Sophie's BBQ in Havertown is temporarily BYOB after cutting ties with its bar operator, Four Birds Distilling.

Owner and chef Greg Herman told Patch that the three-year partnership ended Oct. 12, and the restaurant at 1901 Darby Road is not serving alcohol while he lines up a replacement. Herman said he expects the transition to last six to eight weeks.

Herman called the incoming deal a "massive new partnership" but was not ready to name the new operator. He promised a broader drink menu.

"People are definitely going to be excited for a much more popular and diverse beer selection than what we've had," Herman said.

The split comes as Four Birds' sister company, Bald Birds Brewing Company, faces serious legal and financial trouble. Both companies were founded by Joe and Abby Feerrar and share a flagship location in Jersey Shore, Pa.

The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry (L&I) announced Sept. 11 that it recovered $518,105 in unpaid wages for 124 workers and $64,723 in damages for 108 of those workers after investigating Bald Birds' taprooms in Lycoming and Montgomery counties. The state said more than 50 employees had filed complaints about late pay, and at one point payroll was not issued for five weeks, according to the L&I announcement.

None of the wage-theft allegations involve Four Birds' Havertown operation, Patch reported.

Bald Birds has also been sued over unpaid rent. Its landlord at the Audubon location filed a complaint in Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas in February 2026 seeking more than $1.5 million in unpaid rent and damages, according to Breweries in PA. Bald Birds has since closed its King of Prussia and Audubon taprooms, leaving only the Jersey Shore location.

Patch reported that Four Birds did not respond to its request for comment.

Herman founded Sophie's BBQ in Ardmore in 2020. High demand pushed the restaurant to its larger Havertown location, where it has continued to draw crowds. Sophie's also partnered with Love City Brewing as the food vendor at Love City's Manayunk taproom, which opened in May.

For now, diners heading to Sophie's on Darby Road should bring their own bottles. Herman expects the new bar partner to be in place by December.