Another chapter for Wycombe’s historic inn has come to an end.
Wycombe House, the latest reincarnation of a longstanding landmark in the village of Wycombe in Wrightstown Township, closed after just a little more than a year in business.
But with another buyer stepping in, its story may not yet be over.
The closure came suddenly — announced the day after Christmas — with a Facebook post stating the restaurant would close on Dec. 31 due to financial difficulties, including an increase in food and liquor prices. It ultimately closed two days early after selling out of food.
“Financially it has been a very difficult year for restaurants in general and The Wycombe House was no exception. Inflation caused our food expenses to increase by over 35%. Interest rates quadrupled our mortgage expenses. The (Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board) raised liquor prices an average of 27%, and in part, due to the economy in general, people spent less time going out to eat,” it read in part.
“This restaurant was a lifelong dream for me, and even though it will not be the legacy I had hoped to leave to my sons, and then their children, it was still an adventure that I would not trade away,” said its owner, Jerry Driscoll, in a separate post on the Wycombe House’s final day.
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A brief history of the old Wycombe property
Located between the Lingohocken Firehouse and Wycombe Train Station, the building was originally constructed well over a century ago as a restaurant and hotel known as the Wycombe Inn, said Betty Davis, chairwoman of Wrightstown's historic commission, in a 2010 story about the inn.
"It was quite the cultural center of this area, really," she said. "It's hard to imagine now, because it's off the main road, out of the way. You really have to want to go to Wycombe. You're not likely to drive by it."
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It has since undergone several rebirths under various ownerships and name changes that most recently included the Wycombe Pub and Grill and the Wycombe Publick House, before it was purchased in February 2022 for $1 million by Driscoll, who said he invested an additional $700,000 to $800,000 in upgrades before opening nine months later.
What’s next for the Wycombe House?
With another owner taking over, its next resurgence could be around the corner.