Council approves transfer of restaurant liquor license for proposed 217 Broadway venue

Bethlehem City Council on March 17 voted to approve forwarding a request to transfer Pennsylvania restaurant liquor license R8050 to the proposed Ryum (variant spellings in the record) Cowboy Company at 217 Broadway, clearing a local step needed before the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board considers final approval.

Attorney Nico Bara, representing the applicant, told council the project will convert the former firehouse into a country‑themed restaurant and entertainment venue. Bara said the first floor will seat roughly 114 guests (including 17 bar seats), the second floor will provide overflow and flexible entertainment space and seasonal outdoor patio seating will be limited and managed. He told council the business expects to employ about 35–40 people and to operate primarily as a food‑driven restaurant with a projected sales mix of about 65% food and 35% alcohol sales.

Joanna Bassile, identified in the record as the company president, said the upstairs is planned “for the most part…to be used for private events,” and that standard security, staff training and sound‑mitigation measures will be used to limit impacts on nearby residences. The applicant described a security plan that would use on‑site personnel during peak hours, surveillance cameras, and manager oversight; they said outdoor live music would not be permitted and soundproofing would be installed to comply with Bethlehem’s noise ordinances.

Council members asked about parking, hours and private‑event use. The applicant acknowledged roughly 20 on‑site spaces on the east side of the property, nearby street parking and a parking garage about two blocks away; hours presented to the council were Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday until midnight and Sunday until 10 p.m. A council member thanked the applicant for investing in a long‑vacant property on Southside Bethlehem.

The council adopted the resolution (sponsored by Miss Leon and Miss Leairard) by recorded voice vote with all members present voting in favor. Council statements in the transcript note that any final transfer remains subject to approval by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

The council also placed the liquor license transfer as Resolution 10G on the agenda and approved it that evening; the clerk’s roll call for that vote shows Miss Daniels, Miss Quitech, Miss Leairard, Mr. Raymond, Mr. Callahan, Mr. Cologne and Miss Leon voting in favor.

Next steps: the applicant must obtain the state liquor control board’s sign‑off and finalize a lease and permit applications (amusement and Sunday sales permits) before opening; the applicant projected a tentative opening in August 2026 pending approvals and construction.