Here are some of the newsworthy openings and closings across the Lehigh Valley. Know of an opening or closing that’s not listed here? Email us: retailwatch@mcall.com.
March
OPENINGS:
953 Deli opened March 1 at 953 W. Walnut St. in Allentown. It offers breakfast all day and food such as sandwiches, bagels, wings, fries, mozzarella sticks, burgers, a salad bar, coffee, tea, packaged snacks and bottled beverages.
The Mediterranean restaurant Utopita opened March 3 at the Bethlehem Village Shoppes at 3650 Nazareth Pike in Bethlehem Township. It offers gyros, pita, bowls, falafel, salads, soups, fries and desserts like frozen yogurt.
The Gap Theatre reopened March 7 at 47 S. Broadway in Wind Gap. It offers screenings that use 35 mm film, a new surround sound system and concessions.
A Starbucks coffee shop and drive-thru opened March 14 at 6669 Sullivan Trail in Plainfield Township.
The night club Americus Nights opened March 14 in the Americus Hotel at 555 Hamilton St. in Allentown. The club can hold up to 250 people and features a bar, a stage area and music such as jazz, disco, rock and roll and songs from the 1980s through the 2000s.
A Decor Home Furniture store has opened at 2178 W. Union Blvd. in Bethlehem, the chain announced March 15.
Insieme Event Venue held a grand opening March 15 at 7 p.m. at the Trainer’s Corner shopping center in the 200 block North West End Boulevard in Richland Township. It holds up to 100 people and host a lounge and bar area, a bring-your-own-beer policy, custom catering and food selections, a television and a Bluetooth sound system.
La Kang Chicken & Rice opened March 18 at 15 E. Fourth St. in Bethlehem, serving Thai-style dishes and varieties of chicken over rice, noodles, desserts such as coconut ice cream, dumplings and fried tofu,
The Indian restaurant Cumin N Eat opened its fourth location March 20 at 2418 Cherryville Road in Northampton Borough. It serves appetizers such as paneer and masala fries, dosas, biryani, fried rice, dishes with chicken, lamb and fish, dal and desserts like rasmalai and almond halwa.
The Tipsy Crow bar opened March 20 at the Simon Silk Mill in Easton. Menu items include cocktails, appetizers, burgers and sandwiches.
Tinto Tapas & Pasta, formerly Nonna Sulina’s Sicilian Kitchen and Grill, opened March 20 at 1028 Broadway in Fountain Hill. It features an area for eating small-plate dishes, a pasta room and a rooftop area for parties and events.
The waffle and ice cream shop Wondaffle opened March 21 at 307 E. Third St. in Bethlehem.
Gravity Vault Indoor Rock Gyms opened March 21 at 1951 Whitehall Mall in Whitehall Township. It hosts a rock climbing space, programming for people 5 years old and older, membership options, daily passes, event opportunities like for birthdays, a retail shop for climbing gear and apparel and a fitness area.
Radical Rations Restaurant reopened March 22 at 1213 Washington St. in Easton. Menu items include fried chicken, wings, macaroni and cheese, collared greens and rice and beans.
The miniature golf course Mountain View Family Drive-In reopened March 22 at 602 Jacobsburg Road in Bushkill Township.
The New York-style women’s boutique nyche opened March 22 at the Grand Eastonian Hotel & Suites at 140 Northampton St. in Easton, where customers can buy women’s coats, shirts, dresses, sweaters, pants, shoes and bags.
The Cuban cafe and rum bar Rosa Blanca opened March 24 on the first floor of The Nines apartment building at 950 Hamilton St. in Allentown. It serves Cuban coffee, pastries, mixed drinks, Cubano sandwiches, empanadas, soups, salads and other entrees.
CLOSURES:
The sustainable living shop Verde closed March 1 at 267 E. Broad St. in Bethlehem.
The Pocono Brewery Co. Taproom at the Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township announced its closure March 1.
Decor Home Furniture closed at the Whitehall Square shopping center at 2180 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township leading up the its lease ending March 1.
Mis Raices Restaurant & Bakery, Grab N’ Go and Bo Sai Sushi & Noodles closed as of March 5 at the Downtown Allentown Market at 27 N. Seventh St. in Allentown.
The restaurant Darto’s closed March 15 at 46 W. North St. in Bethlehem.
The Alburtis Tavern was condemned March 24 at 106 S. Main St. in Alburtis due to a lack of heat and electricity.
The pizzeria Cheesy Charlie closed March 29 at 201 Mechanic St. in Bethlehem.
The Last Chance Ranch Thrift Store closed March 29 at Quakertown Commons at 93 S. West End Blvd. in Quakertown.
The soap store Buff City Soap has closed at the Airport Shopping Center at 917 Airport Center Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County.
The restaurant and entertainment center Sweet Spot Bar & Grill will close March 30 at 2805 Lehigh St. in Allentown.
The crafts market The Hive will close March 30 at the Downtown Allentown Market at 27 N. Seventh St. in Allentown before it moves to the Promenade Saucon Valley shopping center in Upper Saucon Township.
The denim apparel chain Lucky Brand will close March 31 at the Promenade Saucon Valley shopping center in Upper Saucon Township.
February
OPENINGS:
The martial arts studio Zen Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu held a grand opening at 7001 Route 309 North in Upper Saucon Township Feb. 1, and offers jiu-jitsu classes for all ages and skill levels Monday through Saturday.
The Lehigh University Pub opened Feb. 4 on the third floor of the university’s renovated Clayton University Center. It offers Korean chicken sliders, potstickers, burgers, croque madame sandwiches, salmon, Thai curry cauliflower, beer and wine.
The restaurant Something Different opened Feb. 6 at 605 Fiot St. in Fountain Hill, where it sells disco fries, stuffed peppers, soup, salads, birria, roast chicken, branzino, fettuccini, wine, cocktails and mocktails.
Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first location in Bethlehem at 2555 Easton Ave on Feb. 7.
Blazing Hot Halal Grill opened at 1442 W. Tilghman St. in Allentown, the restaurant announced Feb. 9. It serves chicken platters, burgers, chicken sandwiches, tenders, gyros, salads and desserts such as cakes and churros.
The Mexican restaurant My Tequila House opened a second location Feb. 13 at 4558 Crackersport Road in South Whitehall Township. The restaurant offers tacos, enchiladas, burritos, fajitas, pasta, cocktails, beer, wine and live music.
Old Mecca Cafe opened Feb. 12 at 527 Northampton St. in Easton alongside the Atelier Jolie Gallery. They offer offer bagels, pastries such as cannolis and fruit tarts, avocado toast, sandwiches, salads, coffee, tea, lattes, espressos, hot chocolate, iced drinks, art from dozens of artists and monthly art exhibitions.
Presley’s Cocktail Bar opened Feb. 14 at 159 Northampton St. in Easton. It offers cocktails, music, private rentable space and catering from the Hellertown restaurant La Maya.
Nowhere Coffee Co. opened a new Allentown location Feb. 15 at 17 S. Ninth St. It will eventually offer all the same drinks as the South Whitehall Township one at 3127 Tilghman Street. It won’t have the complete food menu as on Tilghman Street but will serve food such as bagels, gluten-free bread, and pudding and oatmeal cups.
Smoothie Social held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 17 at 314 W. Main St., where it offers acai bowls, coffee and boba tea.
The personal care company Home Care Concepts opened its new permanent office Feb. 24 at 2895 Hamilton Blvd., Unit 106, in Allentown. It provides personal care assistance to older and disabled residents in their homes.
The Play It Again Sports chain for selling and buying used sports and fitness gear for all ages opened at 1858 Catasauqua Road in Hanover Township, the store announced Feb. 24 on Facebook. A representative confirmed the store currently only buys gear from the community, and will sell gear at a later date.
St. Luke’s Center for Hope & Healing opened Feb. 20 at the health network’s upper Bucks County campus at 3000 St. Luke’s Drive in Milford Township. It offers cancer patients medically adaptive clothing, mastectomy bras and hair, wig, makeup and nail services.
Compass Chiropractic and Family Wellness opened in late February at 1651 Hausman Road in South Whitehall Township,
CLOSURES:
Tomblers Bakery has closed at 1350 Industrial Drive in Glendon after a potential sale fell through, it announced Feb. 10.
Syriana Mediterranean Grill at 1916 Hanover Ave. in Allentown closed after a fire damaged it Valentine’s Day.
The Curious Plantaholic plant shop located at 45 E. Belvidere St. in Nazareth closed Feb. 16.
The latest Lehigh Valley business openings and closings in January
