Phoenix

Specialties

Everything in The Phoenix Tavern has the personal touch of the Sapolich family and the seal of approval from lifetime customers.

The delectable tavern fare and homemade goodness springs from our family’s combined experience of over 100 years of expertise (as well as the occasional late-​night inventive customer request) and it is not unusual to find three generations of Sapoliches working in the kitchen to create, taste, and perfect the menu items. Ana, David, Colette and the grandkids each contribute to the selection of fresh salads, novel sandwiches, quirky wings, delightful desserts, and secret-​recipe soups. Whether you have a penchant for pastries or a weakness for wings, The Phoenix Tavern has something on the menu to satiate your cravings. It all makes for quite a lot of food, quite a lot of family, and quite a lot of satisfied taste buds.

History

Established in 1973.

In November of 1973, Ana and George Sapolich purchased the historic Matan’s Café in the heart of Cambria City. They opened up a mill-​gate bar and café that served coal miners and mill workers late into the night. Ana would open the doors at 11a every morning, except Sundays, and George («Sappy» to friends) would come to the restaurant after his shift as a welder to give her a few hours’ rest before the evening crowd began trickling through the doors. After the ’77 flood put 40 inches of water on the first floor and 2 feet of mud in the basement, Ana and George enlisted their young sons to help dig out and rebuild. Everything in The Phoenix Tavern, from the marble bar to the hand-​made moldings, is the product of David and Richard’s hard work and creativity. Today, David and his wife, Colette, continue the tradition of serving the Johnstown community delicious food and tasty treats in a family-​friendly atmosphere. The Phoenix is the product of over 35 years of family, labor, and love.

Meet the Business Owner

David S.

Business Owner

From the age of 16, David has been working at the restaurant in Cambria City. He handles everything from the dish additions to the menu to the room additions to the tavern itself. As a caring father and natural talker, David prides himself in creating a family-​friendly, safe, enjoyable atmosphere for his customers.