Entrepreneur Jon Krieger loved almost everything about Tenafly when he and his family moved there during the pandemic.
Kreiger, who operates Cure Cos., a venture development group with a portfolio that includes businesses across a variety of industries, including food & beverage, felt there was just one thing missing: a great hospitality location.
That may no longer be an issue.
Kreiger, with assistance from industry veteran Brandon Hirsch, has opened Spring House, a restaurant, bar and social club that aims to bring a unique experience for patrons.
Kreiger envisions Spring House as a friendly, community-oriented gathering spot — one that offers a special treat: It is a 230-year-old residence that’s an architectural gem listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The restaurant is housed in the historic Demarest-Lyle House, circa 1794. From its vaulted ceilings to the 18th-century wrought iron grillwork that graces the front door, the home was recently renovated to offer creature comforts while maintaining its unique architectural character.
Paying homage to the building’s history, Spring House has distinct dining and drinking spaces that make you feel like you’ve been invited into a private home, further enhancing the community atmosphere. Its sophisticated, yet casual experiences include a retro bar, supper club and secluded cocktail lounge evoking the Roaring Twenties. With multiple eating and drinking concepts under one roof, patrons can return time and again for a different experience every visit.
They can come in big groups, too.
With spaces that can host 25-50 people, Spring House also is available for corporate parties and retreats.
As for the food, it will be in the hands of Michelin-starred Executive Chef Paolo Frolo.
Born and raised in Naples, with a culinary pedigree that includes apprenticeships in Italy, France, Germany and England, he served as executive chef at several prominent New York City restaurants. Frola’s culinary creativity reflects Mediterranean and European influences, along with those of his homeland.
Frolo said he loves to shop daily for the cleanest ingredients, including fresh produce plucked from the garden that day, as well as meat, poultry and seafood from select purveyors who share his commitment to quality and savoring the experience of breaking bread with family and friends.
Spring House has hired several veteran mixologists who will delight visitors. They will craft classic cocktails and signature libations that connect the theme of Spring House with today’s contemporary lifestyles, Kreiger said.
For Kreiger, Spring House represents an ideal connection to a community he became enamored with during the pandemic.
“I love this area and quickly realized the hospitality offerings did not align with the population,” he said. “Spring House is our opportunity to give back to the community by creating a nucleus for everyone with the highest level of food and atmosphere we could envision.
“To be able to transform an almost 300-year-old building with so much history is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” he said.
To have it located in Tenafly is an added bonus, Kreiger said.
“To do it in a town where I live, in a community that I love, that’s what makes it so special to me,” he said. “It’s why we’ve curated every inch of the property to become a destination for dining and gathering.”
