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From new apartments being approved to restaurants reopening and ready for occupancy, here’s your weekly look at what’s happening with businesses in your area.
ANR Development Apartments: 34-42 S. Sixth St., Easton
Easton City Council has approved the construction of a five-story, 34-apartment building, despite some neighbors saying the proposed development is out of character for their “Dutchtown” neighborhood. The council has yet to issue a certificate of suitability for the ANR development.
Mayor Sal Panto said the revised plan would allow for a fifth-floor setback and other changes to make South Sixth Street suitable. While the plan may upset some neighbors, the issue before the council was whether the plan would meet city regulations, and the council voted 5-2. Get the full story.
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COMMODORE: 100 Northampton St., Easton
Easton will have a new rooftop restaurant at the 32-apartment building being built by Optima Durant Group, led by Garrett Vassell. The developer chose a local outfit for the rooftop restaurant: the Trapani family that operates Zest & Grill 3501.
Commodore construction has been delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Vassell said, but tenants could move in by the end of this year or early 2023. Read the latest on this project.
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Dunkin’: 4793 Tilghman St., South Whitehall City
A donut and coffee shop is under review, with traffic a major issue. Planned changes to the existing Dunkin’ include a redesigned drive-thru line with two menu boards and a more impervious (waterproof) location at the Allentown Town Center strip mall.
South Whitehall City Engineer Anthony Tallarida said the project would increase traffic concerns on Tilghman Street and could lead to vehicles lining up on the road. Learn more about the proposed project.
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FIRST PARK 33: Tatami Road, Palmer Township
Plans for four large buildings proposed for Palmer Township are on hold until at least September. The original Park 33 plan submitted by FR Newlins Logistics Park LLC is for four “limited distribution” buildings on the west side of Tatami Road between Newlins Mill and Courier roads.
The proposal has planning commission approval, but the township board has several questions about open space and buffers between the development and housing. Supervisors will review the plan on Sept. 12. Read the full story.
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Grocery outlet: 1401 Allen St., Allentown
The new grocery option will hold its grand opening on September 15. Grocery Outlet is taking over the Ahart Market space in the Allen Street shopping center and replacing everything inside.
Grocery Outlet is a publicly traded chain based in California, but the stores are run by local residents. The chain describes itself as an “extremely expensive retailer” that sends out “WOW Alerts” for special offers via e-mail.
Grocery Outlet Holdings Corporation trades on the NASDAQ market under the symbol GO. The company’s market cap (shares current value) is around $4.2 billion.
Grocery Outlet operates more than 420 stores in California, Washington, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Idaho, Nevada, New Jersey and Maryland.
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Iron Works: Front Street, Catasauqua
An old industrial site plan more than a decade in the making has collapsed, leaving Catasauqua District Council to start over.
A new committee will try to figure out what to do with the 12 acres. Bethlehem Forest Twiggar had proposed a mix of residential, office and retail space, but that plan was shelved in June.
The district can now put the land up for auction or negotiate a sale. Find more information on this story.
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Hydra Lake: 4733 Hanoverville Road, Lower Nazareth Township
Lake Hydra is the Northeast’s newest scuba diving and training destination. Owners Jim Folk and Ken Craft have taken over the quarry formerly known as Dutch Springs and plan to improve the site to lure divers from several states, who then spend money on local hotels, stores and restaurants.
It is not known when Lake Hydra will open for diving, but probably later this year. That depends on the construction of the nearby warehouse. The new ownership group is adding an online reservation system and improving services at Quarry Lake and intends to invest most of the proceeds to make the site a better diving attraction.
The on-site water park will not remain open, but the lake, which may be closed due to warehouse development, is owned by Trammell Crow Co. He survived to dive into the Folk/Craft plan he received. On large buildings. Read the full story.
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Coffee Nowhere: 318 Main St., Emmaus (home of South Mountain Cycle & Cafe)
The second Coffee Anywhere at South Mountain Cycle will hold a grand opening event on Saturday, August 13 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event is held in partnership with the East Penn Chamber of Commerce and Emmaus Main Street Partners.
This is the second location for Nowhere. The original opened earlier this year at 3127 W. Tilghman St., South Whitehall Township. Get the whole thing.
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Phoenix Tube: 1185 Win Drive (off Pembroke Road), Bethlehem
The stainless steel company is expanding and plans to add 30 jobs. The new 52,000 square meter facility will produce steel pipes, according to a statement from Pennsylvania Governor Thomas Wolf.
The company will receive state loans and grants to help with the expansion. Read more about this.
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Location in Palmer Point: 3100 Charlotte Street, Palmer Township
Palmer’s new apartments won’t open as planned because the city’s fire commissioner, Stephen Gallagher, said they don’t have a fire alarm.
The developer, Metropolitan Companies, said the buildings meet building codes but will install additional equipment to allow tenants stuck in hotels or staying with families to move in quickly. Get all the details.
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WEYERBACHER BREWERY: Tap room at 905 Line St., Easton
The taproom filed for bankruptcy, saying it couldn’t pay its debts. The business filed for Chapter 11 protection in 2019. Court documents list 92 creditors.
On Facebook, Weyerbacher said he is still brewing and plans to reopen the Tap Room.
“The craft beer industry is challenging and breweries don’t last 27 years with good beer and amazing friends,” he wrote. “We owe that longevity to your support over the years.” Read more about this story.
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Reading Country Club: 5311 Perkiomen Ave., Exeter Township
If a partnership between Exeter Township and DoubleTree is approved, the historic country club and golf course could become a prime location for planned events.
The agreement gives Reading Hospitality Management’s catering department the exclusive right to plan and host all events at the RCC. Those can include custom-tailored private and community events, including weddings, receptions, proms, corporate meetings and golf outings.
The Board of Supervisors voted to continue discussions about the deal before deciding on final approval. Get the full story.
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SWIFTWATER SOLAR POWER: Bear Mountain, Pocono City
The state’s largest solar field is moving toward reality in Monroe County. The Pennsylvania Department of Energy has issued one of two final permits to Virginia-based Apex Energy to begin construction on an 80-megawatt solar farm on 644 acres in Bear Mountain.
Pocono Township has already approved the plan, subject to certain conditions.
Apex plans to put about 200,000 solar panels on the land. Read the full story.
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Atlantic Health System Phillipsburg Pavilion and Atlantic Health Eye Specialists in Phillipsburg: 222 Red School Lane and 800 Coventry Road, Lopatcong Township
Atlantic Health acquired the integrated health facilities in Lopatcong from the Lehigh Valley Health Network. The Red School Lane campus includes primary care, walk-in services, physical therapy, sports medicine, laboratory services, women’s health and imaging. Atlantic Health also bought LVHN’s ophthalmology practice near Coventry Road.
The nonprofit Atlantic Health says it has 4,800 affiliated physicians serving 12 counties in New Jersey. Get all the details on this purchase.
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