With a new name and even a new roof, owners Jackie and Carl Harford have hopes of restoring the iconic building on Madison Street, New Tripoli, while building their clientele.

At the grand reopening Oct. 1, the Harford’s couldn’t help but count their blessings.

“There is history here,” Jackie Harford said. “They don’t make [buildings like] this anymore. This is forever. We just [want to] celebrate that this place is not going anywhere.

Harford said she loves the old building and the history of the building.”

“I would love to know more about the hotel. I think there was a movie theater out back.

“I want to start renovating it.”

The Harfords pride themselves on their hands-on approach to welcoming folks.

Even the menu is designed to make patrons feel at home.

“Our soups are all homemade and our coleslaw is my grandmother’s recipe. Comfort foods are the best things.

“People up here love them,” she said citing chicken cordon blue, chicken corn chowder and Maryland crab cakes as examples.

Over the years, the establishment was known by many different names including Ridge Bar and Grille, Blue Ridge Inn and the Madison Ridge Tavern.

After a series of events, Blue Ridge went up for sale over a liquor license.

“A bank bought the liquor license and the building,” Harford said.

“I never thought we’d get approved, but I had to try because of my employees at Blue Ridge. Since Aug. 22, we own the whole building.”

Pennsylvania ahas a limited number of liquor licenses which makes them a coveted commodity.

“When we bought the business, the liquor license was not transferable,” explained Harford, but now the license is secured. “Our license is actually very valuable. Now, there’s an R in front of my numbers.”

The Harfords are no strangers to small business.

For the last nine years, they’ve been running Fossil’s Last Stand in Catasauqua.

“It was called Butch’s Place when we first bought it and it was a mess,” Harford said.

“But he did have great food and a parking lot so we bought it and gutted it and did so many improvements.”

Carl Harford also owns a truck company.

“We have a lot of small businesses,” said the mother of two ages 15 and 12. “My kids always come first, so I’m always trying to squeeze the businesses [around] my kids’ lives. I just have to work harder to keep it up.”

The couple also has a sense of community.

In the past, they’ve partnered with Peaceable Kingdom and Feline Urban Rehab and Rescue.

“All the money we collected at a chili cook off went to the two organizations, all the money raised that day,” Harford said. “We did a Chinese auction, had a $100 cash prize and door prizes.”

“I also teach Catholic education Wednesdays at Assumption Blessed Virgin Mary in Bethlehem and we’ve raised money for [victims of Super Storm] Sandy.”

On Friday afternoons, the New Tripoli Hotel becomes a job site for two Northwestern seniors working toward their diploma.

“The boys need prep skills that will help them move on to the next level,” Northwestern’s behavioral interventionist Cory Christ said. “The IU program is awesome and helps kids develop soft skills.

“The number of opportunities and job locations continues to grow every year. Kids are still graded but the way they’re assessed is different.”

Harford said the boys work in the kitchen from noon to 2 p.m. doing prep work and there’s plenty to do.

“At Fossil’s, kids [enrolled in the IU program] have been in our kitchen for two and a half years.”

Chad Butters of Eight Oaks Distillery welcomed the Harfords with an old photograph of the building.

“I was so grateful to Chad when he dropped the picture off. Chad said it was called the New Tripoli Hotel,” Harford said. “We actually have [Eight Oaks’] applejack and vodka which we keep here and at Fossil’s.”

Looking forward, the Harfords have big plans.

“Monday night is wing night and there’s taco Tuesday,” Harford said.

“We deep fry our taco shells and everything is homemade, including our chili which won first place at a chili cook off at Fossil’s. We have pool leagues on Thursday.”

The couple could not be happier about the grand reopening.

“All my employees have a job. My bartenders and cooks have kids. I worry about that,” Harford said. “We already replaced the entire roof, and we’ll take [on] little projects as we go along.

“Soffits and windows, we have to bring it all back. Eventually, we even want to bring the old trim back.”

“It’s not going anywhere. I’m not reckless with my life.”