RG Restaurant Group, owned by Rick and Gale Mahoney, have hired famed restauranteur Derek Davis to fulfill their vision for their Conshohocken restaurants. Since 2023, the Conshohocken natives have acquired Pizza Time/Old Time Saloon, Guppy’s Good Times, and Tony & Joe’s Pizzeria, plus opened Kaede Sushi & Noodle (above Guppy’s) in partnership with Kooma.

Davis was a key fixture in Manayunk’s dining scene for a quarter century, first with Sanoma and then Derek’s. He was once referred to as the “King of Manayunk,” by The Philadelphia Inquirer’s food critic Craig LaBan. Other restaurants he owned and/or operated included Libertine, Kansas City Prime, Arroyo Grille, River City Diner, Fish on Main, just to name about half.

Davis joined RG Restaurant Group in February with the official title of culinary director. He is currently evaluating RG’s restaurants and getting to know Conshohocken. His initial focus is opening Rick’s Tavern. If you have driven on Maple Street in the past year, you know that Pizza Time/Old Time Saloon was demolished and a new restaurant is being built from the foundation up. Construction is expected to be completed in April with an opening to follow about two weeks after.

Rick’s Tavern is described as a “contemporary Trattoria-Pizzeria” and the menu will offer Italian-American food to include old school pizza and beer alongside gourmet pizza and cocktails. So if you loved Pizza Time’s pizza, don’t worry.

Davis is currently hiring front and back-of-house staff. You can find the details on applying here.

More to come.

Photo: The future Rick’s Tavern, currently under construction