The Bellevue tradition dates back to 1839 when the May Term of Court Common Pleas transferred the land to Joseph Hand, who then in turn sold it to William Norcross in 1861. It had many owners throughout its existence and some well-known families that once had ownership were the Wheatons, the Springers and the Thompsons. The Douglass family had ownership of the hotel and tavern from the late 1920s through the 1960s. It is known that the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh spent a night in The Bellevue while in search of his kidnapped son Charles Lindbergh, Jr., in 1932.

The Bellevue has suffered two major fires in its existence and the damage caused the eventual change in the look of the building because of the repairs. Under the ownership of Alexander R. Springer in 1905, the great fire which wiped out most of Mechanic Street and part of Main Street also took the Hotel Bellevue down with it. The establishment was rebuilt just in time for the grand wedding of Springer's daughter, Miss Beatrice Cullen Springer to James Roy Shields. Another more recent fire destroyed the Bellevue on the morning of January 11, 1989, wiping out the bar as well as the upstairs apartments. It occurred under the ownership of Gene DiGenova and Robert Wilson, who owned the Bellevue as partners for about 20 years. After the fire, caused by an electrical problem, the restaurant and bar was rebuilt to resemble how it looks today. 

The current owners, Dennis Roberts and Robert Verratti, took over the Bellevue in early 1996.  They transformed the upstairs portion of the historic building into "Upstairs At The Bellevue", a banquet and dining facility for parties up to 150.  The Bellevue is open year round, every day but Christmas, and continues to be the place to eat and meet for local residents and tourists alike.