Buckeye Tavern owner Terry Bender said he plans to rebuild at the old site at 3741 Brookside Road, Macungie.

Bender and longtime friend Jeff Trainer, owner of the Sands Convention Center, will work together to build a new establishment and will try and save what they can from the remaining structure following a fire May 12.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to do another venture by myself. We have plans and architects. We will go to the township in December,” Bender said.

Bender said recent reports of him selling the property are untrue.

“I was contacted by someone who said they had a buyer for the property,” Bender said. Bender asked for the details and the next he heard, the property was listed for sale. Bender said no paperwork was ever signed to sell the property.

Bender said people will have to understand the new establishment will not be what the Buckeye used to be.

“There is so much people don’t know about rebuilding, such as setbacks from the street. We can never do what it was. The building was 300 years old,” Bender said.

What he does know is the new establishment will be a community meeting place, perhaps a pub. Bender said he will need to get approvals on the plans and it could be a year before completion.

“We are not in a rush to rebuild,” Bender said. “We will try to keep the front if we can– that’s the history.”

Bender is very appreciative of the support he received following the fire and many of those customers have supported him by dining at the Alburtis Tavern.

Every day, many times a day, customers ask what his plans are for the Buckeye Tavern site.

Following the fire, Bender began receiving checks from those who wanted to help the family.

“I gave back all of the checks I received,” Bender said.

Along with the return of each check, he enclosed a personal thank- you note along with a gift card to the Alburtis Tavern. He returned the checks because he said he knew he would be OK.

According to a press release from the Pennsylvania State Police Troop M Fire Marshal Unit Nov. 30, the fire was determined to have originated at the rear exterior of the building in the vicinity of several commercial coolers/freezers.

“No indications of any criminal activity in association with the cause of the fire were discovered. The origin and cause of the fire is classified as undetermined. This investigation is concluded.”