HELLERTOWN, Pa. — The longtime owner of Braveheart Highland Pub is looking to pass the torch — but not close the doors.
After nearly two decades in business, the Hellertown restaurant, pub and mixed-use property has been listed for sale as its owner prepares for retirement.
The listing includes the entire operation: the business, the real estate and the liquor license.
“I will not sell Braveheart to someone that wants to change the operation or what it stands for. There’s no rush on this from my standpoint and I will be very selective on who, if anyone, I move forward with down the path of selling it.”Braveheart owner Andy Lee
“This is not a closure,” said Justin Kline, owner/broker at House & Land Real Estate.
“This is 100 percent about the owner wanting to retire and spend more time with family. The goal is to find someone who can walk in and keep things running as usual.”
In a Facebook post to customers and staff, owner Andy Lee said the decision comes after years of consideration and reflects a desire to simplify life while entering a new chapter.
“I wanted to take a moment and let everyone know that my retirement is something I’ve been thinking about for a while,” Lee wrote Tuesday morning.
“Braveheart has been a very important part of our lives for the last 20 years. This decision hasn’t come lightly, but I think it’s time for a new chapter in my life and frankly I’m looking to simplify life going forward.”
Lee emphasized that the restaurant remains strong and fully operational, crediting both staff and customers for its longevity.
“Braveheart is going strong," he wrote. "We have a great staff. We have great customers. As I’ve said to our staff, it’s business as usual, we will continue to keep delivering fantastic food with even better service.”
He also made clear that any future sale would be carefully considered to preserve the identity of the business.
“I will not sell Braveheart to someone that wants to change the operation or what it stands for,” Lee wrote.
“There’s no rush on this from my standpoint and I will be very selective on who, if anyone, I move forward with down the path of selling it.”
'It does really, really well'
Braveheart opened in December 2006 and since has carved out a niche in the Lehigh Valley with its Scottish-inspired food, drink and pub atmosphere.
Located near the center of downtown Hellertown and just steps from the Saucon Rail Trail, the restaurant has benefited from steady foot traffic from trail users, nearby shops and local events.
“It’s a super highly productive restaurant with an established name going on almost 20 years.”Justin Kline, owner/broker at House & Land Real Estate
The building carries additional history. Longtime residents may remember it as the former Hellertown Hotel before its transformation into the current pub.
Established in its current form following a comprehensive renovation in 2007, the property has evolved into a multi-use operation.
The main floor houses the primary restaurant and bar, while a separate lower-level space — known as the Lowland Pub — provides flexibility for private events, overflow seating or expanded programming.
Upstairs, the property adds another layer of value. A recently renovated two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment occupies the second floor, while the third floor includes four room rentals, creating additional income streams beyond the restaurant.
Altogether, the listing markets the property as a turnkey hospitality business with multiple revenue components — something Kline said is performing strongly.
“The place is booming. It does really, really well,” he said. “It’s a super highly productive restaurant with an established name going on almost 20 years.”
'Onward, my friends'
The listing also fits into a broader pattern seen across the Lehigh Valley, in which long-running restaurants are changing hands but continuing largely as they have for years.
Businesses such as Stahley’s in Allentown and Jimmy’s Hot Dogs in Easton both have transitioned to new ownership in recent years with an emphasis on continuity rather than reinvention.
“It’s business as usual."Braveheart owner Andy Lee
In those cases, buyers have kept intact names, menus and core identities, recognizing the value of established customer bases and community ties rather than starting over from scratch.
That same approach now is shaping expectations around Braveheart.
Rather than a reset, the sale is being framed as a transfer of stewardship — a chance for a new operator to step into an already functioning business with a loyal following, multiple revenue streams and a recognizable identity already embedded in the community.
For Lee, the message to customers remains focused on continuity.
“It’s business as usual,” he wrote. “Onward, my friends.”
