. An employee with the Schuylkill County Recorder of Deeds office said that information was still accurate as of Friday. She provided a phone number for Charles Campbell, an attorney in Bethlehem, who is listed as contact person on the documents, the employee said.
He did not return a call for comment Friday.
Bill Anders, West Penn Township zoning officer and Uniform Construction Code officer, said Friday he also noticed the Facebook post last week.
He said no permits or applications have been submitted for the property.
Anders said he spoke with someone — whom he declined to name — in the fall of last year but has not spoken with them since then.
An employee of the Leiby’s Premium Ice Cream that is not affiliated with the now-closed restaurant said he did not know anything about the possible reopening nor did any of the employees to his knowledge.