Craftsman Row Saloon To Open Later This Month on Jeweler's Row

Speaking of Opa…

Later this November, brother-and-sister restaurateurs George and Vasiliki Tsiouris, co-owners of Midtown Village’s popular Opa and Drury Beer Garden, will open Craftsman Row Saloon.

Craftsman Row, located at 112 South 8th Street is named for the hard-working artisans that comprise this area known as Jeweler’s Row. Craftsman Row will offer guests fresh and hearty staples in a comfortable environment to enjoy drinks and food for lunch, dinner and nightcaps.

Over the past few weeks, The Tsiouris’ have been refreshing the space, a landmark for eating and drinking for 100 years, most recently known as Coco’s, which opened in 1984. Respecting the building’s deep history, the Tsiouris’ chose to maintain specific aspects of its character, such as the original bar facade, marked by nameplates of Coco’s regulars at each end.

To create a menu of both healthy and hearty local staples, the brother-and-sister team have brought on Chef Rich Freedman, currently the sous chef at Opa. Freedman helped implement the cured meat and sausages made at Opa. Along with Opa’s Executive Chef Bobby Saritsoglou, Freedman has been testing and reinvigorating a variety of classic snacks, soups, salads, sandwiches, and entrees.

Prior to working in the kitchen at Opa, Freedman held executive chef roles at various large-scale operations including Rowan University, The Philadelphia Zoo and The Barnes Foundation. He was the chef de cuisine at Citizens Bank Park premium facilities pleasing thousands of fans with his house-made sausages. He also was the executive chef at Graduate Hospital’s popular Sidecar Bar & Grill, and over the last fifteen years, Freedman has taken numerous trips to France studying and honing his love and craft of butchery and charcuterie.

Craftsman Row will be open seven days a week for lunch, dinner and late-night, from 11 a.m. until 2 a.m.