The Saint James Will Close This Month for a Total Rebrand

The Saint James is about ready to call it a day in Ardmore, reports Michael Klein for Philly.com. Following a final service on Tuesday, December 30, the restaurant will shut down for "six weeks of heavy renovations," to be replaced by a concept that promises to be "very family-friendly."

The news is not much of a surprise: It's been a rocky road for the Main Line eatery since owners Rob Wasserman and Michael Schulson debuted it, just over two years ago. After some particularly disappointing reviews (it received no bells from the Inquirer and zero stars from Philadelphia magazine), the restaurant saw numerous staff shuffles, with Schulson having to take over the kitchen himself for a while, followed by a stint by former Tashan chef Sylva Senat. Despite the attempts to regroup, the reception for the restaurant never seemed to rise above lukewarm.

In happier news for Ardmore, the town gained a new casual option over the weekend, with the opening of a new outpost of Iron Hill Brewery.

UPDATED 12/16: While there are still no more details of what's to come in the Saint James space (other than it will be "concept-driven"), a rep for the restaurant confirms that they are targeting mid-February for the opening of the replacement. If you have Saint James gift cards and won't be able to use them before December 30, they will be honored at the new restaurant.