Union League buys Main Line restaurant

The Union League announced Friday night that it had signed an agreement of sale for the Old Guard House Inn, a landmark restaurant in Gladwyne known for its continental-meets-German cooking, intimate airs, and old-money clientele.

The inn, portions of which date to 1790, is even older than the League itself, formed in 1862 during the Civil War as a club to support the Union and the policies of President Abraham Lincoln.

The Union League Guard House, as the property on Youngsford Road will be known, will become a private venue, the Union League wrote in a message to members.

"All of our strategic plans for the past 20 years have called for a western suburban dining location," the email said.

"The Guard House, located within five miles of approximately 800 of our members, has institutional integrity, is a part of American history, and is the appropriate scale to be a wonderful member amenity. The Union League looks forward to carrying on this tradition of excellence for our members after the holidays when we will begin operations as the members-only Union League Guard House."

Owner Albert Breuers and his son Marc will continue to run the restaurant until the end of the year. Inquirer critic Craig LaBan gave it three bells in 2007.

The Breuerses were not available for comment Friday night during dinner service.

Asked last week about rumors of an impending purchase, Jeffrey McFadden, the League's general manager, said the organization was eager to expand.

The Union League also owns a private BYOB called the Bungalow in Stone Harbor and the Union League Golf Club at the former Torresdale Frankford Country Club in Northeast Philadelphia. It's also rumored to be making entreaties to management of the nearby Racquet Club of Philadelphia.