Local news

The Haven Exchange: New business downtown provides a unique dining experience

LOCK HAVEN -- A building that once welcomed customers to manage their finances is now welcoming them to gather over food, drinks and conversation.

After months of renovations, planning and a few last minute hurdles, Emma and Parker Everett officially opened The Haven Exchange, 104 E. Main St., Lock Haven, on Friday, July 17, transforming the former downtown bank into a modern restaurant, self-pour taproom and community gathering space while preserving much of the building's historic character.

"It started with a simple idea: create a place where great food, great drinks and great people come together," The Haven Exchange shared through social media. "We wanted to take a historic downtown bank and give it new life while preserving the character that makes it special."

For Emma, opening day brought a mix of excitement and anxiety.

"I'm really nervous," she said just hours before opening their doors. "I'm excited though too. We're staffed, our food order is good, our alcohol and beer are good, but I'm just kind of nervous about how people are going to use the system."

At the heart of The Haven Exchange, the system mentioned refers to its self-service tap wall, offering customers an interactive experience unlike anything local.

Guests have the option to receive a reusable wristband or tap card that is linked to a credit card, allowing them to pour as much or as little as they'd like from a selection of 15 rotating taps featuring craft beer, domestic favorites, ciders and seltzers.

Instead of committing to a full pint, customers can sample several beverages and discover new favorites at their own pace.

The first four taps -- Busch Light, Broken Heels, Yuengling and Blue Moon -- are expected to remain as permanent selections, while the remaining offerings will rotate based on customer feedback and availability.

"We're going to try to keep a really well-rounded selection," Emma said. "If people come in and say 'I really want a pilsner,' we'll buy a pilsner and put one on. We'll kind of see what people want."

The full service bar also serves cocktails, wine and other spirits for guests that prefer a more traditional experience, while the kitchen features a small but elevated menu of comfort food designed to be shared among family and friends. Non-alcoholic beverages are also available.

The couple originally envisioned converting the building's upper floor into an Airbnb while operating the restaurant below. However, building code requirements for multiple exits forced them to rethink the project.

Instead, the upstairs has been renovated into an event space that will eventually host private parties, business meetings, workshops and community gatherings.

"We're open to ideas," Emma said. "If anybody has an idea that they want to bring here -- here's an event I have, here's a workshop I have, a speaker -- we'll take anything. We want everyone to come and use our space."

The Everetts are already working with local organizations on future programming, and hope to host trivia nights, live entertainment, pop-up events, seasonal celebrations, workshops and fundraisers that showcase local businesses and communities coming together.

"We definitely want to do a lot of community events," Emma shared. "We're really trying to involve the community and partner with them."

Although the building's purpose has changed dramatically, much of its history remains.

Visitors will still find the original chandeliers, decorative molding and several pieces of furniture from its original banking days. The original bank vault has also been preserved and incorporated into the seating area as one of its most distinctive features. Additional furniture and decor in the vault has been sourced by Emma herself from thrift stores and secondhand shops to complement the building's historic charm.

"I thrifted everything in here," Emma recalled. "I tried not to buy anything new."

Emma credited their general contractor, Dylan Sanders, and his wife with bringing the project to life.

"He pretty much has done everything in here," she said. "He has done such a good job."

Beyond its innovative technology, The Haven Exchange was intentionally designed to encourage people to linger, move throughout the space and connect with others rather than feel constrained to a seat at a single table.

"I don't want it to be a typical restaurant," Emma said. "I want people to come in and mingle."

Customers can order food through traditional table service or by scanning the QR code at their tables.

As The Haven Exchange welcomed its first customers Friday afternoon, Emma said she believes the business offers something new for downtown Lock Haven while honoring the history of our community.

For the Everetts, this is a representation of more than a restaurant. Their hope is that whether someone stops in for a quick drink, a family meal, live entertainment or a community event, they'll feel at home from the moment they walk through the doors.