A longtime Pennsylvania restaurant that helped shape the dining scene in Philadelphia’s Manayunk neighborhood is preparing to close its doors. Jake’s & Cooper’s Wine Bar will serve its final customers this fall, ending a nearly 40-year run on Main Street.
Final day set for October
Owner and restaurateur Bruce Cooper has set October 19, 2026, as the restaurant’s final day. Cooper opened Jake’s on Oct. 19, 1987, meaning the closing date will mark exactly 39 years since the restaurant first opened.
Cooper, now 72, has put the adjoining Main Street properties that house Jake’s & Cooper’s Wine Bar on the market. The properties also include four upper-level apartments. He said he wants to retire rather than pass the restaurant on to his son, who currently manages the business.
Restaurant evolved with Manayunk
When Jake’s opened in 1987, Manayunk’s Main Street looked very different from the bustling restaurant and retail district it would eventually become.
The restaurant initially focused on upscale dining, with white tablecloths, an extensive wine list, and dishes such as handmade pastas, crab cakes, scallops, and duck. Its success helped establish the neighborhood as a destination for dining and nightlife.
In 2008, Cooper opened Cooper’s Brick Oven Wine Bar next door. The two businesses eventually merged their menus and identities to become Jake’s & Cooper’s Wine Bar.
Owner ready for next chapter
Cooper told The Philadelphia Inquirer that he had wanted to leave the restaurant business for several years.
“I just wanted to get to [the start of] 40 years,” Cooper said. “I wanted to get out two years ago.”
Before closing, Cooper plans to turn the restaurant’s final weeks into a celebration. Former employees will receive a 50% discount on Sundays and Mondays, while the restaurant will extend its September Restaurant Week pricing through the closing date. A final October 19 party will benefit a local charity.
After nearly four decades, Jake’s & Cooper’s will soon become another piece of Pennsylvania restaurant history.
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