Formerly Delahanty's, SoMa Downtown Grill embraces the South Main Street neighborhood.
Carole and Jim Diee say they believe in Downtown Phillipsburg.
It's a familiar refrain among local leaders looking for ways to rejuvenate South Main Street. To that end, the Diees are helping by restoring at least one business -- their own.
"Our whole focus is to try to bring the Downtown back," Carole Diee said Tuesday at SoMa Downtown Grill, formerly Delahanty's Tavern on the Square.
Delahanty's closed at the end of 2015 after about 13 years in business. The Diees said there was too much competition on the sports-bar front and took time to reinvent the restaurant.
An official ribbon-cutting is planned in about a month, but SoMa has been open for business about two weeks.
The local motif is reflected inside, where historical and contemporary art -- including Carole's own depiction of the Easton-Phillipsburg free bridge -- adorn the walls.
The theme is also reflected in the name: SoMa is short for South Main, the street on which the restaurant is located. And, coincidentally, it is also a name being considered as a broad way to rebrand Phillipsburg's downtown, according to Mayor Stephen Ellis and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The updated, trendier menu will go through seasonal changes, though the owners said it will include some old favorites including Carole's homemade desserts.
More reinvention is in the works: An adjoining section is being turned into a party room -- with the potential for other activities including art and yoga events, Diee said -- and the deck overlooking the Delaware River will be extended the length of the building.
Diee has said the establishment wants to be a player in community events and hopefully encourages others to participate in the town's rebranding. The establishment will be working the beer tent at an upcoming riverside summer concert series, she said.
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Some visitors stopped in early Tuesday evening, having noticed the sign and interested to check out the changes.
Terry Briggs, an Easton resident who owns Slainte on Northampton Street in the city's West Ward, on Tuesday made his second stop at SoMa, calling it "camaraderie among bar owners."
"They're good people," Briggs said. "It'll work well."
Ellis said he has taken his family to the reopened restaurant, speaking favorably of the new food, decor and plans for expansion.
"I love the place," the mayor said.
IF YOU GO
What: SoMa Downtown Grill
Where: 62 S. Main St., Phillipsburg
More info: somagrill.com and on Facebook.
Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and find him on Facebook.