Bernie’s Restaurant and Bar is opening this fall at 3432 Sansom St.

Good news for this University City storefront that has remained vacant since Doc Magrogan’s Oyster House closed in July 2016. Come this fall, Bernie’s Restaurant and Bar, a casual dining restaurant, will open its doors at 3432 Sansom Street. Penn’s Division of Facilities & Real Estate Services, which has signed the lease for the Sansom Street space with the restaurant owners, announced the upcoming opening earlier this week.

This will be the third Pennsylvania location for the restaurant known as a “full-service independent American-style restaurant and bar serving quality food and drinks in a cozy neighborhood setting,” according to the announcement. Bernie’s currently operates two locations in southeastern PA: Glenside and Hatboro, and its owner, Eric Kretschman, is both a Drexel and Penn alum. 

“This is more of a homecoming than a new business opening,” Kretschman said. “I loved University City and Penn’s campus 25 years ago, and I especially love the remarkable growth and positive changes since then.”

The 3432 Sansom Street is a 7,000 sq. ft. property among the iconic brick rowhomes on Penn’s campus. Renovations to the space are currently underway and will include a fully redesigned interior, a back deck with fire pits, and outside café seating.

The restaurant is named after the owner’s grandmother, Bernie, who hosted Sunday Dinners at her home every week for 35 years. The restaurant has tried to recreate the popular Sunday Dinner atmosphere with great food, family and friends coming together for good times.

For more information about Bernie’s Restaurant and Bar, visit: www.mybernies.com.