The successful owner of a Manayunk staple, Taqueria Amor, opens a new surf-themed bar on Main Street
by Carla Ferro • Photos by Susan Beard Design
Taqueria Amor first opened their doors in 2013, with a goal of serving the community with exceptional Mexican cuisine, an exciting, ever-changing atmosphere, and a place to build traditions with friends and family. The owner, Tim Spinner, has successfully provided that for the Manayunk neighborhood for the past thirteen years. His next endeavor is a surf-themed bar right next door, opening this Spring, which stemmed from an idea of his from 20+ years ago.
Riptide Tavern is the new spot to catch up with a friend, put a song on the jukebox, and enjoy a few cocktails in a feel-good environment.
I sat down to chat with Tim Spinner on a chilly Tuesday morning in February in a booth seat at Taqueria Amor. Covering the walls was their latest themed pop-up for Valentine’s Day, which references various pop-culture love stories- Ross and Rachel from Friends, When Harry Met Sally, The Notebook, and other notables. These themes are incorporated into every aspect of the restaurant, from decor to the menu. If you’ve ever been to Taqueria during Halloween or the holiday season, you’ve seen the incredible displays they put together. The staff goes all out—from lighting, custom posters, movies projected on their walls, and much more. Spinner explained that they do all this to enhance visitors’ experience for these festive moments throughout the year and keep people coming back.
Spinner stated that their holiday pop-up, Señor Christmas, is his favorite of the year. “I want people to experience just another joyful moment and [for Taqueria Amor] to become a new tradition on their to-do list.”
He went on to say how he loves the excitement on everyone’s faces when they see the lit facade of the building starting in mid-November. This is definitely their largest, most detailed activation, with hundreds of multicolored twinkle lights that line the building from top to bottom. Inside is bursting at the seams with garland, Christmas movie characters, and home-made beer can string lights strung across the ceiling. It is truly a sight to see.
Halloween is another occasion for all-out decor at Taqueria, which is both spooky and fun for all ages. This past year hosted a “Nightmare on Main Street” theme, which was exceptionally executed with references to everyone’s favorite horror movies.
Spinner teased but did not reveal his themes for Halloween & Christmas 2026. Yes, they change year to year and have already been chosen months in advance. This allows the staff time to brainstorm and start ordering items, which takes a great amount of time and effort. Also allows for some off-season discounts. They are very excited to announce the themes in the near future.
Other themes, such as Tikiria (tiki-bar themed), Taylor Swift, Barbie, and an ode to the TV show Stranger Things, have been featured in years past. To Spinner, keeping new and exciting things happening gives people a reason to come out, alongside exceptional food and drinks.
“I learned years ago, I’m not in the restaurant business, I’m in the entertainment business,”
he said. “Change the menu, do specials, do events. The moment you get stale, the moment people move onto the next thing.”
Spinner first lived in Manayunk in his twenties, when he was working downtown at the well-known restaurant, El Vez, during culinary school. This is where he fell in love with Mexican food and the restaurant industry. He gained valuable experience, as this was the first professional restaurant he had worked for. Not long after, he teamed up with a business partner to open Amada at 2nd and Chestnut, which saw great success. The team then opened a second restaurant in the Fairmount neighborhood. Both restaurants received high praise for their food and ambiance.
When the property of 4100 Main St became available, it was a no-brainer. Spinner had always loved Manayunk- from visiting the neighborhood in his youth to living in the area for several years in his twenties. He described it as a “hidden gem” within Philadelphia, which has evolved so much over the past 25 years. The community, tied in with great restaurants and retail, made this a very desirable area for his next endeavor.
They made it happen- in 2013, Taqueria Feliz opened with the original name, which tied into the branding of Spinner and his partner’s other restaurants. The menu displayed a range of Mexican favorites- guacamole, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, and more. The name stayed until 2020, when Spinner and his wife welcomed another child, and it became too much to juggle three restaurants. He lived not far from Manayunk, so they split the other restaurants amicably and rebranded to Taqueria Amor. In a similar vein to feliz, which translates to happy or blissful, amor means love. Spinner said, “We love our community, we love [the staff] who work here, and our guests: everything about Taqueria Amor is true with the name.”
When asked what some of his favorite highlights of his time here on Main Street have been, he first mentioned the festivals, which are always fun and busy days. He then reflected on a low point during COVID, which, for business owners, was such a pivotal time. Taqueria did everything they could to continue to safely serve their community by creating a takeout window to order and pick up food while still maintaining social distancing. They also supported initiatives to save Philly restaurants during these challenging times. Spinner went on to say, “I always take great pride in what we did during that time, and how our team was able to serve the community. I think that’s where we became a staple in the neighborhood.”
It is this dedication and passion that has kept Taqueria flourishing for the past thirteen years.
Fast forward to the present day, Spinner is opening a surf-inspired bar at 4386 Main St. called Riptide Tavern. Coincidentally, he recently found a letter to himself that he was required to write back in culinary school about his aspirations for his career. In that letter, he wrote about opening a bar at the shore, which had a very similar concept to Riptide Tavern. All these years later, he decided against the shore, and his goals came to fruition in the neighborhood of Manayunk.
Renovating and opening a new restaurant is no small feat in the city of Philadelphia. There was a long two-year process of designing the space, hiring contractors, getting the proper permits, and everything in between. But finally, the Riptide Tavern doors are ready to open and serve the community with beachy vibes.
“I want to have a place where people think they’ll just walk in for one drink and end up staying for the whole night.” The bar has the feel of a seaside tavern, equipped with an old-school jukebox, mixed with a modern flair. The decor includes nautical vintage treasures hanging on the walls and displayed on shelves. In the bathroom, the walls are lined with classic surfer magazines as wallpaper. The cool, friendly, feel-good atmosphere is exactly what Spinner was going for when he thought up the space.
When guests visit, they’ll be greeted by friendly, neighborhood bartenders. They can expect a menu with fun cocktails such as orange crushes, martinis, and mai tais, as well as beer and other classic beverages. There is a small, concise food menu with items like prime rib roast beef, fish and chips, and fried zucchini, to name a few. “Simple and fresh, good food,” Spinner states, with items that will change frequently. He also mentioned they designed the menu to be neighborhood pricing to be reasonable for the guests. He wants to keep people coming back to enjoy themselves without breaking the bank.
“This is a place for socializing and getting away,” said Tim. There will be various different events available in the space, such as live music and karaoke. Spinner wants guests to feel comfortable hanging out at Riptide Tavern — a place that he hopes will bring people together to catch up with a friend, meet new people, or even fall in love.
Spinner and his team are here to serve the community and continue to be excellent hosts for neighborhood connection and socialization. He hopes to be here for another thirteen (or more) years to come, serving the community of Manayunk with delicious food and drinks, and overall good vibes. “We’ve seen so many people meet here, get married, and have children. Pretty soon, their children will be in high school and college years and hopefully repeat the process.”