Eat, Sip, Shop: Trio of new tenants coming to Palmer Park Mall | Easton Area

PALMER TWP., Pa. – After bidding farewell to a handful of retailers earlier this spring, the Palmer Park Mall’s tenant mix is at full capacity once again with three unique businesses set to open soon.

Palmer Park Mall, at Route 248 and Park Avenue in Palmer Township, is set to welcome a trio of new tenants – Soldierfit Easton, Whoodle Works Studio and Ohana WonderTown Playground – in the coming months.

Soldierfit Easton

Soldierfit Easton, offering group training bootcamps and other fitness programs, is expected to open within the next few weeks in an updated space that previously housed a Rainbow clothing store, Soldierfit Easton owner Rahmel Nelson said.

Soldierfit Easton, established in 2019, is moving from its former space in the Palmer Super Center, at 3773 Nicholas St. in Palmer Township, to a larger, roughly 8,000-square-foot spot at the Palmer Park Mall.

The business has continued to grow year after year, necessitating a new location to accommodate its expanding clientele, known as “troops.”

The mall space also will offer better visibility, Nelson said.

“The mall spot is nearly the twice the size of our former space, and we’ll be getting a lot more foot traffic,” Nelson added.

Soldierfit Easton, which is temporarily closed during the transition, will continue to offer the same services at the mall location.

The facility’s signature group training bootcamps, designed to deliver results for individuals of all fitness levels, focus on building both physical and mental strength through 50-minute, military-structured and camaraderie-based workouts.

“Make friends, have fun, and get results,” a message on the business’ website reads.

Soldierfit’s three-step process begins with booking a free “No Sweat Intro,” where individuals meet with a coach to help build out a Fitness Success Plan.

During the Fitness Success Plan meeting, individuals meet with a coach to determine clear objectives and tangible things they can start implementing immediately.

Individuals then choose their own mission.

“After we help educate, motivate, and build out your program, you choose which path you would like to take,” a message on Soldierfit’s website reads.

“Whether that’s our Group Fitness Bootcamps, 1:1 Personal Training, or our award winning 12-Week Transformation Program. The best part is you get to decide your fitness journey! And you can always change it up anytime.”

Soldierfit Easton features a wide array of free weights, including barbells and dumbbells, along with machines and functional training equipment such as large tires, BOSU balls, rowers and AssaultBikes.

At the Palmer Park Mall location, Soldierfit will operate during regular mall hours, and it plans to also offer open-gym access for individuals looking to work out on their own, Nelson said.

Soldierfit Easton is one of nearly a dozen other Soldierfit franchise locations – each independently owned and operated – in multiple states. Another Lehigh Valley Soldierfit location operates in Trexlertown.

Individuals can stay updated on Soldierfit Easton’s move and other happenings by following the business’ pages on Facebook and Instagram.

Whoodle Works Studio

Whoodle Works Studio, a versatile creative party studio, is expected to open in August in an updated space that previously housed Mom & Pop’s General Store, which closed in late April.

The studio, owned and operated by sisters Claudia Rodriguez and Sandra Catenaro, will offer public and private parties, workshops and DIY projects such as paint-your-own bisque pieces, stuff-your-own plush animals and various arts and crafts programs.

Different party packages will be available, and the studio also will host public events such as parties for Halloween and other holidays.

“We’ll also have a splatter room, where you splatter paint on a canvas,” Catenaro said.

Rodriguez and Catenaro, who both reside in Forks Township, previously operated another creative party studio, Happy Plaster Place, more than 20 years ago in New Jersey.

The former studio fostered creativity and fun by allowing guests to paint their own plaster pieces.

The sisters “had so much fun with it” and are excited to reconnect for this new creative venture, Catenaro said.

“We had our other business for several years, and everyone had such a great time,” Catenaro said.

“I enjoy working with my sister, and we get along great. We’re both very creative, enjoy hosting parties and do a lot of arts and crafts, like balloon arches and things like that. So, we’re back at it again!”

“We’re super excited about it,” Rodriguez added.

“Going back 20-plus years, we had a very successful business that people loved. The kids loved it, and we had a really great time, but at that point, we were both starting our lives. I got pregnant. My sister got married. So, we kind of toned it down. Now that we both have our kids out of school, we’re ready to get back together, start hosting parties and having fun again.”

Whoodle Works Studio will feature a variety of party packages, and there also will be a dance floor and karaoke option, the sisters said.

The facility will cater primarily to children, but there also will be creative programs for adults.

“We will have bisque pieces for everyone, and honestly, adults love teddy bears, too,” Catenaro said. “My sister and I love stuffed animals, and we can also customize the T-shirts for the stuffed animals.”

Whoodle Works Studio is named after the family’s late dog, Maximus, a wheaten terrier poodle mix.

“He was a whoodle and had just the best personality,” Catenaro said.

“He was always so happy and eager to have fun. Max was also incredibly welcoming and loved people. He radiated positivity, and that’s the same energy that we’re looking to have at our studio. We want positive vibes where everyone comes to have fun.”

Ohana WonderTown Playground

A second location of Ohana WonderTown Playground, a multi-level children’s recreational facility, is expected to open within the next few months, owner Yadira Disla said.

Disla opened the first Ohana WonderTown Playground in July 2023 at the South Mall in Salisbury Township.

The new Palmer venue will feature a similar concept to the South Mall location, with foam flooring and bi-level, soft-play structures featuring bridges, tunnels, sliding boards, obstacle courses, ball pits, foam pits, climbing apparatus and more.

There also will be small trampolines, Disla said.

The new indoor playground will cover about 4,000 square feet, roughly 1,000 square feet more than the South Mall location, Disla said.

The design will differ from the South Mall facility in that it will offer two play areas – one on each side of the space.

One side will be for ages 5 and younger, and the other side will be for ages 8 and under (or up to 4 feet, 9 inches tall), Disla said.

At the South Mall, Ohana features one play area that is geared toward children, ages 6 and younger (or up to 4 feet tall).

Disla is excited to serve more families and bring “loads of fun” to another part of the Lehigh Valley.

“I am very excited,” Disla said.

“A lot of people have wanted me to open something bigger for their kids who were outgrowing the facility at the South Mall. I’ve also had a lot of customers ask me to open a location in the Bethlehem or Easton areas because that is more convenient for them.”

The South Mall location can accommodate around 35 kids, and Disla anticipates the Palmer location will accommodate around 60.

The new Palmer location also will feature seating areas for parents and a large party room for hosting birthday parties, graduation parties, sports celebrations and other gatherings.

Daily admission at the South Mall location is $12 Monday through Thursday and $13 Friday through Sunday, and Disla anticipates pricing at the Palmer Park location will be $13 Monday through Thursday and $14 Friday through Sunday.

Ohana also offers a membership option, where children can enjoy unlimited visits for $37 per month.

While playing at Ohana, children must wear grip socks, $2.50 per pair, which they can wear on return visits. If they already have grip socks from other venues such as trampoline parks, they may wear those.

Disla previously lived in Washington, where she took her daughters to a similar indoor playground.

Upon moving to the Lehigh Valley, she found herself missing the playground and decided to create a similar spot for others to enjoy.

“I used to take my daughters to a playground like this, and when I came to Allentown, I couldn’t find a place where I felt completely comfortable,” Disla explained.

Other new additions

The trio of coming-soon businesses will join a growing lineup of new additions at the Palmer Park Mall.

In recent months, the mall has welcomed more than a half dozen other tenants, including Bharat Bistro, Trendy Man, Footlights, Wrap’d Tight Fully Loaded 2.0, Back to the Arcade II and Uncle JuJu’s Crazy Deals.

Bharat Bistro is a full-service restaurant offering authentic North Indian and South Indian cuisine.

Guests can enjoy appetizers such as chicken and vegetable samosas, soups such as mulligatawny and chicken, breads such as garlic naan and tandoor roti and popular entrees such as chicken tikka masala, chicken kadai, goat curry, goat rogan josh, lamb vindaloo, lamb saag, fish korma and shrimp curry.

Other menu highlights include biryani selections such as chicken, goat and lamb; karahi options such as chicken, goat and shrimp; tandoori options such as chicken, shrimp and paneer tikka; and Indo Chinese dishes such as vegetable hakka noodles, chicken fried rice and gobi Manchurian.

Bharat Bistro, with seating for approximately 90 guests, also offers desserts such as gulab jamun, kheer rice pudding and gajar halwa (carrot pudding).

The restaurant is operated by partners Mariya Afreen, Ricky Kumar and Honey Arora, who have ran other Indian restaurants in New Jersey for more than 15 years, Afreen said.

Takeout, delivery and catering services are also available.

Trendy Man, a menswear company with over 25 locations in six states, occupies an updated space that previously housed American Eagle Outfitters.

Trendy Man, offering men’s suits, dress shirts, ties and more, labels itself “a cutting-edge menswear company at the forefront of fashion, dedicated to providing modern men with stylish and trend-setting clothing.”

“With an unwavering commitment to innovation, contemporary designs, and exceptional quality, we empower men to express their unique sense of style with confidence,” a message on the business’ website reads.

Individuals can shop fine menswear, including suits, pants and dress shoes, as well as upscale casual pieces such as collared shirts, sweaters and jeans, Trendy Man CEO Max Shwel said.

Trendy Man collaborates with talented designers and manufacturers who share the company’s passion for high-quality craftsmanship, resulting in garments that embody style and individuality.

“Our mission is to curate a collection of fashion-forward garments and accessories that capture the spirit of the modern man,” the company description continues.

“From streetwear-inspired looks to tailored essentials, we offer a wide range of options that reflect the latest trends and cater to diverse style preferences. Our collection is meticulously designed with attention to detail, using premium materials and fabrics that ensure both comfort and durability.”

The Palmer location of Trendy Man is the company’s 27th store, supplementing other regional locations, including a store at the Oxford Valley Mall in Bucks County.

Another fashion retailer, Footlights, offers a wide array of designer prom dresses, bridal gowns and other formalwear.

Footlights has been helping women look their best for all special occasions for nearly 30 years, owner Gina Penzarella said.

Penzarella and her mother, also named Gina, established Footlights in 1995.

The pair originally ran the business at the Northampton Crossings shopping center on Easton Nazareth Highway in Lower Nazareth Township before moving operations about two miles northwest to a larger space at 4034 Jandy Blvd. in Lower Nazareth about 10 years ago.

In moving to the Palmer Park Mall, Footlights has again expanded into a larger space, Penzarella said.

The store’s inventory is also growing to include more bridal gowns, mother of the bride dresses, homecoming dresses and prom dresses.

“I’m extremely excited to be joining the Palmer Park Mall,” Penzarella told 69 News earlier this year. “We’ve been the king of prom season since we started in 1995.”

Footlights carries top designers’ dresses in a wide variety of colors and styles, and all prom dress purchases are registered – with the girls’ names and their high schools – “so no girl shows up to prom in a dress that someone else is wearing,” Penzarella said.

The store carries dresses in size 0 to 24.

“People come from all over – not just the Lehigh Valley – for our prom dresses,” Penzarella added. “We have classic dresses, really unique dresses and all of the latest styles that girls are looking for. Everything is extremely high quality.”

Other recent additions include Wrap’d Tight Fully Loaded 2.0, Back to the Arcade II and Uncle JuJu’s Crazy Deals.

Wrap’d Tight Fully Loaded 2.0, specializing in gourmet wraps, salads and loaded baked potatoes, held a soft opening Nov. 23 and 24.

The fast-casual restaurant, with seating for around 20 customers, fills a renovated space that was previously home to a Subway eatery.

Wrap’d Tight was established in 2005 on Bethlehem’s South Side, originally operating at the Five Points intersection before moving to a now-demolished building at South New and Third streets in Bethlehem and then moving again to its current location at 2027 Willow Park Road in Bethlehem Township.

The business offers catering, delivery and pick-up services from its Willow Park Road location, and chef and owner Heather Griffith also hosts events for up to 60 people at a catering hall in the same shopping plaza.

Griffith also is bringing the business’ new mobile food trailer to local events as well as breweries and other venues. It also can be rented for private functions.

“We’re super excited to be expanding operations with our food truck and also our new location at the Palmer Park Mall,” Griffith said. “We’re going to be tapping into a whole new audience in the Easton area, and we’re super pumped and grateful for the opportunity.”

Wrap’d Tight is known for its gourmet wraps, salads and loaded baked potatoes.

Customers can enjoy original wraps and salads such as BLT, tuna salad, turkey bacon cheddar and ham Swiss veggie, along with specialty wraps and salads such as chicken Caesar, chicken spinach feta, chef salad (crisp green lettuce, turkey, ham, Swiss and American cheeses, red onion, boiled egg, lightly crumbled croutons and zesty ranch dressing) and bacon cheeseburger deluxe (seasoned hamburger strips, melted cheddar cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, ketchup and tomato bacon sauce).

A customer favorite is the “Honey on Hunny” wrap (lettuce, honey turkey, honey ham, onions, sweet peppers and honey mustard).

Other menu highlights include grilled wraps and quesadillas, including a chicken fajita wrap, spinach tuna melt and “Monte Crisp Griller” (ham, Swiss, turkey, mayonnaise and mustard, dipped in batter, grilled and lightly dusted with powdered sugar with jam on the side).

“We do hot wraps, cold wraps and even lettuce wraps for our gluten-free customers,” Griffith said. “We have items for everyone, including vegans. We take care of everybody.”

By just reading the business’ name, most people wouldn’t know that one of Wrap’d Tight’s most popular selections is its wide array of overstuffed baked potatoes.

Around a dozen loaded baked potato varieties include a “Steak ‘n Potato” (slow-cooked sliced steak with sauteed onion gravy) and “Southwest Chicken” (chicken, black bean corn salsa and cheese).

“This is a great next step for us, and we’re very much looking forward to expanding our reach and meeting new friends,” Griffith said of the Palmer Park Mall location.

Back to the Arcade II opened Nov. 8 in a renovated space next to Spin Me Round record store.

The arcade is a second location of Back to the Arcade, which has operated at the South Mall since November 2021.

Prior to 2021, owner Mark Paden ran the business for about two years out of the now-closed Merchants Square Mall in Allentown.

The South Mall location will continue to operate as normal, Paden said.

“I’m really excited,” Paden told 69 News last year. “The Palmer Park Mall is beautiful, and I’m excited to create another great spot for people of all ages to have fun.”

Initially, Back to the Arcade II guests can play around 30 arcade games, and this collection will grow to include several more machines in the coming months, Paden said.

To start, guests can play pinball machines such as Elvira, Venom, John Wick and Guns ‘N Roses, along with upright cabinet games such as Pac-Man, Ms. Pac-Man, Galaga, Donkey Kong, Q*bert, Asteroids and Millipede.

At the South Mall location, guests can play more than 70 classic 1980s upright cabinet games like Burger Time, Donkey Kong, Double Dragon and Galaga.

There is also a wide variety of other types of games, including air hockey, Skee-Ball, Super Chexx bubble hockey, immersive shooting games such as “Jurassic Park” and Big Buck HD Wild and claw machines where you can move a metal claw for a chance to win prizes.

More than a dozen pinball machines include classic selections such as Jaws, The Munsters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, along with selections modeled after new pop culture favorites such as Stranger Things and The Mandalorian.

No quarters or tokens are needed to play the games.

Guests pay one price for all-day play. The cost is $20 for adults, $15 for ages 18 and under and $10 for veterans and ages 60 and older.

“When I designed the arcade, my goal was to offer something for everyone in every age group,” Paden said.

“So, we have a lot of retro games and pinball machines, and we also have some newer games as well. It’s a beautiful sight when younger kids are playing the older games. It’s almost like they’re excited to step back in time.”

As is the case at the South Mall arcade, the new Palmer Park Mall arcade features brightly colored walls, black lights, television and film memorabilia and a party area for hosting birthday parties, bachelor parties, sports team celebrations and other functions.

Uncle Juju’s Crazy Deals, a discount variety store offering deals on clothing, furniture, housewares and more, opened in mid-November at the mall.

Customers can shop a wide assortment of items, including home goods such as fans, computer desks, sheets and bedding, hairy dryers and curling irons, paper shredders, picture frames, water filtration pitchers and seasonal décor, at small fraction of their regular retail prices.

Other steeply discounted items include shoes, books, toys, art supplies, pet leashes and accessories, outdoor items such as tents and inflatable pools, automotive items such as car jump starters with air compressors, fashion accessories such as hats and apparel such as collared shirts, jeans and jackets.

Uncle Ju Ju’s is owned and operated by Daniel King, who also operates King’s Wholesales in Shippensburg.

More shopping destinations

2 more retailers open, 6 other businesses coming soon at Promenade Saucon Valley

U. SAUCON TWP., Pa. – Promenade Saucon Valley’s tenant mix continues to change.

The open-air lifestyle shopping center, at 2845 Center Valley Parkway in Upper Saucon Township, earlier this month welcomed two new additions: Relux and T&T Boutique.

Relux, a locally owned boutique offering pre-owned, authenticated luxury fashions and accessories, held a grand opening on May 16.

At the new 1,500-square-foot Relux boutique, between Carter’s and SmARTivities Showcase, shoppers can browse coveted pieces from Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Hermès, Burberry, Balenciaga, Prada, Saint Laurent, Fendi and more at a fraction of retail prices. Full story here.

‘Comfort meets cool’: Popular shoe brand opens new regional store

POCONO TWP., Pa. – A company known for its comfortable, lightweight and stylish shoes has expanded it footprint in the region.

HEYDUDE, offering comfortable and stylish footwear for men, women and kids, on April 26 opened a new store at the Pocono Premium Outlets in the Tannersville section of Pocono Township, Monroe County.

The new store, operating next to Crocs, offers “fresh styles, comfy vibes, and a whole lot of energy,” according to a post on the business’ Facebook page.

“Comfort meets cool just steps away from Crocs (literally — we’re right next door),” reads another post on the store’s Facebook page. “Think soft landings for your feet, chill vibes, and a store that’s built to feel good.” Read more here.

Foodie finds

New restaurant offering familiar favorites, Mediterranean specialties at former Darto’s spot

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Tasty, made-to-order eats returned to a prominent Bethlehem dining spot on Friday.

Bilal’s, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, opened Friday, May 30, at 46 W. North St., owner Bilal Bozkoc said.

The new restaurant is operating in the space previously occupied by Darto’s, a popular breakfast and lunch eatery that closed in March after 40 years of business.

Bozkoc and his team are continuing to offer some of Darto’s staples, including breakfast sandwiches, egg platters, omelettes, French toast, pancakes and home fries, while introducing several new selections for lunch and dinner. Read more.

‘Dream come true’: Nazareth grad sets opening date for new restaurant and bakery

NAZARETH, Pa. – After amassing a large following at Lehigh Valley farmers markets over the past few years, a local chef is taking the next step in his culinary career with a new restaurant and bakery – serving up fresh tomato pie, ribeye cheesesteaks, stuffed cookies and more – in Northampton County.

Cody Dally, owner of Cody’s Eats & Sweets, is planning to open a brick-and-mortar location of his business on June 26 at 52 S. Main St. in Nazareth.

The Nazareth space previously housed other dining establishments, including Mersin on Main, offering authentic Mediterranean cuisine, and Indigo 52, catering to people with a gluten allergy and other dietary sensitivities. Full story here.

Bolete owners debut new tasty concept, Cluck N’ Shuck

EASTON, Pa. – The husband-and-wife team behind some of the Lehigh Valley’s most acclaimed food and dining establishments has brought its culinary chops to another delicious venture.

Lee Chizmar and Erin Shea, owners of Bolete in Salisbury Township and Mister Lee’s Noodles in Easton and Bethlehem, in late May held a soft opening of their newest concept – Cluck N’ Shuck – at the Easton Public Market, 325 Northampton St.

Cluck N’ Shuck, offering chicken dishes, oysters, sides and more, replaces Silvershell Counter + Kitchen, a New England-style clam shack and seafood market that Chizmar and Shea closed in February after nearly six years of business. Read more here.

Mexican restaurant chain to bring ‘wow-worthy’ eats to 1st Lehigh Valley location

L. SAUCON TWP., Pa. – A fast-growing national restaurant chain serving made-to-order burritos, tacos and more will soon have a presence in Northampton County.

A new location of Bubbakoo’s Burritos, a New Jersey-based chain serving Mexican-fusion cuisine, is expected to open this summer at 1882 Leithsville Road in Lower Saucon Township, according to Ben Grannick, Bubbakoo’s Burritos’ director of marketing.

The new location will occupy a soon-to-be renovated space that previously housed Unrivaled Fitness + Wellness in the Creekside Marketplace.

“We are aiming for mid July!” Grannick said in regard to the Lower Saucon eatery’s target opening date. Read more.

Popular Schuylkill County breakfast spot staying busy, looking for new owners

WEST BRUNSWICK TWP., Pa. – Just off Route 61, close to the Berks / Schuylkill line, sits the quaint, causal breakfast staple 3-C’s Family Restaurant.

“We enjoy the food. We enjoy the service. It’s always a good place to come for breakfast or lunch,” said Carol Fink of Orwigsburg.

“One of those great breakfast nooks that you don’t find too often,” added Duane Schoemaker of Womelsdorf.

“There was this thing called the breakfast crew,” said Phil Fink of Orwigsburg. “I’d come in and it was just like Cheers. They’d go ‘Phil!'”  Full story here.

Grand openings 

‘Can’t wait to see everyone!’: Discount retailer to host grand opening of Lehigh County store

U. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – A growing discount retail chain, known for its “crazy deals,” is expanding its footprint in the Lehigh Valley.

Ocean State Job Lot, the Rhode Island-based discount retail chain with more than 160 stores in the Northeast, on June 7 will hold a grand opening of its new store at 7150 Hamilton Blvd. in the Trexlertown section of Upper Macungie Township, according to an announcement on the company’s Facebook page.

The new Lehigh Valley location will occupy The Shops at Trexlertown space previously occupied by a Big Lots store, which closed in March. Read more here.

New Bethlehem auto repair shop to host grand opening with complimentary food

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A new business is offering expert auto care in the Lehigh Valley.

Auto Kingz LLC, offering automotive maintenance and repair services along with pre-owned vehicle sales, will hold a grand opening event noon to 4 p.m. June 14 at 1840 W. Broad St. in Bethlehem.

The event will feature complimentary food, including barbecue and pizza, and opportunities to chat with staff members, owner Hector Garcia said. Read more.

‘Beautiful and unique’: New permanent jewelry, charm bar studio shines in Lehigh Valley

SLATINGTON, Pa. – Individuals looking to add more sparkle to their lives have a new destination to frequent in Lehigh County.

Hometown Spark, a permanent jewelry and charm bar studio, will hold a grand opening event noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 31, at 20 Main St. in Slatington.

Owner Courtney Corona of Palmerton established the business as a mobile operation in July 2023, making appearances at public and private events and building a large and loyal following over the ensuing years. Full story here.

City Cuts Barbershop celebrates grand opening with literacy program for kids

Kids can pick up a few extra bucks if they read a book aloud while getting a haircut at a new barbershop in Macungie.

But the program goes way beyond those few extra dollars.

The idea is helping spark a love of reading.

And that’s always been the hope of owner Jonathan Escueta. This is the second City Cuts Barbershop, with the first one operating in Kutztown. Read more here.

Lehigh County updates

Lehigh Valley Walmart location debuts new customer-centric features, locally-inspired mural

L. MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. – On Friday morning, team members of a Walmart Supercenter in Lehigh County welcomed customers inside the newly transformed store, marking the occasion with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, community celebration and unveiling of an Allentown community-inspired mural.

During the celebration, store leaders and associates of the Supercenter at 1091 Millcreek Road in Lower Macungie Township highlighted the transformation as well as the new interactive features available to customers, according to a news release.

In addition, Walmart customers in Allentown now have a wider assortment of products to shop, and through online pickup, delivery, express delivery and Walmart Pay, “they can get what they want, when they want them and a better overall shopping experience,” the release states. Read more.

Groundbreaking set for new hotel near LVIA

HANOVER TWP., Pa. – In about a week, ground will be broken on a new hotel near Lehigh Valley International Airport.

Thomas Stoudt, executive director of the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority, announced on Tuesday that the date had been set for next Thursday, June 5.

Plans call for a 145-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel adjacent to the airport on Airport Road in Hanover Township, Lehigh County, on property the authority owns and operates.

The developer is Provident Group-Lehigh Valley Properties LLC, who will lease a 5.2-acre parcel from LNAA, but 1.1 acres will be leased back to the authority. Full story here.

Events and milestones

2 Lehigh Valley theaters hosting ‘Friday the 13th’ events, including 8-movie marathon

Horror fans, get ready for chills, thrills and killer fun as two Lehigh Valley movie theaters celebrate an iconic slasher film franchise on Friday, June 13.

The Emmaus Theatre in Emmaus and Gap Theatre in Wind Gap will host “Friday the 13th” events featuring movie screenings, giveaways, surprises and more on June 13.

The Emmaus Theatre, at 19 S. Fourth St. in Emmaus, will host a “Friday the 13th” Double Feature event, with back-to-back screenings of “Friday the 13th” (1980) and “Friday the 13th Part 2” (1981), beginning at 8 p.m. June 13.

The Emmaus Theatre event also will feature special guests from Horror/365, live horror comedy sketches, giveaways and killer surprises. Read more here.

Scoop through summer with Pa.’s ‘Ice Cream Trail’ challenge

State officials are once again inviting everyone to take part in a tasty tradition. The itinerary for the eighth annual “Ice Cream Trail” is out.

It encourages people to visit some of Pennsylvania’s best creameries and shops, including Batch Microcreamery in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County; Crystal Spring Farm in North Whitehall Township, Lehigh County; Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery in Forks Township, Northampton County; Merrymead Farm in Worcester Township, Montgomery County; and Way-Har Farms in Jefferson Township, Berks County.

Participants can even win some cool prizes along the way. Read more.

Family-owned hardware store celebrated for 70+ years of business in Bethlehem

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Forty years ago, a 21-year-old Pete Mickolay was facing a potentially life-changing decision.

His grandfather, Arthur Aykroyd, who had founded Aykroyd Hardware with his wife, Edith, died unexpectedly after suffering a heart attack. If Mickolay wanted the business to stay open, he would have to step up and take the reins.

“I had about 10 days to decide,” he said. “Do I keep the store going for the family, or do I move on to something else?”

Fast forward to 2025. It’s a Thursday morning, and Mickolay is talking shop with employees and customers who wander in and out of 743 N. New St. in Bethlehem. The sign hanging above the door reads Aykroyd Hardware. Full story here.

Berks and Bucks buzz

Longtime ice cream shop reopens with new twist

OLEY TWP., Pa. – A longtime ice cream shop is reopening with the hopes of keeping tradition alive while also bringing in fresh new ideas.

“I think my dad said, ‘There’s nowhere to go get ice cream. Let’s open an ice cream shop,'” recalled Jennifer Ritschard, the owner.

Twenty-one years later, Ritschard is stepping up to the plate. Read more here.

‘Super exciting’: Beloved family-run restaurant moving to larger Quakertown location

QUAKERTOWN, Pa. – A staple of Quakertown’s dining scene is almost ready to welcome customers to its new location in the borough.

Sunday’s Deli & Restaurant, a full-service, family-run eatery offering a wide array of freshly prepared dishes for breakfast and lunch, is expected to reopen within the next few weeks at its larger Quakertown spot, 44 Front St., co-owner Elaine Pappas told 69 News on Wednesday.

The family-run restaurant is moving from its former home of 35 years at 140 E. Broad St. The business’ last day on East Broad Street was May 18. Read more.

‘Thank you for your loyalty’: Berks pharmacy set to close this weekend

CUMRU TWP., Pa. — A destination for prescription medications, over-the-counter remedies and other health products is bidding farewell in Berks County.

Flying Hills Pharmacy will hold its last day of business at 2431 Morgantown Rd. in Cumru Township on Saturday, according to an announcement on the pharmacy’s Facebook page.

The pharmacy is currently holding a closing sale, with 50% off over-the-counter items, including cards. Full story here.