Take a sneak peek into the former San Carlos - opening this spring after renovations

Lena Tzivekis, York Daily Record
·2 min read

The former San Carlo's Restaurant, a longtime York County hub for dancing, drinks and food along Route 30, will hop once again − only without the dancing and bright yellow '51 Chevy on the roof.

The venue is now called Spruce on Blackbridge, and it will feature house-brewed beer, brick oven pizza, an outdoor bar and more.

In 2016, Themis Sacarellos, who owns the Round the Clock Diner, bought the building − practically next door − that housed the former San Carlos & The Hop restaurant, for $750,000.

Brewmaster Justin Lee, a former brewer for Victory Brewing, gives a tour of the brewery integrated into Spruce on Blackbridge. The tanks are highly visible through the tall windows when traveling Route 30 westbound.
Brewmaster Justin Lee, a former brewer for Victory Brewing, gives a tour of the brewery integrated into Spruce on Blackbridge. The tanks are highly visible through the tall windows when traveling Route 30 westbound.

More on the project: An iconic Route 30 restaurant in York County is closed indefinitely for renovations

He said he wanted to turn this iconic restaurant, in desperate need of renovation, into something modern and refined.

"I love taking ugly things and turning them into something beautiful," said Sacarellos, who alongside his team, has been working on the project for several years and finally sees an end in sight.

A stairway from the front foyer leads to the second floor of Spruce on Blackbridge.
A stairway from the front foyer leads to the second floor of Spruce on Blackbridge.

With over 20,000 square feet of space, this restaurant will be able to seat as many as 500 people and will include two levels, outdoor seating and three bars. While it’s still under construction, with furniture coming in every day, Sacarellos expects the project to be completed by spring of 2024.

The menu will offer soups, homemade crab cakes, steaks, seafood, pasta, brick-oven pizza and more. In addition to the extensive food menu, the restaurant will offer house-made beer, brewed on the premises by brewmaster and former Victory Brewing Company brewer Justin Lee.

A seating area on the first floor of Spruce on Blackbridge begins to take shape.
A seating area on the first floor of Spruce on Blackbridge begins to take shape.

Round the Clock Diner – literally: I spent 24 hours at the York icon. Here's what I saw

Part of the outside patio space at Spruce on Blackbridge.
Part of the outside patio space at Spruce on Blackbridge.

More: $3M renovation set to turn San Carlo's & The Hop into steakhouse, brewery combo

The restaurant will employee a staff of 150, including servers, kitchen staff, bartenders, management and more. Applications will be available in the coming months.

Though he and his team are still working out the kinks, Sacarellos, who has invested millions into the new restaurant, said he couldn’t be more excited that it is finally coming to fruition.

He has extended an open invitation to the curious to come down and see the renovations in action.

This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: The former San Carlo's & The Hop restaurant project opening soon