A tavern that has sat empty across from CURE Insurance Arena since the early 1990s is finally getting its second act. The Old Eagle Tavern, which dates to about 1765, is being restored by Trenton and Mercer County into a restaurant, tavern and community gathering place after standing vacant for more than three decades.
The building has a long history that stretches back to colonial times. According to The Trentonian, it was built around 1765 by Robert Waln, the proprietor of the Trenton Mills on the Assunpink Creek, and started out as a dwelling before serving as a tavern and hotel by the time the northern bays were added in the 1830s. The City of Trenton purchased the property in 1965, and it has been vacant since the early 1990s, per the same report.
As reported by News12 New Jersey, the restoration project is supported by a $3.5 million grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, with Trenton and Mercer County contributing additional investment. The Trentonian's report specifies that funding is coming primarily through the Urban Investment Fund Grant and the Preserve NJ Capital Grants from the NJEDA, with construction work to be overseen by the Mercer County Improvement Authority.
What the Renovation Will Include
Per News12, the project includes structural and accessibility improvements, a modern commercial kitchen, updated building systems, and preservation of the building's architectural features. Some repairs have already been completed, including the reinstallation of historic windows, according to the same report. The historical record shows the building is listed in the New Jersey and National Registers of Historic Places and is also a City of Trenton Historic Landmark, per the Trenton Historical Society.
The labor side of the project has already been formalized. The Trentonian reports that Mercer County Executive Dan Benson, Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora, MCIA Executive Director Anthony Verrelli and Building and Construction Trades Council President Wayne DeAngelo signed a Project Labor Agreement for the restoration, stipulating that the renovation work will be performed by skilled local union employees.
Procurement Steps Already Underway
The groundwork for the rebuild has been moving through official channels for more than a year. The Mercer County Improvement Authority issued a prequalification notice for the historic preservation work at 429-431 South Broad Street, with the package available beginning Friday, September 5, 2025. The authority also listed the tavern rehabilitation as bid RFB2025-001, with a start date of October 6, 2025.
Once renovations are complete, officials will seek proposals from qualified restaurant and hospitality operators, according to News12. Reopening depends on both the completion of renovations and the selection of an operator, with Trenton targeting spring 2027 for the tavern's reopening pending those two steps.
Mayor Ties Project to City's 250th Anniversary
Mayor Gusciora has connected the restoration to Trenton's commemoration of America's 250th anniversary, according to News12's report. He said Trenton's history is present in the buildings and neighborhoods that have shaped the city for generations, and noted that the tavern dates back to colonial America, offering a chance to preserve that history and make it part of Trenton's future.
The tavern's location gives the project added visibility, sitting directly across from CURE Insurance Arena, where the Trenton Ironhawks have arrived to play. The Trentonian notes that the arena welcomed more than 66,000 guests during the first three months of 2026, underscoring the foot traffic the corridor already draws. City officials believe the South Broad Street Corridor is at a promising moment, with the tavern's restoration framed as part of Mercer County's larger plans to revitalize that stretch of the city.
