When Society Hill Hotel at Third & Chestnut abruptly closed its doors last month, we shed a single, lonely tear. Sure, the kitchen needed some work, but the staff was friendly and its sidewalk and window seating were perfect for daydreaming. (Also, it was one of the few non-douche bars in Old City, and you could also rely on seeing almost no one you know there.) Weep no more: Phoodie.info has learned that the property — both downstairs restaurant and the hotel upstairs, which has been in operation since the 1830s — has been taken over by The HavanaBanana Group, whom you may recognize from Philly staples Cafe Nola and the Copabanana restaurants.

“The concept is going to be a high-end Copa that will compliment the Hotel and the Old City neighborhood,” a rep from HavanaBanana told us. “It will have the best of what Copa has to offer, with a lot of new items — more to the scope of what the finer places in Old City offer.” The Hotel will retain the historic Society Hill Hotel name, and the restaurant will be named The Monkey Bar & Restaurant. The design is “1940s Havana style,” and of course, the sidewalk cafe-style seating will remain. (Phew!) The Monkey Bar & Restaurant is looking at a spring opening, and hiring now, according to signs in the windows. Meanwhile, HavanaBanana is promising a whole new concept and extensive renovations on the long-suffering hotel.