Win Signature Restaurants is expanding its reach into Pottstown with the planned opening of the Blue Elephant. The projected opening date is in late August.

The restaurant is located at 152 E. High St. in a former bank building that previously was home to The Brick House, which closed in September 2017. It will feature Asian fusion cuisine.

Win and Sutida Somboonsong own and operate a group of award-winning restaurants in the Philadelphia suburbs, including Mikado Thai Pepper in Ardmore, Teikoku in Newtown Square and two Azie locations in Villanova and Media.

“That can mean a lot of things, so we’re going for more of a Thai-Italian twist to things (with The Blue Elephant),” Pearl Somboonsong, the daughter of company’s owners told Brad Rhen of the Reading Eagle.

“We’re going to have a lobster Thai green curry linguine dish, we have freshly baked bread with miso honey butter, so it’s just like a mix between that Italian comfort food with the flavors that are unique to Asian cuisine.”

Somboonsong said all of Win’s other restaurants also feature Asian fusion cuisine, so there will be some similarities. But there will also be some differences on the menu.

“There will be some crossover just because being in the restaurant business for 28 years we know what works on the menus,” she said. “The crowd pleasers and the hits will definitely be on this menu, but we’re going to be more creative with some of the items.”

Blue Elephant will also have a full Japanese sushi menu.

Pottstown Borough Council has already approved a liquor license transfer, and there will be a 30-foot bar along one wall.

The building is undergoing a significant renovation and will feature a large fountain and trees in the spacious main dining area. There will be seating for about 130 customers.

Once the restaurant is open, the Somboonsongs are considering opening a speakeasy-type pub in the building’s basement.

The restaurant will be open seven days a week for lunch and dinner but the exact hours have not been determined yet.

Pearl Somboonsong said her parents bought the building about five years ago. At the time, she said, her father was looking for potential future restaurant sites in areas that were about to take off.

Win Somboonsong said he definitely sees potential in Pottstown.

“We did a similar project in Media 11 years ago, and it really helped the town come back, and we want to see the same thing happen here,” he said.

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