From Broadway to Bethlehem

Couple finds a community they love, that loves them back

When traveling actors Gina and Sam Masotto rst arrived in Bethlehem, they had spent years crisscrossing the country as ‘Tony’ and ‘Tina’ in the popular theater comedy production ‘Tony n’ Tina’s Wedding’ Searching for a community to put down roots, they fell in love with the city’s historical charm and culture.

After spending time in New York City and New Jersey, the couple decided to take a break from the stage and pursue a di erent passion: brewing beer. When he wasn’t acting, Sam bartended at the famous Pony Bar and landed brewing gigs at places like Newburgh Brewing. In Bethlehem he and his wife saw an opportunity to bring something unique to the city’s SouthSide and opened their own brewery, Bonn Place Brewing Company, in 2016.

Quickly becoming a popular destination for locals and visitors alike, the brewery’s wares have won several awards including two prestigious Great American Beer Festival medals. Not just a source of delicious ales and lagers, the space serves as a community gathering place where neighbors can come together to enjoy good drinks, pick up an order from a local farm CSA, and take in live reggae. With local artists adorning the walls and Pennsylvania-grown malt in the brews, Bonn Place is truly a place that keeps it local. After moving to Bethlehem, the couple started a family and are ecstatic to raise their son in a city they love and loves them back. e brewery has grown from a edgling startup to a staple of Bethlehem’s SouthSide Arts District. Now, the duo are preparing to open a second location in nearby Fountain Hill in a former tavern frequented by steelworkers. e Masotto’s success is a testament to the powerful combination of passion and place that can not only bring love, but success and a true sense of belonging.

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